Sportsfield benchmarking – best use modelling project

• Provide participating councils (or sports clubs/schools) with an audit report from an independent expert outlining and benchmarking current sports field characteristics and documenting limitations to performance (accessibility, quality and safety).
• Produce a summary report on the cost benefit analysis of various sports field development options (e.g. suitable turf selection, root zone amelioration and irrigation systems), including the expected usage capabilities of each option.
• Develop a national database using the recorded information on sports field performance.
• Derive a self-assessment tool to guide councils in determining best management practices and optimal allocation of resources for upgrading or maintaining playing surfaces.
• Clearly define measurable customer requirements, which can be used as a basis for (and drive) the turf industry´s product development program.

• Participating sporting clubs will have improved knowledge and capacity to enhance the accessibility, safety and quality of their playing fields. This will deliver sustainable sports fields to local communities, along with the opportunity for a healthy active future.
• The national database will collect data for use in the regional benchmarking of playing surfaces. This will assist in future planning by detailing sports field usage patterns and management requirements.
• Sporting institutions will be able to use the self-assessment tool to determine best management practices and efficient resource allocation for upgrading or maintaining playing surfaces.
• The turf industry´s product development program can be driven by defined consumer requirements.

The first step at a participating site is to obtain a history. This encompasses detailed information about the construction, management, maintenance and usage of each of the sports fields selected for inclusion.

Secondly, a range of tests are undertaken at pre-determined locations across a field. This varies with the sport being played due to different field usage patterns.

Measurements include:

• water infiltration (using an infiltrometer). This assists in identifying trends and variances, (such as the impact of organic matter or soil compaction within the soil profile)
• ground hardness (using a Clegg Impact Soil Tester), indicating the shock absorbency of the turf/soil surface
• visual soil compaction assessment, texture analysis (between horizons), thatch and rooting depth, and mottles assessment (using a 50 mm soil sampler). This determines if there is a oxidation-reduction process occurring within the profile
• species composition e.g. turf and weeds present (with a 0.25m² quadrant)
• percentage soil moisture (using a Theta moisture probe), highlighting irrigation or construction issues
• vertical penetration and transitional shear resistance of the turf surface (using a Going Stick).

High usage, poor irrigation uniformity, unfavourable species composition and compaction are impacting on the quality and safety of surfaces at single and multi-use venues.

On the positive side, many of these problems can be corrected over time with appropriate varietal selection, irrigation use, method of construction, levels of use and maintenance – providing sufficient support, education and much-needed resources are available.