Video: How to keep your ball field ‘SAFE’

The Foundation for Safer Athletic Fields for Everyone (SAFE), the charitable arm of the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA), has released its newest instructional video, which provides the basics to creating safe and playable baseball and softball fields.

The video, Baseball and Softball Field Inspection, examines how to identify unsafe surfaces – including skinned areas – and offers best practices specific to baseball and softball fields. It also includes tips on how to inspect packed dirt areas for ideal moisture conditions, managing wear-and-tear near the bases and conducting proper care for warning track areas.

“The SAFE Foundation and its board of trustees recognize the tremendous need in local communities for safer and more sustainable sports fields,” says Kim Heck, SAFE executive director. “Preparing and preserving baseball and softball fields can be challenging; it’s the responsibility of our organization to arm coaches, parents and players with the information needed to conduct a basic field evaluation before play begins.”

SAFE released its first three videos instructional series, Sports and Recreation Fields, Safety First, in April; Natural Grass Field Safety; Synthetic Turf Field Safety; and Sports Facility and Equipment Safety. The video outreach program aims to increase awareness and educate parents, players, coaches and volunteers about athletic field management. They are also the beginning of a five-year campaign for SAFE to increase outreach, award scholarships, fund educational programs and create partnerships with community members and industry organizations.

Featured in the SAFE videos is Ross Kurcab, former Denver Broncos’ turf manager for more than 30 years and owner of Championship Turf Systems. He is the first person to earn the designation as a certified sports field manager (CSFM) from the STMA. Dedicated to improving sports surfaces and facilities nationwide, Kurcab is an ideal spokesperson for its instructional videos, according to SAFE.