New England Blade - March 2021

March 2021

Synthetic Turf Infill Levels PLUS,

Member Spotlight on Douglas Cosentino

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CHUCK BRAMHALL CAPE COD CBRAMHALL@HARRELLS.COM (508) 400-0600

JIM COHEN EASTERN MA & ME JCOHEN@HARRELLS.COM (978) 337-0222

MIKE DUKETTE CT MDUKETTE@HARRELLS.COM (860) 930-8888

JIM FAVREAU MASSACHUSETTS JFAVREAU@HARRELLS.COM (978) 227-2785

MIKE KROIAN RI, MA MKROIAN@HARRELLS.COM (401) 265-5353

ROGER WHITAKER NH & VT RWHITAKER@HARRELLS.COM (603) 505-1618

JIM WIERZBICKI CT, RI JWIERZBICKI@HARRELLS.COM (860) 424-7250

KENT LEMME NORTHEAST KLEMME@HARRELLS.COM (413) 281-8087

CONNOR CINQUE NORTHEAST CCINQUE@HARRELLS.COM (603) 930-1861

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CONTENTS • March 2021 FEATURES 70 U pcoming

Event

0 Virtual NERTC

DEPARTMENTS 80 C over Story

0 A Year in the Life of a Synthetic Turf Field: Infill Levels

100 R esearch

0 T he Basics of Sports Field Testing

140 M ember

6 President’s Message

6 NESTMA News

Spotlight on

0 Douglas Cosentino

7 STMA News 15 Index of Advertisers On the cover: Medfield, MA High School Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More: TheTurfZone.com

Officers

Directors

Board of Trustees

President

Tom Barry Greens Farms Academy Greens Farms, CT

Kim Britton Saint Anselm College Manchester, NH

Chris McGinty Framingham Parks Department Framingham, MA

Advancing professionalism in sports turf management and athletic field safety through education, research, and scholarships.

The official publication of the New England Sports Turf Managers Association (NESTMA), the New England Blade is dedicated to educating, advising, and informing members of the profession and furthering the goals of the Association. The New England Blade carries news and features related to the sports turf management profession. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material and reserves the right to edit any article or advertisement submitted for publication and to refuse advertising not in keeping with the goals of the Association. Publisher assumes no responsibility for the validity of claims in connection with items appearing in the New England Blade. Mention of a commercial product does not imply endorsement by the New England Blade, NESTMA, or Leading Edge Communications, or preference over similar products not mentioned. The New England Blade is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of NESTMA. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

4 • New England BLADE • March 2021

President Elect Brian Boesch University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI

Treasurer

Art Goodhind Town of Natick Natick, MA

Secretary

Andrew Walsh Pine Banks Park Malden, MA

Past President Ben Polimer Town of Weston Weston, MA

Ed Downing Read Custom Soils/ A.D. Makepeace Wareham, MA Ian Lacy Tom Irwin, Inc. Burlington, MA Ed Olsen Town of Needham Parks & Forestry Needham, MA Jason Puopolo, CSFM City of Nashua Nashua, NH

John Cunniff Walpole, MA Vickie Wallace University of Connecticut Storrs, CT

Management Team Virginia Wood, Executive Director Peggy Benjamin Kristen Dreyer Charissa Sharkey

NESTMA Headquarters 67 West Street Medfield, MA 02052 (508) 653-1241 NESTMA.org NESTMAinfo@gmail.com

Technical Editor Evan Steele Pioneer Athletics Billerica, MA

Victoria Wallace University of Connecticut Extension Storrs, CT

WE COULDN’T BELIEVE THE RESPONSE WE GOT!

“We sprayed a tank-mix with Oasys Ultra and Thatch Relief and within about two weeks, we noticed a huge difference.

