Field Maintenance Update

The amount of traffic that a soccer field receives is a great way to determine how the maintenance of a field should be approached. Artificial soccer fields are less impacted by a high amount of player or visitor traffic. An large amount of traffic on a natural soccer field may cause the appearance of the field to deteriorate faster. Many professional and scholastics officials have been known to limit the amount of traffic that a soccer field receives in hopes of maintaining the new looking appearance.

Field Use Guidelines

Our primary goal is to protect the playing fields from long term damage. Regardless of the weather, a practice or a game should not commence or continue on a field if:

1. The field has standing water on it.
2. The field is saturated with water.
3. By playing on the field, the players are or would be damaging the field beyond normal wear and tear (i.e. tearing up the turf, creating muddy areas, etc.).
4. Once a game begins, the referee or umpire is responsible for the decision to suspend a game due to the above or other conditions.

Additional considerations:

1. Softball and baseball fields are often playable even with standing water on the infield. As long as a field does not pose a hazard to the players it can be used. Criteria for turf on these fields should adhere to the guidelines listed above.
2. Each league will be required to appoint a contact person who is to be their designated contact person who is responsible for determining field playability.
3. Failure to adhere to this policy can result in a league or team forfeiting their field permit for the remainder of the season.

Soccer Club procedure:

1. Check the Hotline (603-XXX-XXXX). We make a best effort to post field closures two hours before game time. A message may be posted on the home page, but this is not always current. Use the hotline.
2. Regardless of the hotline message, the referee may call the game. The referee’s decision is final.
3. Practices: Error on the side of caution. Notices may not be posted on the hotline during the week. Cancel practice if the above conditions exist, even if you are at the field.
4. Follow the appropriate (town or Travel) re-scheduling procedure, if you game is cancelled.