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SFMA continues to provide education from our industry experts for four weeks following the conference. Every Tuesday we will host a session. Be sure to register for each session so you don’t miss these learning opportunities.

Week 3 – Tuesday, Feb. 7

3:15-4:15 pm
What is Organic Sports Field and Grounds Management?
Brad Park – Rutgers University
The purpose of this presentation is to describe various management systems employed in turfgrass with emphasis on organic turfgrass management. United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program (USDA NOP) and Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)-derived principles will be used as the basis for the description of organic sports fields and grounds management.

Presentation objectives include:

• The attendee will be able to differentiate calendar-based preventative turfgrass programs, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), synthetic pesticide free management, and organic turfgrass management systems.
• Per USDA NOP and OMRI guidelines, the attendee will be able to recognize materials that qualify for use in organic sports field and grounds management systems.
• Case studies will be described to provide the attendee with examples of how various management systems have been implemented in public sports field and grounds scenarios.

Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HzQ4gge8TTGnGnH1WOXoSg

Week 4 – Tuesday, Feb 14
2-3 pm
Do Sustainable Varieties Impact Field Playability?
Kyley Dickson, Ph.D. – The University of Tennessee, Gregg Munshaw, Ph.D. – Pinnacle Agricultural Research Center
This talk will cover how sustainable turfgrass varieties can reduce inputs. We will discuss where to find information on sustainable turfgrass varieties in addition to their pros and cons. Also, discuss how sustainable grass varieties perform in player to surface interaction and ball to surface interactions for athletic fields.

Presentation objectives:

• Teach how sustainable grass varieties impact field management practices.
• Discuss the pros and cons of different grasses as well as a list of cultivars that have been shown to require fewer inputs including their strengths and weaknesses.
• Contrast how sustainable turfgrass varieties compare to traditional varieties in surface performance and playability on athletic fields.

Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qbhMOXhzQHar_uOiJEa8zg

3:15-4:15 pm
Crossing The Bridge: Working with Athletic Administration
Marc Moran, CSFM – Atlee High School
This presentation focuses on building, maintaining or repairing a healthy relationship between the sports field manager and athletic administration. The relationship is critical for the long-term success of the strong sports field system, no matter if you are at the K-12, Collegiate or professional level. Understanding the challenges of each allows the other to effectively make decisions and tackle issues or set effective goals for the athletic facility.

Attendees will learn:

• Effective communication skills with members of the upper management structure.
• How to develop a plan that meets the needs of all stakeholders.
• How to work with limiting budget constraints while being effective.

Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ueu-ANcKRH-lbsIElGRmCg

Week 5 – Tuesday, Feb 21
This webinar was postponed from Jan. 24
Irrigation System Design Approaches to Minimize Surge Pressure
Kurt Thompson – IrriTech Training
This advanced discussion takes the irrigation system manager, contractor, or designer through the cause and effect of the velocity of the water in the pipe and size of valves on the damaging cyclical forces that affect the operational costs and sprinkler performance, and then practical methods to minimize those surge pressures.

At the conclusion of the workshop, the learner should be able to:

• Understand the hydraulic principles that contribute to surge pressure.
• Use the calculated worst-case surge pressure in a mainline to determine the specific velocity in a mainline to control mainline surges.
• Select the pipe size, valve size, and other components to minimize pressure surges in mainline pipes.

Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AIDlikxAQhSzHsxHkwk42g

Did you miss week 1 and 2? Watch here:
What the Next Generation Should Know About Choosing A Job
Wes Ganobcik – Columbus Clippers
https://youtu.be/9pdA_vqvqls

From Cornfield to a College Football Field
Tom Gould – Iowa State University, Adam Thoms, Ph.D. – Iowa State University, Josh Tvrdik – Iowa State Athletics Department
https://youtu.be/gy5IJ_BPlJo

Irrigating with Reuse Water and Managing Salts and pH
Bryan Hopkins, Ph.D. – Brigham Young University
https://youtu.be/O3qG8AcT4_o

Data and Decisions: Applying Research in Sports Field Management Practices
Daniel Sandor, Ph.D. – Virginia Tech, Tyler Carr, Ph.D. – The Ohio State University
https://youtu.be/GXe_kZZLgjQ

Recordings and conference handouts can be found here:
https://www.sportsfieldmanagement.org/2023-sfma-conference-education/