From the feel of the surface when you walked on it, to the receptivity of the shot, to the speed of the greens. We couldn’t even believe the response we got.” –

The Liquid Aeration Spray Program reduces the need for expensive mechanical aeration. Research has shown that this easy-to-use spray program improves greens speeds, reduces labor and material costs, and cuts thatch build-up. Liquid Aeration opens up tight soil and increases turfgrass rooting. Treated turfs perform better and bounce back faster after damage.

Chris Black, PGA pro and owner/operator Hickory Grove Golf Course in Oelwein Iowa.

NORTHEAST NURSERY – GOLF & TURF Bill Dixon 978-395-0358 • bdixon@northeastnursery.com

www.soiltechcorp.com Teaming With Biology, Since 1986

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

SIMON SAYS

“Always plan for the fact that no plan ever goes according to plan.” — Simon Sinek

So

true! I used to have a plan. I had timelines. I had schedules. I had charts. I had it all figured out, down to the smallest detail. Then March 2020 hit hard and it all went out the window. Every single plan was upended.

Sure, we floundered around for a bit waiting for things to settle down and become clear. When they didn’t, we punted. Just like all of you, we changed our thinking and did the best we could to adapt and serve the citizens of our community.

I cannot tell you how much I have relied on my NESTMA colleagues during this chaotic time. I know I can pick up the phone to find out how fellow members like Art, Eddie, or Angela are handling the latest government restrictions in their town.

I rely on suppliers like Ian, Ed, and Evan to fill me in on what

they’re hearing across the region. I reach out to educators like Vickie, Jason, and Michelle to help me address issues in our sports fields. Every one of them has been there for me. They’ve answered the phone, or stopped by for a visit, or pointed me in the right direction. I hope they can say the same about me. That’s what NESTMA membership is all about.

Stay safe. Stay involved. Stay in touch!

Chris McGinty NESTMA President

NESTMA NEWS Virtual Annual Meeting a Success

2020 was a year for adapting to change. In keeping with that theme, NESTMA held its first Annual Meeting virtually on December 15.

Members — old and new — gathered via Zoom to catch up with each other and check in on future plans. Ian Lacy did a fine job moderating the meeting and members heard from NESTMA leaders about how the association fared in 2020.

Mary Owen was recognized for her countless contributions to the industry and wished all the best in her retirement. Vickie Wallace was thanked as she exits the board with the good news that she’ll stay involved as a NESTMA Trustee. Special thanks were given to Mike Buras who has served the Trustees well for many years. Art Goodhind gave the Treasurer’s report and the 2021 budget was approved. The election results were announced. Tom Barry was welcomed to the board, outgoing president Ben Polimer received a gavel plaque in recognition of his service, and Chris McGinty took the helm as president.

Thanks! Ben Polimer was recognized for his many years of service to NESTMA.

“ As turfgrass managers, we are seen as frontline employees for towns, colleges, municipalities, and more. We are skilled professionals who help where we are needed. We easily adapt to new things and are able to help at a moment’s notice. Years ago, someone at STMA said to me, ‘as turfgrass managers, we make memories.’ This year, green spaces became havens during dark and lonely days. Many would like to forget 2020, but for some we were able to make their days a little brighter.” - Ben Polimer

6 • New England BLADE • March 2021

Online Learning at its Best Winter Webinars FREE for NESTMA members!

NESTMA’s education committee put together an outstanding winter webinar speaker line-up filled with cutting-edge information. In January, Art Eddy of RePlay Maintenance offered practical advice on synthetic turf maintenance (See page 8); February featured Pam Sherratt, Ohio State University, with techniques for early season turf pest and management; and in March George Mullan, CEO of SISGrass comes all the way from the U.K to share the latest on hybrid grass stitching as a means to extend the life of sports fields.

Thanks to our winter webinar sponsors

Harrell’s, Hart’s Turf Pro, Read Custom Soils, Shaw Sports Turf, and Turf Products Corp. Learn more at NESTMA.org.

Dues Renewal is Easy Online

Many thanks to members who have renewed their dues for 2021.

