To cap off the week, I learned about the edging of grass for the general turf and for the grass on fields. Each field requires the process multiple times per week to keep the field looking clean and even all the way around. A main difference between edging general turf and a field is the approach to getting a straight line. General turf usually has a sidewalk as a guide, whereas the field requires a string to be laid out to create a path and less risk of ruining the evenness with the dirt.
As the team at USA Baseball NTC continues to prepare for the upcoming DII tournament, they need to get ready for game day procedures. This morning, we went through pregame batting practice setup on auxiliary fields for the teams to warmup (turf protectors, hitting mats, positional screens at each base, etc). Also, the team leader walked through in game actions when the field needs to be monitored during the middle (dragging infield and changing out bases). Lastly, between game procedures are very important to be quick and efficient in fixing the mound, repainting lines, dragging the infield, etc. All actions need to be quick and efficient to prepare for back to back games.
This afternoon, I observed a couple steps in general turf maintenance and a very important step to create perfect playing infield on a baseball field. Outside the stadium field and on some outfields, I learned about “hotspots” (dried out and unhealthy sod) and how to water them correctly to get it looking great in no time. Also, I learned about the grading process of an infield to prepare a field properly. Since the complex is about to host a major tournament, regrading the infield allows for a flatter and higher quality playing surfaces that will receive fresh dirt and turface before the teams come to play next week.
This morning, I got out to a city field to prepare a softball field for a middle school game later in the day. To start, we drug the dirt of the infield to make it flat and more playable. We then made the field more appealing and specific to the necessary measurements for a standard softball by laying strings out to paints foul lines, coaches boxes, on deck circles, pitchers circle, etc. A good start to the day!
After looking around some city fields to check for mowing and fertilizer needs, I was able to view an interesting process of this industry. I was fortunate enough to see a process that only happens a couple of times annually, the grinding of reels and bedknifes that lead to better mowing abilities. Again, science is quite important in the technological use that creates the immaculate playing surfaces. Both the reels and bedknifes are grounded to correct angles and heights to create an even point of contact that will lead to the appropriate cutting for a playing surface. Attention to detail is very important in this process because it can be a key thing to aid the quality of fields before a big event. Creating the proper angles and grinding points before cutting the machines loose eases the process even more.
A jammed pack day at Wakemed Soccer Park, home of the North Carolina Football Club and the North Carolina Courage. First off, general turf management was necessary again to increase the quality of the park outside of the stadium (trimming trees, edging grass, etc.).
Next, I learned about the aerification process of the playing field. For sand-based fields like the ones at Wakemed, drainage is the key to maintain the highest quality playing field. Aerification is the process of punching tiny holes all around the field to allow for airflow and necessary nutrients to reach the roots of the grass. In the below picture, half of a field contains the cores of aerated grass while the other is totally cleaned up.
Next, I learned about the treatment process of ryegrass using chemicals. As the NC weather gets hotter and dryer, the science in this industry becomes important to create correct mixtures of substances to put on the grass to keep it healthy and appealing. The substance is sprayed from a machine that lines the field with a foam substance to limit the risk of over-applying chemicals to the ryegrass.
Lastly, I learned that time is money. When this industry piles up many jobs, technology can help to get mowing done quicker or paint lines of a field quicker. Although it may not be ideal, the help is great to limit the labor area of the industry.
Another great day!
After getting to know the Town of Cary Public Works staff, I was allowed to view some sports fields that I will get to observe over the coming days. Today, I was stationed at the beautiful USA Baseball National Training Complex as they prepare for the upcoming DII NCAA baseball championship. I gained insight into the daily activity that the team does to maintain the high-quality playing surfaces (mowing, watering, cleanup, etc.) that makes the complex unmatched. Next, I gained some knowledge on general turf (the grass/surrounding area not on the playing field) and was also allowed to fix a broken sprinkler on the general turf behind the stadium field. Lastly, I took away the importance of the overall cleanliness of a facility. Not only does the quality of the playing field need to be maintained, but many of the people visiting the facility are spectators or parents of the players, so the parts that these people use/observe are important as well. Awesome first day!
