The Course is designed to provide a basic knowledge of winter sports pitch maintenance – Rugby and Football. It enables the groundsman to grasp the basic needs of a winter sports turf pitch throughout a 12 month period.

The Course Manual, a copy of which is given to each delegate, includes working diaries showing the range of tasks needed to be accomplished each month.  This course will benefit a groundsman working either alone or as a member of a bigger organisation.  It has been specifically designed with the volunteer/part time groundsman in mind, typically looking after the local village or community grounds.

Delegates will learn:

• To consider and provide safe working practice when completing all tasks and operations on winter sports pitches.
• To understand and appreciate the general requirements of play for winter sports pitches.
• To be able to provide playing surfaces to the required standard of play.
• To carry out all maintenance operations in the correct sequence ensuring the best surface.
• To understand the difference between materials and products available for the maintenance and renovation of winter sports pitches.
• To understand the difference between the range of machinery available for the maintenance and renovation of winter sports pitches.
• To understand and be able to carry out repairs to the winter sports turf surface after each game.

To have an understanding and be able to carry out basic maintenance to all machinery and tools used before.

Topics covered include:

• Role of the Groundsman
• Key Winter Sports Turf Requirements
• Initial Considerations
• Annual Maintenance Overview
• Safe Working Practice
• Aeration
• Mowing
• Brushing, Harrowing and Dragmatting
• Scarification and Rollng
• Irrigation and Fertiliser Application
• Pitch Repairs and Renovation
• Seeding, Top Dressing and Drainage
• Weeds, Disease Control and Pests
• Moss Control and Eradication
• Tools, Equipment and Machine Maintenance
• Setting Out and Marking Out
• Health and Safety
• Annual Working Diary

For more information, or to discuss your particular requirements, please contact chris@pitchcare.com or telephone 01902 440 256