Online renewal is super simple at NESTMA.org. Please remember that NESTMA dues renewal is separate from STMA. •

STMA NEWS STMA Virtual Conference

Hundreds of professional sports field managers from across the U.S. and beyond participated in the STMA conference and exhibition held online January 12 – 13, 2021. Attendees heard from top academics and practitioners in a wide range of educational sessions; engaged with leading industry suppliers through the virtual trade show; and met with each other via networking virtual rooms, award ceremonies, and more. All reports indicate that the first ever STMA virtual conference was a resounding success.

Congratulations

NESTMA past president Ben Polimer was recognized with the President’s Award for Leadership at STMA’s 2021 conference. Ben, along with a number of other industry leaders, volunteered his time to help develop STMA’s Route to Recovery series – a resource designed to help sports turf managers meet the challenges of the pandemic including specific strategies for re-opening after lockdown.

Spring Renovations

Spring field preparation may look a little bit different for 2021. Cancelled fall sports seasons may have been moved to the spring, reductions in labor may have upended winter and spring field preparations, and budget reductions may require you to be creative with your resources. STMA members Steve Bush, CSFM, Clark Cox, CSFM, Eric Holland, CSFM, Chad Price, CSFM, CFB, and Scott Thompson, CSFM have developed a Field Renovation Guide to help you make decisions about if your field needs renovations and what kinds of renovations may be necessary. The guide details maintenance practices, irrigation and drainage solutions, infield skins and mounds, as well as proper turfgrass establishment. https://11luuvtufne6f2y33i1nvedi-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/ uploads/2021/01/stma-field-renovation-guide-2.pdf

STMA 2020 Field of the Year Winners

Every year, STMA presents the industry’s highest honors to members who manage baseball, football, soccer, softball and other sporting playing surfaces at the professional, collegiate, schools (K-12), and parks and recreation levels.

The 2020 winners are: PROFESSIONAL Baseball – Smokies Stadium (Sevierville, Tenn.): Eric Taylor, Head Groundskeeper Soccer – New York Red Bulls Academy Field (Whippany, N.J.): Zach Holm, CSFM, Manager, RBTF Operations COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY Football – Bobby Bowden Field at Florida State University (Tallahasse, Fla.): Chris Denson, CSFM, Athletic Turf Superintendent SCHOOLS AND PARKS Baseball – Ray Cipperly Field at Middlesex County Vo-Tech School District (East Brunswick, N.J.): Keith Fisher, Grounds Foreman Football – Walsh Field at Pace Academy Riverview Sports Complex (Mableton, Ga.): Daniel Prince, Sports Complex Facility Manager

“2020 has been a trying year for everyone, and sports field managers were forced to adapt and find innovative ways to ensure high-quality field conditions for all athletes,” said Kim Heck, CAE, CEO of STMA. “Each of our winners displayed a commitment to excellence while upholding the unwavering commitment of STMA members to field safety and playability.”

A panel of 14 judges independently scored entries based on playability, appearance of surfaces, utilization of innovative solutions, effective use of budget and implementation of a comprehensive agronomic program. Winners received a plaque, were recognized at the virtual STMA annual Awards Banquet, and featured in a 2021 issue of SportsField Management, the official monthly publication of STMA. •

UPCOMING EVENT New England Regional Turfgrass Foundation

VIRTUAL CONFERENCE March 2 & 3, 2021

By Ben Polimer, NERTF Board Member

NERTF promotes turfgrass research in New England with funding generated by industry members’ participation in the foundation’s annual conference.

Research funding to date has surpassed $2.5 million.

This year’s conference will be held virtually on March 2 & 3, 2021.

Tuesday, March 2 will offer 12 different seminars.

