Football Pitch Match day playability 
In addition to monitoring performance standards to aid pitch management, the need to ensure a pitch is safe and legal to use on the day of a match is essential if an organisation’s duty of care to its users is to be fulfilled.
Prior to each match taking place a risk assessment of the pitch will need to take place, although this doesn’t need to be too onerous, just reasonable for what is required.
Typically, the checks that will be carried out to ensure a pitch is safe and legal include:
• Are line markings correct and clearly visible? Without a correctly marked pitch then the referee would not proceed.
• Has surface debris been removed? This will mostly be debris which can cause harm or injury such as bottles, large stones, dog faeces, and the like.
• Is there any surface water present, in what location/s and how extensive and deep? A shallow amount, for example less than 3mm, of surface water on a wing in one location, would be classed as very low risk and playable. By contrast, a pitch with significant wet areas in the centre circle, goal and penalty areas and some low depressions on a pitch, which is known to drain very slowly, would be unacceptable and high risk of injury potential and also would cause unacceptable damage to a playing surface: This game would be postponed.
• Are there any trip hazards? This could be unrepaired damage from a previous game, unrepaired vandalism, or animal damage such as rabbit scraping, or mole runs. Monitoring a pitch on a regular basis can help to reduce the chance of these situations being unmanageable on the day of a match.
• Is the grass height suitable? It is unlikely that the length of grass would be unsuitable for the playing of football, unless a mower had broken down or the only grounds person was ill. However, the grass might be at a height where some players / managers might think it is too high, but this might still be within recommended heights for the standard of pitch being provided for play. Whilst 40mm might be considered high by some people, as the season progresses then additional length, such as to 50mm (or slightly higher), might be desirable in order to help protect the pitch and aid pitch playability, especially where the sward has started to become thin.
• Are posts stable, secure, undamaged and safe?
• Are nets correctly fixed, to ensure adequate ‘give’ is provided and not secured by cable ties which will not provide adequate ‘give’ and can injury a player running or falling into them?
• Have flags been put out and are they undamaged?
• Is the run-off area safe and clear of obstructions?