SPORTS GROUND EQUIPMENT
“ I ’ ve always been quite datadriven . If I don ’ t have the numbers , I can ’ t just look at the pitch and work it out . Without the numbers , it ’ s just an opinion .”
“ You ’ ve got to get results or explain what you ’ re doing just to get that trust with Nurture and Harlequins .”
Setting Rugby Specific KPIs Even though he is only six months into the role , Adam is in the early stages of collaboration with the playing and medical staff .
Moisture was one of the most significant learning curves early on , with Adam aiming for the standard 20 % -24 % used in football . He quickly discovered this caused digging up during scrums and mauls , and by referring back to his data , he was able to see a higher moisture level was required .
Sharing the data to prepare the pitch can also benefit the coaching staff , and eventually , Adam is hoping to benchmark the pitch to reduce injuries .
Building Trust For Adam , an early part of the job is gaining the trust of his new employers , Nurture Landscapes and Harlequins , and a large part of that is his monthly reports , which he sees as vital .
“ I write a report to Nurture and Harlequins every month , and it details all the information on what I ’ ve done , when I ’ ve done it and the products and maintenance .
“ I take that directly from GrasPro because you can download graphs , works and charts and put them in the report . It makes my monthly report writing much easier and much more in-depth .
“ I could write a load down and bore them with war and peace and detail . But if you can see graphs and see what ’ s been done , it makes it easier and quicker for them . I find they are more receptive to visual reports .
“ What I have found with rugby is the budgets aren ’ t quite as big as I ’ ve had with football . So , I have to get the most out of what I use because there isn ’ t the option of an unlimited budget .
“ There ’ s always pressure to get it right the first time because I ’ ve got Nurture Landscapes who have employed me and Harlequins who have taken me on . Their previous groundsman was here for 12 years , and now , this new guy is coming who might do things a bit differently , which people will keep an eye on .
GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | March / April 2023 19