Rugby Football Union Pitch Maintenance 
The aim is to provide an even surface, without significant undulations, allowing players to run without fear of stumbling. The surface and especially the root system must provide a good grip for scrummage, a maul, a ruck, tackling and turning. The size of a scrum pack will depend on age group and standard of play, but for one adult team the total mass of bodies forming a scrum could readily be in the range of 800-900kg; the force exerted from the scrum will be considerable and it is essential that the strength of the grass and root binding strength is able to withstand this interaction between players and ground.
Rugby Pitch: Determining Maintenance Requirements
One of the commonest questions which needs to be considered is ‘What do I, or we, need to do to maintain the pitch?’ To answer this question is no simple matter because there are many variables to consider and just as importantly, if not more so, is the interconnections between the many variables. No wonder there is such a diversity of opinion and practice in the maintenance of rugby (league or union) pitches.
One of the first steps is to think about are the aim and objectives for the pitch.
Two key areas that will need to be considered are:
• The desired quality standard of pitch surfa
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Safe Use of Pesticides: Applied Knowledge
Knowing more of the 'What' and 'How' to safely handle and apply pesticides is an essential requirement of becoming a competent user.
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Safe Use of Pesticides: Reflective Questions
The following questions can help to reinforce good practice in the safe use of pesticides and are indicative of the type of question that might appear in a formal assessment test, however, they are not intended as being representative of actual questions that might appear in a test. All users of pesticides in a professional setting must have a valid certificate of competence in the safe use of pesticides. Regulations and practices can change over time, so it might be that some of the following would require amending to meet current requirements.
Sales Plan
A strategy which identifies the aims and objectives as well as requirements needed, often termed a roadmap, to generate and improve sales and income, as well as profit, for an organisation. Targets and performance criteria will be included, as well as an analysis of market trends, details of market segments, resource capabilities and requirements. A sales plan will be part of a larger marketing plan.
Sankey Diagram
A visual flow diagram which represents data as arrows and/or flow lines, with the width being proportional to the total value. This is one way of representing cost and staff input breakdowns in relation to a range of cost-centres or subject headings.
The Sankey diagram below provides a visual example of how a grounds operative's annual workdays might typically be apportioned, either as a forward planning tool or a reflective tool as part of a continuous improvement programme. The productive time and supporting times can be further divided to help identify specific areas that might be i
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Schedule
A plan of actions or events, identifying when they should be carried out. This might be presented in a list form or in tabular format, such as a calendar of works for an annual maintenance programme.
Scientific Management
A theory of management which analyses work processes and suggests adaptations to the workflow to improve productivity. Work is broken down into component parts and timings established for these; a detailed analysis can then take place to determine the most efficient method of production. A leading advocate of this approach was Frederick Taylor (d. 1915).
Scope
A defined and agreed extent for a project or activity.
Scorch
A light browning of a turf surface, which can lead to the death of the grass plant. It can be caused by a range of conditions. For example, fertiliser spillage; miscalculation of application rate; incorrect pesticide application; oil leakage; extreme weather conditions. This may also be referred to as just Scorching or Turf Scorching.