pitchcare TRAINING & education


pitchcare TRAINING & education


The Volunteer’s Path JON LAWRENCE


My introducon in to the mysterious world of a cricket groundsman came at the tender age of 13, in 1982. As a junior member of the local club, we were encouraged to help out on match days as soon as we were strong enough to get the roller started. I honestly can't remember the first me I helped with end of season renovaons, though I imagine it was around the same age. At the age of 18 I went and joined the Navy and, although my playing cricket connued, it wasn't unl 1994 that I was next to get involved in groundwork - though this was only for one season prior to joining Plymouth CC. At Plymouth we regularly had working pares to help out with whatever needed doing. But, it wasn't unl we took on a second ground that I realised how much I enjoyed working on pitches. I took on the responsibility of looking aer that ground under the tutelage of HG Ken Wheaton, I joined Pitchcare and became a member of the IOG.


Plan for Professionalism


Maybe it was dangerous of Pitchcare to invite the thoughts of David Golding, GTC’s Educaon Director, on the state of educaon and training in the sports turf sector, but we thought it would be worth the risk!


David and our Managing Director, Dave Saltman, have similar aims for the sector and, thankfully, their drive, knowledge and experience is resulng in opportunies for all to fulfill their dreams.


David now takes up the story... Having become a greenkeeping apprence in the 1960s, I have spent what now seems a lifeme in a sector that is second to none in terms of passion and progression. But how and why did so many of us join the sports turf sector and can we today, hand on heart, encourage others to join us and take the industry forward for years to come? Probably a good number of today’s top Course Managers and Head Groundsmen chose to work outdoors because they had a love of a parcular sport and were more “hands-on” than academic. Certainly, I have always believed that


employers should look beyond the qualificaons in the cv, important though they are; character, enthusiasm, passion and a commitment to improving the organisaon are also important. Those who prepare pitches, courses and


venues are sll seen, at best, as the unsung heroes of sport. But their image must connue to improve if we are to aract youngsters and career changers into this economically important sector. The skills of the greenkeeper and


Jon Lawrence As I realised this was something that I wanted to


do more and more, I started looking into what courses were available. I went through the IOG training (only up to level 2 so far) and, when I moved to Somerset, I was near enough to a college to get my pescide training done. As for training in the future, I'm hoping to get on


to a higher level course at the end of next year (assuming it's on suitable dates) and I'm looking into doing some distance learning to gain some more 'formal' qualificaons. I've also heard rumours of some 'advanced' courses being prepared which hopefully will come to fruion. So, what do I get out of being a volunteer


Groundsman? Basically, it comes down to the enjoyment of seeing people playing on a surface that I've prepared. Whether I'll remain in the volunteer sector is something to consider in the future.


groundsman are varied and were once gained solely through working with an experienced head man. This old fashioned way of learning, oen referred to as “learning from Nellie”, has served industries well for years and, for sports turf, it has proved to be the foundaon of today's educaon, training and qualificaons. The tradional route of achieving a


qualificaon was day or block release at a land based college and, whilst this is sll offered by many centres, we now see flexible opons for learning to meet everybody’s needs. No excepons! Head Groundsmen and Greenkeepers, Golf


Course and Stadia Managers now appreciate that a team of skilled operaves is vital and that successfully established on the job skills training is their responsibility. They are aware that the career structure


that used to stop at “maintain” now adds “manage” as a key skill for those seeking to reach the top of their profession. Advanced technical, supervisory and management skills are all part of the modern day sports turf


manager’s porolio and they must work closely with their employers to develop an effecve staff development programme which includes provision for their own Connual Professional Development. Professionalism is, I believe, the secret to


gaining the respect and credibility of both end users and employers. For example, we sll get very frustrated


when players or journalists jump at any opportunity to “have a pop” at a venue, but there are courses available to enable our leading managers to deal with the media in a professional and dignified way, thereby rising above their inial frustraon and enhancing their credibility. I truly believe that through establishing a


career structure which is built on industry skill sets leading to Government recognised qualificaons, we will have something to be proud of. I have the utmost respect for those who


are conscienous, are happy in their work and have no ambion to supervise or manage. However, I trust they understand why we must offer training opportunies to those who want to climb the ladder, so that they are able to compete with others from outside the industry for the top posions. Early in the 1970s the GTC made a policy


decision to refer employers and students to colleges that had the turf lecturers and resources to deliver specialist turf courses. The GTC Approved Training Provider network sll exists and whilst all offer the popular N/SVQ Level 2 Sports Turf qualificaons, few offer the whole range of turf courses. Significantly, all the qualificaons can be gained through a variety of delivery methods such as ‘on the job’ and online. So what about the future? My advice is to


take every opportunity to add to your knowledge and skills. I know that Pitchcare, in associaon with


BIGGA, will be offering an extensive menu of training and educaon ranging from basic cra level to management orientated cerficates of competence. There will be something on the menu for you. Bite size learning is the future! And all designed to complement the formal qualificaons. So, just like that young apprence back in the 1960s, aim high, have a dream and go for it!


If I can help please do not hesitate to


contact me on 01347 838640 or email: david@the-gtc.co.uk


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