Programs of special interest to sports turf managers include: • I nsecticides for Managing Turf Damaging Insects with Olga Kostromtska, Ph.D., UMass • Understanding & Managing New and Old Weeds of the Northeast Region with Matt Elmore, Ph.D, Rutgers University & Steven McDonald, Turfgrass Diseases Solutions • Leveraging your Budget for Decision Making & Growth with Art Goodhind, MCA, Town of Natick, MA •P lant & Soil Supplements: Past, Present & Future with Cale Bigelow, Ph.D., Purdue University Full Tuesday program available at https://www.nertf.org/tuesday-education Wednesday, March 3 will offer 4 tracts of education in two-hour sessions with two sessions in each tract.

The sports turf management tract features: •S ports Field Grub Management with Ben McGraw, Ph.D., Penn State University •S ports Turf Diseases Strategies with Bruce Clarke, Ph.D., Rutgers University •K eeping Your Team Safe with Bryan Unruh, Ph.D., University of Florida •W etting Agents on Sports Field with Nathaniel Mitkowski, Ph.D., URI •R enovation of Rentschler Field with James Lappetito, Spectra by Comcast Spectacor •S ports Turf Management Strategies when Pesticides are not an Option with Jason Henderson, Ph.D., UConn •T ank Mixing for Sports Turf with Rick Fletcher, NUFARM Full Wednesday program available at https://www.nertf.org/wednesday-program While we’ll miss gathering in person this year, we encourage everyone to participate in NERTC 2021 via Zoom. My thanks to fellow NESTMA members Mary Owen and Mike Buras, CSFM, as well as the rest of the NERTF board and conference committee for their hard work in putting together an exciting virtual program. For more information and to register visit NERTF.org or call 401-848-0004. • March 2021 • New England BLADE • 7

COVER STORY

A Year in the Life of a Synthetic Turf Field: Infill Levels

By Arthur Eddy, ASLA, LEED AP

A

synthetic turf field can be a great asset for an athletic facility limited by space and increased pressures from the demands of multiple teams and users. For a long time, there was the perception that synthetic turf fields are maintenance free, but that ideal is the farthest from the truth. The reality is that maintenance is critical to the performance, safety, and longevity of the turf.

Synthetic turf systems are made up of synthetic turf fibers and some type of infill whether that is a crumb rubber or a natural material. Regardless of the infill material, it will move and displace within the turf fibers during use. This movement will have an impact on the safety and performance on the field including the following: GMax: Any turf system that does not include a shock pad is relying on the infill for its impact attenuation. The higher the GMax, the harder the surface; the lower the GMax, the softer the surface. ASTM F1936 requires a maximum GMax of 200 g.

Currently, the NFL and FIFA require 165 g.

HIC: Head Injury Criteria measures head impact on the field.

HIC is measured by critical fall height. World Rugby requires a critical fall height of >1.3m.

Rotational Resistance: Rotational resistance simulates an athlete’s ability to alter direction. The level of infill and the amount of fiber revealed will have a direct impact on how an athlete’s foot will react in the field. FIFA requires 30Nm-50Nm. Vertical Deformations: Vertical deformation is the energy restitution that moves into an athlete’s legs through the surface. Too soft, and athletes can get fatigued and too hard, athletes will feel soreness or stiffness. FIFA requires deformation that is between 4mm-10mm.

Any of the above safety testing is impacted by changes in the turf system and more importantly changes in infill depths. Being charged with maintaining a synthetic turf field, it is critical that infill is being checked on a regular basis and that attention is given to high use areas, i.e. soccer penalty kick dots, corner kicks, lacrosse mounts, center field dot, and high use practice areas, etc.

Adding infill when necessary will help to keep the surface safe, performing, and add longevity by deferring costly replacement.

Simply grooming the field may not be enough.

In a year of a synthetic turf field, your high use areas are changing based on seasonal sports. Adapting to the changes will help to focus maintenance efforts. Unlike a natural grass field, without further investigation you are not going to see the areas that need attention without the appropriate infill depth equipment. Lastly, it is important to understand the frequency with which you need to attend to your field. Each manufacturer has guidelines as to how often you should be maintaining your field to ensure that you are meeting your manufacturer’s warranty and log all the work completed.

