PITCH MANAGEMENT
The Vital Role of Sports Pitch Management Platforms in the Future of Turf
Data has always been a part of professional sports turf . For decades grounds people have made notes on paper about their maintenance . As time passed , the paper turned into spreadsheets and has evolved into online pitch management platforms such as GrasPro .
This shift has been down to advancements in pitch technology and the expectations that come with it . Simply put , to get the best out of their investment , pitch managers need to know precisely what is going on with their pitches .
Using a data management system to do this helps collect and track that data and allows for enhanced decision-making and early detection of issues using historical data . As an industry , we are still in the relatively early stages of data platforms , but they have already made an impact ; below , we look at the six vital roles of pitch management systems in the future of turf .
The Advantages of Moving Data Online
The main advantage of moving data online is accessibility . It ’ s there whenever you need it , wherever you are . With a system like GrasPro , all of your information is in categories , so it ’ s quick to find exactly what you need . No more rummaging around notebooks or figuring out what ’ s the right spreadsheet
Once you ’ re set up , you really see the benefit of quickly accessing your categorised data , setting and measuring KPIs , and being able to share information with your grounds team , coaches and facility managers instantly . This benefits everything from sharing notes related to upcoming fixtures and quickly comparing and analysing using graphically presented graphs , charts and tables .
Being the Change Through Data
The second vital role of pitch data is decision making and change . Having comprehensive pitch usage and quality data goes a long way to informing the future of your pitches . How many games can they take in one week ? When do they need to be aerated ? How much water do they need ? Etc .
Having this information helps with day to day maintenance , planning and scheduling , but it can also inform major infrastructure decisions when building new facilities , deciding on a new pitch construction or planning a tournament .
Informing decisions is also applicable to consultants who use testing kits and GrasPro to provide informed improvement plans , support grounds team and benchmark pitch progress .
Data is a Team Effort
This one is less about the vital role of data and more about the team using it . Gathering data regularly is crucial for analysis , and it is a team effort . With everyone involved – whether at the same facility or venues across the globe – having a group of people adding to a system provides more comprehensive data .
It also has the added benefit of engaging those collecting . It helps them understand a bit more about how what they are doing is making a difference , and this can be especially helpful in educating new staff .
Making Pitch Maintenance a Green Machine
It ’ s already proven that collecting data is vital for sustainable turf maintenance , and the importance will only grow in significance .