There are several common techniques for preventing muddy, unplayable and unsafe conditions on soccer fields following a rain event. Depending on which coach or field manager you ask, the steps taken to keep a field playable are different.

Some prevent turf damage and puddles on the playing field by applying a conditioner like Field & Fairway^™ from Turface Athletics^™, while others may topdress with sand. Still others apply nothing and let the field fend for itself in wet weather.

Which method works best? That was the question a team of researchers at The Ohio State University sought to answer in a 2007 study.

Led by Pamela Sherratt, sports turf specialist with OSU’s Horticulture and Crop Science Department, researchers compared untreated plots, versus those treated with sand and those treated with Field & Fairway prior to a simulated rain game event. OSU specialists then applied the treatments at two fertilizer rates with sand slits; two weeks later the plots were irrigated until standing water was present. Then they simulated playing conditions using a SISIS^® wear machine.

As expected, the plots with no advance preparation fared the worst. The sand dressed plots had some positive results, but were abrasive and harmed the crown of the turf.  Plots topdressed with Field & Fairway were in the best condition following prevention application.

“You can lose a field in one game if it rains,” Sherratt said. “Especially at the high school level, they don’t have a lot of money to get a field ready for a rain game or for the next game in two weeks. We found by using the Turface product, turf could be saved from extensive damage.”

One day after traffic on saturated soil, the plots topdressed with Field & Fairway showed significant surface firmness. Plots with sand-slits and topped with Field & Fairway exhibited the best recovery when measured eight, 12 and 17 days after the wet-playing condition event. Compared to all topdressing methods used in the study, the plots topdressed with Field & Fairway recovered the best.

The OSU research found Field & Fairway to be an ideal preventative maintenance measure for sports turf. It permanently modified the soil and supported field stability. It added water- and air-holding pore space, prevented compaction and allowed for better drainage to help turf stand up to intense traffic. When topdressed on a field, the particles protect the crown of the grass plant from cleat damage in high-traffic areas.

The study also showed Field & Fairway is a valuable recovery resource. If applied to problem sidelines and hash marks, Field & Fairway prevents long-term turf damage and helps return a field to playable conditions for subsequent games. It significantly aides repair in worn and damaged areas, increases surface firmness and promotes quick turf recovery.

Conditioners can also help a field cosmetically, too. Field & Fairway Emerald, with its green coloring, will mask worn or damaged areas while blending well with healthy green turf to keep a field looking its best in the midst of the season.

Field & Fairway is an excellent investment that protects expensive sports fields. When managers consider the alternatives of resodding, reseeding or playing on an unsafe surface, Field & Fairway serves as an outstanding long-term maintenance solution.

To learn how to ready your soccer fields for play, visit www.turface.com.

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