STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute) Bulletin October 2014 | Page 7

Turf dyes were used to improve aesthetics at Manaus

wear surrounding the closing ceremony.
Ryegrass was introduced into the
surface at the start of the “exclusivity
period”, giving only three weeks for the
rye to establish before the first usage,
with an underpinning base of Bermuda.
A tight timescale indeed, but with a
concerted effort to promote surface

recovery and generate density and
uniformity, the pitch was delivered for
the first game.
Players and coaches are generally
prescriptive in their preparations for
match day. There are drills which are
performed in specific areas of the

pitch again and again for the player to
be comfortable on the surface prior
to the game the following day. Cones
are laid out for the squad to perform a
short game or quick passing exercises,
which in no way mimic the wear pattern
expected on match days but focus high
levels of wear in specific areas of the
pitch, causing all sorts of headaches for
the groundstaff charged with maintaining
consistency and uniformity. Goalkeepers
too must familiarise themselves with
their surroundings; for taking high balls
and seeing the ball against the backdrop
of the stadium. But three goalkeepers
diving repeatedly in the goal area can
quickly reduce a fully grassed, stable
surface to a thin, uneven goalmouth,
which is then open to criticism –
exercises repeated for both teams on
the day before Match Day. With only
two days recovery between games,
this level of intensive wear can be the
difference between a pitch looking
and playing well to a pitch which looks
inconsistent and risks poor player/
surface and ball/surface interaction. The
groundsman’s job is to repair, renovate

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Bulletin October 2014 Issue 267

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