Relevant Technical Articles (Authored by ASBA)

Proper Drainage on Sports Fields
No matter how good your field looks, it's how well it drains that will determine its usefulness, and thus, its success.
Park and Rec Business, October 2012

Blades of Green
Proper care of your sports field is essential to its continued performance.
Park and Rec Business, September 2012

Irrigation & Drainage: Water and Synthetic Turf
Spotting drainage problems is easier said than done, but essential to the continued use of the facility.
SportsTurf Magazine, September 2012

Facility & Operations: Overseeing Synthetic Turf Installations
It used to be that turf managers were expected to stand back and let the contractors do their work. These days, with more accountability at stake, a more active role is necessary.
SportsTurf Magazine, July 2012

Shade Structures: Staying out of the Sun
The public knows to guard against harmful sun exposure, but the options to do so may be confusing. Here are some suggestions.
Camp Business, July 2012

Field Science: No Horsing Around: Equestrian Facilities Are Not Easy to Maintain
It used to be that open fields were used for horse shows, and fairgrounds for rodeos. These days, a more selective population of equestrian experts is demanding safer footing for their mounts.
SportsTurf Magazine, June 2012

Get a Game Plan
A coach wouldn't send players out onto the field without a game plan, so why would the maintenance team start the system without a roadmap of how to tend the grounds?
Park & Rec Business, May 2012

Laying the Groundwork
Get your camp's sports facilities ready for the coming year.
Camp Business, May 2012

Growing Interest in Lacrosse: Coming Soon to a Field Near You
As lacrosse players grow in numbers, there is an increased demand for quality regulation facilities.
SportsTurf Magazine, April 2012

Overuse and Neglect
Golf cart paths aren't as showy as your greens, club house or other aspects of your facility, but they can make your players' experience great (or not so much). Here are some design and maintenance tips.
Landscape Architect Business, April 2012
Park and Rec Business, March 2012

Proactive Maintenance
Shedding some light on the maintenance of your camp's sports facility lighting.
Camp Business, March 2012

Spring Training for Fields
How to get your fields in good shape for the coming year of parks and rec programming.
Park & Rec Business, February 2012

Facility and Operations: Having Input Into the Reconstruction or Renovation of a Sports Field
As a turf manager, what should your role be in this complex process?
SportsTurf Magazine, January 2012

Irrigation and Drainage: Building a Greensfield over a Brownsfield
Players using this park may never understand anything below the surface -- and perhaps that's just as well.
SportsTurf Magazine, January 2012

All You need to Know About Synthetic Tennis Courts
The tennis court industry does use synthetic turf, but seems divided in opinion as to the type of game it produces.
Sports Turf Magazine, December 2011

Light Up the Night
Energy-efficient ideas for extending the playing day in your sports facilities.
Landscape Architect Business, December 2011

ASBA Honors distinguished sports fields and facilities
Review of field award winners in 2011 program.
SportsTurf Online, December 2011

Wringing Out the Water
Drainage
Parks and Rec Business, Nov. 6, 2011

All Access Athletics
Handicap Access to Sports Facilities
Camp Business, Nov. 1, 2011

Natural Grass or Synthetic Turf?
Landscape Architect Business, Sept. 26, 2011

Grounds for Excellence
Choosing the Right Golf Facility
Sports Destination Management, Sept/Oct 2011

Designing Dog Parks: Considerations and alternatives for dog-friendly areas
Park & Rec Business, August 2011
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4
(all of the above are links for successive pages as the article continues)

Soaring In Popularity: Make your next volleyball event a winner by choosing the right facility
How knowing the right dimensions and rules leads to selecting the right volleyball facility.
Sports Destination Management, July/August 2011

Natural Grass or Synthetic Turf?
Pros and cons of various systems for field management 101
Park and Rec Business, June 2011

Dressing up Turf
Get your fields in shape for the coming camp season
Camp Business, May 2011

Tending to Turf
What can you do now to make sure your fields are ready for the busy season?
Park and Rec Business, May 2011

Incorporating Tracks: Options and Maintenance
A field encircled by a track takes some extra design and upkeep considerations. Learn about them here.
Sportsfield Management, May 2011

Marking Fields for Functionality
How to make the most of a multi-use field without confusing officials, players and spectators
Park and Rec Business, February 2011

Building Good Drainage for Synthetic Fields
Drainage is perhaps the most important part of a field and it's the part you'll never have to think about -- unless something goes wrong. Here's some information about various drainage systems and how to troubleshoot them, as well as some preventive maintenance tips.
Note: The link doesn't contain the article about the Green Award, but the attached pdf does.
SportsTurf Magazine, March 2011

"How to Identify Multiple Sports on One Field"
Parks and Recreation Business, January, 2011

What Facility Managers Need to Know About Artificial Turf (page 20)
Sports Turf, December 2010

Construction Digital
(An overview of the sports facility construction industry and the vital role ASBA and its members have played through the years)
Association Profile: American Sports Builders Association, December 2010
(page 45 of digital issue)

All-Access Pass: Creating Seating Opportunities for Spectators of All Abilities
Going beyond the ADA requirements to create handicap-accessible seating to make your facility welcoming to all
Athletic Management (weekly blog: October 25, 2010)

Wheelchair Athletics
Creating a Level Playing Field for all Athletes
Sports Turf, August 2010

Shape Up
Managers of community associations, condos and apartments need to know what to do to keep their basketball courts and walking trails safe and usable. Here are some top tips from the pros.
Common Ground, July/August 2010

Certification

Time for field builder certification
Bob Lohmann, of Lohmann Sports Fields, applauds the ASBA initiative and encourages all qualified contractors to get certified, too.
Originally published in Sports Turf, August 2010, reprinted with permission

Baseball and Softball

Take Me Out to the Ball Game: Event Planning Success Emanates from the Ground Up
If you're planning a baseball, softball or tee-ball event, you'll want to cover all your bases. Here's everything you need to know about choosing a facility.
Sports Destination Management

Soccer