12.21.09
In the off-season
Next to “Is that grass real” the other question asked most frequently was “What do you do in the offseason”
Rest. You’re turf gets an off-season and so should you. In fact, that is the best thing about being a groundskeeper in Indiana. Though you deal with turf disease with the heat and humidity of July and August, the light at the end of the tunnel is December and January when frigid temperatures are just as reliable.
Meet with administrators. Producing outstanding playing surfaces is more than a one-man job. And, I’ll argue that it is more than one department. Excellence comes from shared goals. You wanting perfection while your bosses are OK with mediocrity will leave you horribly short of your goals and always pushing uphill to get there. Use the off-season to share your goals with others, be they your bosses, coaches, athletes.
Write your playbook. A close second to a shared vision is a hands-on plan. Such an outline is what connects the groundskeeping philosophy to its realization. When I had my own field, I could tell you on January 5 what products I would be applying to the field on August 5 on the first day of the team’s road trip. Put it to paper and plan ahead. It’ll make the grind of the season all the more bearable…not to mention easier on the budget.
Set your roster. Considering staffing needs and decisions is more easily done now instead of in March when the urgency of who is going to mow the soccer field plays a factor in the decision. For staff that shows extra enthusiasm (and for yourself), look for professional development opportunities. Think tradeshows – i.e. Midwest Regional Turf Foundation (MRTF), Indiana Parks & Recreation Association, IHSAA – all offer January events with educational components.
Inventory equipment. The right tools make any project easier and increase your chances of success. With multiple storage facilities in different locations, keeping track of what equipment is at your disposal is a job in itself. Task your team to take inventory at each site and devise a plan for sharing equipment among the staff. Then, work with vendors and sister organizations or schools systems to arrange borrowing arrangements and resource sharing.
Happy Holidays to everyone!
Play on!
--Jamie
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About Me
- Jamie Mehringer
- Co-founder and partner of J&D Turf. A sportsturf junkie, I cut my teeth at Victory Field with the Indianapolis Indians maintaining the playing surface at what has been dubbed "The Best Minor League Ballpark in America." From intern, to assistant to head groundskeeper over 10 seasons, I was director of operations for the team before realizing sportsturf was my passion, baseball was merely the game. My bachelor’s degree in sports management from Marian University and a degree in turfgrass science from Purdue University serve as the initial credibility with clients ranging from university to K-12 administrators, parks and rec officials, and maintenance crews to my friends with their own fields in the Major Leagues. The "Smart Turf" blog is my way of sharing my experiences as consultant, groundskeeper and business owner with the larger sportsturf community. There was a day early in my career that I'd joke that I live to make tall grass short. Given the expanding horizon of this profession over the last decade, I've come to realize and respect it as much more.
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