Field construction, renovation and upgrades are news items and, as such, are covered by print and broadcast media. This opens the door for the sports turf manager to communicate with the media personnel and, through the media, with the general public. It's an opportunity to tell the story of the important aspects of field design, the need for proper attention to all those aspects during field construction, renovation and upgrades, and the importance of the sports turf manager's role in developing and maintaining the field. It's an opportunity for educating the media and the public on the profession of sports turf management and on the importance of the professional sports turf manager. It's an opportunity to point out the importance of good playing surfaces to the game and to the athletes that participate in the game.
Media coverage helps alert the public to the importance of good field conditions to the game.
It also points out some of the problems that sports turf managers encounter in attempting to maintain optimum field conditions. The media comments on such weather-related problems as excessive rain, snow, heat or cold and on field usage problems such as play during poor weather conditions or excessive field use over a short period of time. The public is tapping into the message that professional and college athletes need good field conditions to protect their safety and to play to the best of their ability. But we need to take our message to a broader audience. Some young athletes end their careers at the youth league, junior high or high school level.