A synthetic turf surface can be a valuable asset that can have a wide range of benefits providing safe, performing facilities and proper maintenance goes hand and hand with the users’ enjoyment. •

8 • New England BLADE • March 2021

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE Fall Maintenance

Spring Maintenance

WINTER

March: • Blow off Track • Clean out track drains • Debris Removal • Fill LJ/TJ Pits • Inspection • Line Painting • Metal Removal • Surface Aeration • Surface Brushing • Top Dress

April: • Debris Removal • Inspection • Surface Brushing May: • Debris Removal • Line Painting • Metal Removal • Surface Brushing • Top Dress

Winter Maintenance December: • Debris Removal • Inspection • Snow Blowing • Surface Brushing • Top Dress

SUMMER

September • Debris Removal • Inspection • Line Painting • Metal Removal • Surface Aeration • Surface Brushing • Top Dress

October: • Debris Removal • Inspection • Surface Brushing November: • Debris Removal • Line Painting • Metal Removal • Surface Aeration • Surface Brushing • Top Dress

Summer Maintenance

SPRING

June: • Debris Removal • Inspection • Metal Removal • Surface Brushing July: • Debris Removal • Inspection • Surface Brushing

January • Snow Removal February • Snow Removal

August: • Debris Removal • Line Painting • Metal Removal • Performance Testing • Surface Aeration • Surface Brushing • Top Dress

FALL

RePlay’s maintenance package keeps your field at its optimal levels.

Editor’s Note: It is important to check your individual synthetic turf manufacturer’s warranty regarding proper maintenance practices.

Email: info@replaymaintenanceusa.com

www.replaymaintenanceusa.com

Phone: 877-641-1819

This article is based on a NESTMA webinar presented in January by Art Eddy, ASLA LEED AP. Art is CEO of RePlay Maintenance in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Connect with Art via email at aeddy@replay maintenanceusa.com, or phone (877) 641-1819.

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March 2021 • New England BLADE • 9

RESEARCH

The Basics of

FIELD TESTING

By Kyley Dickson, Ph.D. and John Sorochan, Ph.D. FIGURE 1: Side cut of soil from a side soil profiler

FIGURE 2: Sand based root zone that has a pocket of clay

10 • New England BLADE • March 2021

A

thletic fields require maintenance whether they are natural or synthetic. The challenging aspect for athletic fields is that they change as a season progresses. One of the best ways to reduce injuries and increase performance is to have a consistent playing surface that is within acceptable ranges for athlete safety. Without regular field testing, it is hard to determine variances in playing surface consistency as use/wear increases.

Knowing how a field is changing throughout the year can help field managers make data driven decisions to optimize the performance of the playing surface and in turn the safety of the surface for the athlete. Keeping records of different field properties across a season and years can help paint the picture for the field managers on what is also going on below the surface. Unfortunately, testing takes time and can be expensive, and these draw backs can lead to many overlooking the need to test a field. However, testing is another important tool to have in the field managers toolbox.

One of the main benefits of testing a field is it indicates consistency and characteristics of a field’s impact on athletes.

Tests that are conducted give clues to the health of a field and help identify maintenance practices that are needed. While there are different testing criteria for natural and synthetic surfaces, there are shared tests beneficial for both. However, not all tests can be used on both types of fields. In determining what tests are needed for a surface, a few questions need to be answered: first, is it natural or synthetic; second, what sport or sports are played on the field; and lastly, what is the budget and time available for testing. This information will help determine what tests would be the most beneficial information for a surface. To start, some basic tests need to be established for field managers as a base.

The University of Tennessee Center for Athletic Field Safety (UTCAFS) has a suggested basic kit for natural and synthetic fields. Natural field basic test kit should include a soil moisture probe, a side soil profiler, and a rotational traction testing device.

