Football Pitch FAQ 1. What do we need to do to maintain our pitch both efficiently and effectively? 
To answer this question is no simple matter because there are many variables which need to be considered, many of which are interconnected.
Gather as much background information as possible to help you make an informed decision. This will mean details of the pitch – ideally as comprehensive performance quality analysis as possible – as this will provide a current detailed condition of play for the surface.
Try and find out if there is any drainage system installed, and if so if it is functioning properly. Other features to consider are:
• Is waterlogging a particular problem on the pitch? To what extent is it a problem?
• Does surface water persistent for a long time after rainfall (light, medium, heavy, thunderstorm?) has finished, or does it drain away fairly well after rainfall has stopped?
• For your local conditions, how long does surface water take to drain away? After a few hours, half a day, a full day, a few days?
• Is the pitch on a field which is open to the general public?
• Is it a sports ground which are restricted and controlled access?
• Is it a stadium environment?
• How much shade is cast on the pitch? When, time period per day, where on the pitch, times of year?
• What machinery and equipment are available for maintaining the pitch?
• What is the condition and age of the machinery and equipment?
• How many people are trained to use the different machinery and equipment?
• What materials are typically applied to the pitch, and when?
• What is the budget for staffing, materials, and machinery and equipment for the pitch?
• Is there a machinery replacement programme in place? What timescales and costs are involved?
For the past 12-months:
What was the detailed maintenance programme?
What has been the detailed usage of the pitch?
What has been the detailed weather?
• Is there any sward, or other, assessment data available?
• Are there any other factors that might be considered?
• Does surface water persistent for a long time after rainfall (light, medium, heavy, thunderstorm?) has finished, or does it drain away fairly well after rainfall has stopped?
• For your local conditions, how long does surface water take to drain away? After a few hours, half a day, a full day, a few days?
• Is the pitch on a field which is open to the general public?
• Is it a sports ground which are restricted and controlled access?
• Is it a stadium environment?
• How much shade is cast on the pitch? When, time period per day, where on the pitch, times of year?
• What machinery and equipment are available for maintaining the pitch?
• What is the condition and age of the machinery and equipment?
• How many people are trained to use the different machinery and equipment?
• What materials are typically applied to the pitch, and when?
• What is the budget for staffing, materials, and machinery and equipment for the pitch?
• Is there a machinery replacement programme in place? What timescales and costs are involved?
For the past 12-months:
What was the detailed maintenance programme?
What has been the detailed usage of the pitch?
What has been the detailed weather?
• Is there any sward, or other, assessment data available?
• Are there any other factors that might be considered?
Most football pitches will be having similar maintenance activities carried out on them, but the big difference between them will be the extent of the activities, the quality of the work carried out, the timing of the works and the ground conditions in which they were carried out.
What is the expected carrying capacity for the type of pitch?
This will be strongly influenced by soil type, drainage and construction, but also by the effectiveness of the maintenance work being carried out. If the expectation is in excess of what can realistically be sustained in practice, then this will need to be addressed. How is the additional usage to be accommodated on the pitch, whilst retaining the desired quality of surface? Will some form of improved drainage scheme or reconstruction be needed? If so, is this a cost-effective approach to take?
New machinery, equipment or working practices might help with improving efficiency and also effectiveness, with a resulting improvement in pitch surface and playing conditions. Typically, newer technology will often see an improvement, at least in the short term whilst it is operating in peak condition.
An important question to ask, which is not commonly considered, is ‘What is the incremental difference in efficiency and effectiveness from the new machinery, equipment, working practice, when compared with the current situation?”. Is a 50% increase in efficiency and effectiveness worth the expense? Quite probably yes. Is a 2% increase still worth it for the expense of a new machine? Quite probably no. Each club will need to evaluate the incremental benefits against the cost to determine, if for their situation, any investments are worthwhile.
See also the entry Football Pitch: Determining Maintenance Requirements.
What is the expected carrying capacity for the type of pitch?
This will be strongly influenced by soil type, drainage and construction, but also by the effectiveness of the maintenance work being carried out. If the expectation is in excess of what can realistically be sustained in practice, then this will need to be addressed. How is the additional usage to be accommodated on the pitch, whilst retaining the desired quality of surface? Will some form of improved drainage scheme or reconstruction be needed? If so, is this a cost-effective approach to take?
New machinery, equipment or working practices might help with improving efficiency and also effectiveness, with a resulting improvement in pitch surface and playing conditions. Typically, newer technology will often see an improvement, at least in the short term whilst it is operating in peak condition.
An important question to ask, which is not commonly considered, is ‘What is the incremental difference in efficiency and effectiveness from the new machinery, equipment, working practice, when compared with the current situation?”. Is a 50% increase in efficiency and effectiveness worth the expense? Quite probably yes. Is a 2% increase still worth it for the expense of a new machine? Quite probably no. Each club will need to evaluate the incremental benefits against the cost to determine, if for their situation, any investments are worthwhile.
See also the entry Football Pitch: Determining Maintenance Requirements.