Sports Turf Tips
By James McCurdy, Ph.D., Assistant Extension Professor, Mississippi State University
Step Up to the Plate
for
Local Sports Fields
S
chool sports teams and municipal sports leagues are at the heart of many Mississippi communities. Budget shortfalls and lack of agronomic knowledge, however, often mean that fields are managed to the detriment of young athletes. As an Extension specialist, I have found that it’s quite the task to provide insight and advice to the folks managing the 4,000 - plus athletic fields in the state. I hope you can help me deliver important information to this often-underserved group of stakeholders.
A call to arms
Please express interest in local sports facilities, and share your knowledge with local coaches, parents and school board officials. Of all the problems I have seen during site visits, I believe the following are the biggest gaps in understanding.
Drainage
Most sports fields in MS are constructed of native-soil material, which tends to drain more slowly than sandmodified fields or synthetic turf. Thus, a 1.5% crown is suggested for soccer and football fields. The maximum suggested slope from the base of a pitcher’s mound to the outside of the baseline is 1%, and most outfields have at least a 1% to 2% slope away from the baselines. A related question is: where does that water drain after it reaches the sidelines or the warning track? Most municipal fields in the Southeast don’t have running tracks, so water should continue off the sidelines. Proper slope is essential during new field
14 • Mississippi Turfgrass • Winter 2015