Fairfax County Athletic Field Maintenance Manual

Rectangular Field Maintenance0 Dos and Don’ts

<      Fill all holes and low areas completely to insure safe playing conditions and to eliminate where water can collect, which creates muddy conditions.

<      Do not shovel, scoop, rake or sweep water, mix or topsoil into grass areas.

<      Do not remove mix or topsoil from wet areas.

<      Do not bring foreign material onto fields to fill wet areas or low spots.

<      Do not use any field when such use will cause damage to the field or risk personal injury.

Determine Field Playability

Ø       REMEMBER: Standing water occurs because the ground is saturated. Removing standing water does not eliminate the saturation. It is the saturation and not standing water that causes damage and unsafe conditions.

Determining the playability of an athletic field is crucial to the continued health of the turf and the sustainability of the field throughout the season. The Park Authority will close its athletic fields if park staff determines that fields are too wet for play, or if other issues arise that would compromise patron safety.

An athletic field should be considered closed for play if any part of the field becomes unsafe for field users or if conditions exist where use will cause damage to the field.

Ø       An athletic field should be considered closed if any of the following conditions exist:

<      There is standing water present on any part of the field that cannot be removed without causing damage to the field.

<      There are muddy conditions present that will not dry by the start of the game.

<      While walking on the field water can be seen or heard with an footstep.

<      While walking on the field of play, any impression of your footprint is left in the surface

<      If water gathers around the sole of a shoe or boot on any portion of the field.

Water Removal Techniques For Rectangular Fields

Important Note:  Water removal should only be undertaken to accelerate the drying of fields. Water removal should not be undertaken with the expectation that fields will be available for play.

Ø       Never sweep or push water into the grass

Ø       Never move muddy material from one portion of the field to another

Ø       Never remove muddy material from the field. If muddy material is not dry by game time, the field should be closed until the material dries.

Ø       A hand pump and bucket can be used to remove water in areas where there are puddles. Once the bucket is full dispose of the water outside the field of play. However, this will not make the field immediately playable, it will only accelerate drying of the affected area.

Ø       In turf areas, the use of materials such as drying agents (Turface, Pro Choice, etc) wood chips, peat moss, or sand to dry water of mud is not practiced due to secondary problems that can occur as a result of their use.