The cost for the components to buy new will range from $2,500 to $5,000 depending on which products are selected. On a synthetic surface the basic kit recommended is an infill depth gauge, surface temperature measuring device, and some type of rotational traction device. The costs for synthetic turf range from $850 to $1,000. All kit estimates are from price researching different suppliers’ websites and totaling the cost. The purpose of this article is not to promote one specific brand’s testing equipment, there are a variety of products available.

All testing done is a snapshot of that field at that particular time, the same test could be conducted the following week with different results being observed. That is why taking multiple readings in a year will give a more detailed picture of what is happening. The other key in getting a good snapshot is testing for the variables that have the greatest impact. Published research has identified a few variables that have been found to influence many parts of the field (Baker, 1991; Dickson et al., 2018). For natural grass fields, the soil moisture content of the field has been found to impact: surface hardness, traffic tolerance of grass, rotational traction/resistance, increase in soil bulk density when trafficked, head injury criterion, and translational traction (Baker and Gibbs, 1989; Baker, 1991; Dickson et al., 2018a, Dickson et al., 2018b). Soil type of a field is important, because soil moisture content will have a greater influence on the playability of a soil that is higher in silt plus clay than a sand based field (Dickson et al., 2018). While there are a multitude of tests for additional field performance parameters, getting the soil moisture content right could improve safety, longevity, and performance of a field,

RESEARCH • continued

in addition to improving the overall quality of the grass. There are several different kinds of devices that measure soil moisture, and most of them can test fields relatively fast.

Another tool for natural grass is a side soil profiler. This is a device that lets you take a side cut out of your field to see what is really going on below the surface (Figure 1). This device can be used to determine: root depth, layering issues, black layer, and buried objects just to name a few. Figure 2 shows a sand based root zone that has a pocket of clay preventing consistent grass growth. The grass above the clay was worse than the surrounding areas, and a soil profiler revealed the problem. After a soil profile is taken, it can be reinserted back into the area tested with minimal surface disruption Rotational traction is an additional tool that is very useful for both natural and synthetic surfaces. These testing devices give more of a performance and safety standpoint for the athletes on the field. Trying to keep a field consistent for rotational traction is helpful in providing a consistent footing and potentially safer playing surfaces. Rotational traction has been associated with both lower extremity injuries and grass health (Orchard et al., 1999; Stier et al., 1999). The smaller portable devices are relatively easy to use and quick. These devices will slightly disrupt the playing surface where tested, but it is still considered minimal surface disruption.

For synthetic turf, infill depth can be just as important as soil moisture is for natural grass. The infill depth is something that is taken for granted on many synthetic fields. As seasons progress on synthetic turf, infill can be moved around and create spots on the field that are lower/higher than other areas. Variances in infill depth have been found to impact: surface hardness, surface temperature, and rotational traction (Center for Athletic Field Safety Reports). Infill depth is a very easy measurement and can be done very quickly. This test lets the field manager know infill is needed because the levels are too low, or if the infill simply needs to be redistributed from areas that are too high to areas that are too low. The goal is keeping the infill depth as close to manufacturers recommendation. Surface temperature is another important variable. Synthetic turfs have temperatures that can be much higher than natural grass fields during full sun hot conditions (Lim and Walker, 2009; Thoms et al., 2016). As heat increases, it has a detrimental impact on athletes, decreasing performance and FIGURE 3: Sample test location outline

12 • New England BLADE • March 2021

increasing the need for breaks and rehydration (Charalambous et al., 2016). Surface temperatures can be taken with a variety of tools, but the temperature gun used by most automotive repair shops is a fast and easy device to determine the surface temperature. While little can be done to reduce synthetic turf temperature after a system is installed, educating field stakeholders of potential heat concerns is one potential plan of action.

