Clubs should approach their sport’s national governing body for initial advice after �ooding
By Jason Booth IOG director of technical and learning
SUPPORTING FLOODDAMAGED CLUBS Alongside helping to improve playing surfaces, regional pitch advisors also offer advice to clubs in times of adverse weather conditions – including recovery from the aftermath of flooding
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any sports clubs will be left with variable degrees of flood damage to their playing surfaces and facilities at this time of year – ranging from pitches having a layer of silt to facilities facing pitch repair bills potentially costing thousands. Offering practical advice, via the County Cricket Boards and County Football Associations, Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme (GaNTIP) regional pitch advisors will be doing all they can to ensure these clubs will be able to host matches as soon as possible. But this will, of course, depend on a number of factors: the grounds need to dry out; weather conditions need to improve; and when will any adequate funding and support will be available?
“The advice provided will be dictated by the level of damage” 10 THE GROUNDSMAN December 2019
The advice provided will be dictated by the level of damage, but could include: Ensure that the pitch area is clear from contamination; this will need to be checked with the local council/ environmental departments in conjunction with your individual sport’s national governing body’s local representative. Remove all localised debris from the pitch (such as stones and sticks). This can be removed using a small digger, laying boards where needed to limit the damage to the soil structure. All debris must be removed from the pitch and the surrounding area. After the debris has been removed, the pitch surface will have a layer of silt which will need to be removed – achieved by using a tractor-mounted turf planer until the layers of silt and grass are removed down to the sandy soil. The pitch then may require a full renovation.
All the above should form part of a regional approach that includes seeking direction from your national governing body of sport in the first instance.
GaNTIP regional pitch advisors will always be available to help, and IOG members can also use our Ask the Expert service, but please also visit these websites for advice:
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www.sportengland.org/facilities-andplanning/further-guidance/flood-guidance/ – where there are also some useful guidance sheets that Sport England has put together in conjunction with a number of national governing bodies for sport. The site also provides a downloadable template to help clubs find out if their facilities are at risk of flooding. https://www.ecb.co.uk/be-involved/clubsupport/club-facility-management/flooding