Objective results are only an aid to the subjective results of those who must ensure safety and playability on a turf surface.

By Francesco Dotto (president of the Mediterranean Groundsmen Association)

The challenge for the modern pitch operator is the need for a constant playing surface all year round. It is about the small marginal gains that players can make on the surface and that can add up to the victory that teams are looking for. For many, a pitch is judged by how it looks. The judging panel includes players, coaches and medical teams. They only consider how the game is played! Players want a surface that allows them to run quickly, spin easily, and that ensures that the rolling and bouncing of the ball is predictable. Groundsmen can respond to these demands by breaking the friction of the ball on the grass by watering the field before training sessions or the game. To be successful in doing so, they’ll have to consider the pace of a game played on a hot, windy afternoon when the grass dries out quickly, compared to a night game where the surface remains wet and the ball whizzes quickly across the surface.

The medical staff hopes for an even and consistent surface that gives players enough traction not to slip, but not too much traction that could cause rotational injuries. If the pitch is too hard, some players may struggle with impact injuries. If it is too soft, the surface will cause a lot of fatigue. To satisfy these stakeholders, it is essential to regularly test the pitch. While there is a wide variety in testing equipment available, some of it can help the groundsman establish some basic parameters within one hour of testing. Testing the following criteria is important at any level:

Hardness and energy return

Testing the hardness will indicate the shock the player will feel through his body, or fatigue at the end of the game. Establishing the energy return can indicate how much energy will be returned to the player or absorbed by the ground.

Surface deformation

The surface deformation is an indicator the grip a player will experience when planting his cleats in the field before starting a sprint.

Rotational traction

The rotational traction test will tell you how much force is required to slide the cleats when a player rotates and changes direction.

These tests, together with agronomic tests, can help a groundsman to get the best from his turf. This knowledge will help ensure that it not only looks good, but also offers the team the best metrics to run, and offers the fans (both at the stadium as well as those watching on TV) the best game possible. Having insight into this data will also help prevent or reduce player injuries.

Understanding your data

Understanding your test results and knowing how to manipulate the surface to achieve optimal conditions is a new skill for some of us, as is understanding the scope of testing. While many people at the club only focus on the stadium surface, it should not be forgotten that training fields must be as good, to say the least. As these fields are often used more often than the stadium pitch, maintaining the quality and player friendliness of these training fields can be more challenging than the stadium pitch.

Match training and stadium pitches

The importance of trying to match training pitches to stadium pitches is often not well understood or put into practice. Professional footballers spend a lot of time doing cognitive repetition on a certain type of playing surface and this is done on a daily basis.

Passing accuracy for both long and short balls, and knowing the approximate final positioning are important for the player and team tactics. Repetition in training allows the player to better understand the ball behaviour on the pitch. This includes the passing and correct modification of the force applied to the ball, the direction required by the pass, the type and amount of rotation applied to the ball, the final destination of the pass, and the speed or current position of the player you are trying to pass to, (multiple simultaneous attention).

Eventually, players will expect similar results for their effort and immediately control of their body and weight movement without the need to think about it too much during the game. This allows the player to concentrate on other things, such as the move after the pass and further results.

When either field is poor, waterlogged, lacking in grass, diseased, distressed, too hard, too soft or uneven, to name a few possible problems, the player will have to change what he or she has been practising because the results are not what they expected. The ball/surface interaction is suddenly different, and the ball may deviate from normal expectations, which can lead to the pass being intercepted. This can eventually result in a goal against the team. Preparing the training pitches to the same quality and standard as the stadium field will reduce the likelihood of players not being able to bring their practice into play.

Different moments

Grounds teams play a crucial role in ensuring that the football pitch is in top condition for every game. This starts at the initial preparations and ends with the post-match recovery, and will require several different disciplines.

Match day operations

On match day, the team’s efforts ensure that the pitch is ready for the match and maintained for the duration of the event:

• Coordination of operations: supervising the set-up, ensuring that all equipment is in place and that the field is ready to play.
• Maintenance team: solving any problems that arise during the match, such as depressions or worn spots, to keep the playing surface safe and of high quality.
• Maintenance managers: coordinating with event managers and ensuring smooth transitions during breaks and half-time.

Pre-match preparations

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Before the match, the grounds team engages in meticulous planning and groundwork. This includes:

• Turf managers: conducting turf tests, assessing the state of the turf and making the necessary adjustments to ensure optimal playing conditions.
• Groundsman: mowing the field according to precise specifications, painting lines and checking for any imperfections.
• Irrigation experts: managing water levels to maintain the ideal water balance for the turf.
• Post-match recovery
• After the match, the team works tirelessly to restore the pitch to its best:
• Repairing any damage to the turf, if necessary, and applying treatments to promote a rapid recovery.
• Ensuring that the field and surrounding areas are clean and ready for the next event.
• Reviewing and planning: reviewing the performance of the turf and planning any additional maintenance or additional improvements needed.

Each member of our team brings their experience and commitment, ensuring that the pitch meets international standards and provides an excellent experience for both players and fans alike.

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Our success in providing a world-class playing surface.

It is said: “Anyone can grow grass”. Well, yes, they can. However, in my opinion, the saying “Grass will also grow without the help of anyone” is a bit more accurate. In terms of producing a surface that will deliver a durable, consistent and reliable performance, I would say, “Not everyone can grow grass, and grass can’t do it professionally either!”

This article is part of the cooperation between Sportsfields.Mag and GrassMed to jointly try to improve sports fields management around the world.

About GrassMed

The Italian GrassMed (Groundsmen Association Mediterraneo) aims to disseminate technical and agronomic keys for the maintenance of sports fields by addressing the ecological transition.

Created in 2017, it has been recognised as a non-profit professional association by the Italian Ministry of Enterprise (MISE). This allows it to issue a certificate of qualification.

The President of the association, Francesco Dotto, has been a consultant in green maintenance since 1983. In 2022 he was the recipient of numerous awards, including that of “Best Green Consultancy and Service Company Owner”, rewarding him for having contributed significantly to research into reducing fertiliser and water use.

All lecturers and speakers are professionals from all over the world who benefit from a solid experience. This includes HG Bradley Tennant, David Roberts, Dean Gilasbey, Engineer Raul Bragado Professor Mauro Sarno and biologist Pier Daniele Barbato Roma to assistants Giovanni Taverna and Marco Priora, and other professional sports figures such as lawyer Lina Musumarra and Giuliana Berardo, a member of the tribunal in Italy.