Difficulty comes in choosing what tests have time and the budget to be completed. The last thing a field manager needs are tests that take a long time to complete. Some of the tests do not need to be collected before every game, some could be done once a year. In addition, the cost of testing devices has a wide range from affordable to very expensive. Each addition of a test can increase the cost and time to complete but give greater detail about the field. There are companies that test both natural and synthetic athletic fields. These companies can provide a wide range of tests and provide a summary of their findings and recommendations for any actions needed. While more information is always desired, selecting the most important tests can save time and money.

The tests described above are just the basics while there are many more tests available if budget and time permits. Another consideration is what sport/sports are played on the field. In soccer, FIFA has requirements about ball roll and ball rebound that take place on a field, while in football, knowing surface hardness and rotational traction are of greater importance than ball to surface interaction questions. One way to help determine what tests are important for a particular sport are generally listed by a professional sports governing body (i.e. FIFA handbook).

Currently, most field testing is only required at the professional level and some sports do not have sports specific tests. However, there are universal tests such as surface hardness and rotational traction on most surfaces that can be completed. Another key in field testing is being able to interpret the results in a meaningful way and have a record of the testing. It is recommended to test the same 8–12 spots (Example, Figure 3) on a field each time while testing additional areas that may be of concern. Testing the same spot will tell you how it is changing each time testing is completed.

The more locations that can be tested on a field, the better. A representative sample of the field is desired for testing. Keeping data in a spreadsheet or some type of record keeping system to

continued • RESEARCH

go back and review is vital. If comparing multiple fields on a complex, each field will have some variation from each other due to soil type, construction, grass, infill, etc. Focusing on the testing within each field shows variability that can be addressed to improve safety and performance.

While there are more tests available, the basic tests suggested can potentially increase the performance and eventual safety of an athletic field and can be completed quickly with minimal expense. These quick data snapshots throughout a season would take less than an hour to complete per field and would provide extremely useful information for the field manager. When you put the snapshots together for the entire year, you get a pretty clear picture of the changes that occur throughout the season.

Ultimately, these data will also aid in maintenance decisions needed to provide a consistent playing surface. When it comes to field testing start with the basics and work out from there.

WORK CITED

Baker, S.W. 1991. Temporal variation of selected mechanical properties of natural turf football pitches. J. Sports Turf Res. Inst. 67:83–92.

Baker, S.W., and R.J. Gibbs. 1989. Making the most of natural turf pitches. Case studies: II. Playing quality. Nat. Turf Pitches Prototypes Advis. Panel Rep. 4. Sports Council, London.

Charalambous, L., und Wilkau, H.C.V.L., Potthast, W. and Irwin, G., 2016. The effects of artificial surface temperature on

mechanical properties and player kinematics during landing and acceleration. Journal of sport and health science, 5(3), pp.355-360.

Dickson, K.H., J.C. Sorochan, J.T. Brosnan, J.C. Stier, J. Lee, and W.D. Strunk. 2018a. Impact of soil water content on hybrid bermudagrass athletic fields. Crop Sci. 58:1416-1425.

Dickson, K.H.,W. Strunk, and J. Sorochan. 2018b. Head impact criteria of natural grass athletic fields is affected by soil type and volumetric water content. Proceedings 2:270. doi:10.3390/ proceedings2060270 Lim, L., and Walker, R., 2009. An assessment of chemical leaching, released to the air and temperature at crumb-rubber infilled synthetic turf fields. New York State Dept. of Health. pp. 1–140 Orchard, J., H. Seward, J. McGivern, and S. Hood. 1999. Rainfall evaporation and the risk of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury in the Australian Football League. Med. J. Aust. 170:304–306.

Stier, J. C., J. N. Rogers, J. R. Crum, and P. E. Rieke. 1999.

Flurprimidol effects on Kentucky bluegrass under reduced irradiance. Crop Sci. 39:1423-1430.

