Training & Development
TRAINING with
pitchcare.com
The Pitchcare Artificial Sports Surfaces Maintenance Course
If you have read the article, by Nick Harris of Technical Surfaces, on the maintenance of artificial sports surfaces elsewhere in this magazine, you will already be aware that regular time and effort is required to keep such a facility in good condition.
As Nick points out, even if you are lucky enough to have a brand new surface and a contractor who visits regularly, day to day maintenance remains an essential contributory factor in ensuring the longevity of your pitch.
The reality is that, as always, the grassroots groundsman has to make the most of what he has in the way of limited finances, equipment and time, and some basic knowledge of the construction and maintenance requirements of his artificial facilities could go a long way to helping him maximise these resources.
To this end, we have developed a one
Report from States of Guernsey bespoke training course
We were delighted to be invited by Keith Gallienne, Director of Leisure Services at the States of Guernsey, to deliver turf maintenance training to a group of their groundsmen.
Our Training Coordinator, Chris Johnson, arranged the course in cooperation with Shane Moon, Ground Supervisor at the States of Guernsey Culture and Leisure Department. Shane did a great job in liaising with various sports clubs on the island to encourage
representatives from all local football clubs, other States departments, Elizabeth College, Guernsey Cricket Board and the three golf clubs to join the course.
Mel Pooley, one of our senior instructors, delivered two days of training on maintenance techniques for Winter Sports (Football and Rugby) and Artificial Sports Surfaces, covering all the processes, machinery and equipment required to prepare,
day training course, independently accredited by Lantra, which is designed to provide a basic knowledge of artificial sports turf maintenance. It has been designed primarily for volunteer or part-time groundsmen, but would be equally beneficial to a person just starting out in the profession.
The training enables the groundsman to grasp the basic needs of artificial sports surfaces throughout a twelve month period. Included within the course manual are detailed instructions for a comprehensive range of maintenance operations, together with a table illustrating the frequency with which these should be carried out over the course of a year.
Topics covered include:
• Why have artificial surfaces? • The need for regular maintenance • Key artificial sports turf requirements
• Typical construction methods - Engineered profile - Dynamic profile
maintain and renovate the playing surface. As well as covering the core course content, Mel was able to pass on all sorts of other tips and hints, aided by the enthusiasm of the group to learn all they could from an expert, and a seemingly unending stream of questions.
Mel also spent time outside with the learners, considering the condition of the turf and artificial surfaces at the impressive Footes Lane Stadium, the main football, rugby and athletics stadium in Guernsey.
Guernsey groundsmen with Mel Pooley (second from right) and Shane Moon (right)
Mel said, “The course seems to have been a great success from the comments I had from the lads at the end of the course, and I certainly enjoyed delivering it to them.”
John Noyce from Everris also contributed to the training, giving presentations on Integrated Turf Management and Weeds, Pests and Diseases.
Shane Moon said; “We all appreciated
Mel, John and Chris travelling over from the mainland to deliver this course. Mel’s instruction came over really well due to his enthusiasm and knowledge, and all who attended commented on this. I am really keen to continue a training programme for the local groundsmen, and Pitchcare can deliver the training that we want.”
For further details on all our training courses please email Christine Johnson at
chris@pitchcare.com www.groundsmantraining.co.uk 138 PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2012
• The different types of artificial surface - tufted, non-filled, sand dressed, sand filled, long pile 3G, needle punched, water based, other surfaces
• Problems encountered • Basic maintenance operations • Specialist maintenance operations • Maintenance schedules • Health and safety
We shall be including a series of these basic maintenance courses at various venues around the UK during 2012. If you would be interested in attending a course in your locality, just email me with your contact details and tell me where in the country you live.
If you can get together a group of six or more who would like to attend this, or any of our similar one day courses on Spring Cricket Preparation, Football/Rugby, or Bowls Green turf maintenance, let me know and we will look into running a course at your club.
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