RAISING THE GAME AT GRASSROOTS LEVEL Statistics show GaNTIP’s pitch improvement scheme continues to have a massive impact on football and cricket participation in England
34 THE GROUNDSMAN November 2019
By Colin Hoskins Features editor
T
he Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme (GaNTIP), a joint initiative by the Premier League, The Football Association, the Government’s Football Foundation and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and led by the IOG, aims to raise the quality of natural turf pitches to enhance player experience and increase capacity and participation levels. Between April 2018 and March 2019 more than 2,890 football pitches were assessed, and the results continue to impress, having: Boosted pitch match capacity by 28% – from an average of 2.5 games per pitch to 3.2 ; Reduced postponements by 24%; Increased pitch quality levels – 83% of the 2,890 pitches assessed have improved; Engaged with 1,082 volunteers, 192 of whom have received training to boost knowledge and improve their pitch maintenance techniques. Indeed, the programme has engaged with volunteer