Thoms, A.W.; Brosnan, J.T.; Zidek, J.M.; Sorochan, J.C. Models for Predicting Surface Temperatures on Synthetic Turf Playing Surfaces. Procedia Eng. 2014, 72, 895–900, doi:10.1016/ j.proeng. 2014.06.153. • This article was originally published in SportsField Management.

March 2021 • New England BLADE • 13

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON

DOUGLAS COSENTINO Grounds Supervisor and Landscape Manager Colby College, Waterville, ME A.S. In Turfgrass Management from UMass B.S. in Plant Biology and Recreational Tourism from Westfield State College Certified Master Gardener

How did you get your start in the turfgrass industry?

Working summers, after school, and spring breaks at Nashawtuc Country Club in Concord, MA. Where did you go from there?

I worked in the golf industry for many years — on both the East and West coast — before making the jump to sports turf at Colby College.

Who were your mentors when you were first starting out in the business?

Dan O’Connell, who was the Assistant at Nashawtuc CC, taught me to not take everything so seriously and to have fun at work. I spent my first two years in college going for an accounting degree before he helped me realize that wasn’t what I really wanted to do, and I switched to turf. If you can still smile after an 80-hour week two decades into a career, then you’re in the right spot.

When I got into management, I learned a lot from Matt TenEyck.

Even though I spent the shortest time with him of any supervisor in my career, something clicked. I’ve stayed in contact with him for career and personal advice or just a good laugh ever since.

What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?

If you don’t look forward to going to work in the morning, you need to make a change. After 24 years in the industry, I still get excited when the garage door goes up in the morning.

What is the next “game-changer” you see on the horizon?

It looks like robots and automation. I am also encouraged by the increase in effective organic products. With the recent push to keep pesticide use to an absolute minimum, these emerging products will be more important than ever.

What’s your favorite/most useful: Equipment? Ventrac tractors. Also the ProTecTurf Pusher for synthetic fields, this took days off of our field clearing process.

Product? Organic fertilizers and insect products. With our emphasis on sustainability at Colby, the new products have been great.

Technology? WiFi-enabled irrigation systems with phone apps, no more rushing back to make sure the sprinklers aren’t set to go off during a practice or game due to scheduling changes.

Can you share a bit about your family life and what you enjoy doing in your free time?

I spend the majority of my free time restoring Jeeps and renovating our farmhouse and barn. My wife of 13 years was thankfully very supportive (or pretended to be) in the beginning when I would come home and say, “Hey, what about moving here?” Rounding out the homestead are three kids, two dogs, a pig, five ducks and fifteen chickens. Our current pandemic goal is to visit all the lighthouses in Maine.

14 • New England BLADE • March 2021

What advice would you share with people starting out in sports turf management today?

Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and cold call someone for advice or help. Sometimes a quick call can give you an answer you would never think of on your own. Also, early on in your career try to get as much variety in your career as possible. I have worked in MA, CA, CT, CO, FL, NY and ME and every area had a different approach to the same situations or was dealing with similar issues that helped me later in my career. You miss out on a lot of time saving techniques if you always do it the way you’ve always done it. You need to embrace change.

What have you found the most beneficial about being a NESTMA member?

The availability of continuing education on current topics.

Being way up North and with all in-person conferences going virtual, NESTMA’s increased emphasis on webinars has been very helpful. •

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS — NESTMA Members Receive a 20% DISCOUNT on Advertising in New England Blade The Charles Hart Seed Company............... 13 www.hartseed.com

Leading Edge Communications.................. 15 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com

Read Custom Soils.......................................... 11 www.readcustomsoils.com

Harrell’s LLC.......................Inside Front Cover www.harrells.com

Progressive Turf Equipment Inc...................9 www.progressiveturfequip.com

Kesmac...................................................................3 www.brouwerkesmac.com

Replay Maintenance USA............ Back Cover www.replaymaintenanceusa.com

Steve Nichols / Soil Technologies Corp. / Armorex Nematicide.........................................5 www.soiltechcorp.com

March 2021 • New England BLADE • 15