Behind-the-scenes turf team prepares for NCAA Women鈥檚 Soccer Tournament at MSU
Contact: Mary Kathryn Kight
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥As the No. 1 seed Mississippi State Women鈥檚 Soccer team gears up to defend its home turf in this weekend鈥檚 NCAA tournament, another team also has worked hard all season, ensuring the field is ready for the pivotal moment Saturday [Nov. 16] at 5 p.m.
鈥淢y goal is to make this grass as green as a soybean leaf,鈥 said Brandon Hardin, 草莓视频associate director of athletic grounds and 2006 graduate of the university鈥檚 golf and sports turf management program.
Reaching that goal requires constant maintenance. Hardin鈥檚 team, which also includes 草莓视频turf management students, mows the field鈥攂etter known in soccer as the pitch鈥攄aily at or below half an inch and utilizes a fertilizer program that is balanced using minimal amounts of organic and synthetic slow-release nitrogen monthly. Aeration and topdressing also are done monthly around the practice and game schedules.聽
鈥淲e want to be behind the scenes, out of sight, out of mind. Our staff works closely with coaches to ensure the field is ready without disrupting the athletes鈥 focus,鈥 said Hardin.聽
But aesthetics are secondary to safety鈥攁 priority that fans may not consider in turfgrass management.
鈥淎t the end of the day, our major objective is athlete safety,鈥 said Jay McCurdy, 草莓视频Extension turfgrass specialist and associate professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. 鈥淎 big part of what we do in turfgrass management is making sure the field is uniform鈥攏o holes, no divots. When players cut or turn, the surface needs to provide footing while allowing some give. A biomechanical failure in the athlete is far worse than any failure in the turf.鈥澛
Originally constructed in the 1990s, the 草莓视频soccer field underwent a significant renovation in 2010 to address challenges posed by the native clay-heavy soil. The upgrade included a six-inch sand base over geotextile material, paired with a herringbone drainage system designed to handle heavy rainfall.
鈥淓arlier this season, when we played right after a major storm, the surface was playable due to the way we keep it prepared and ready at all times,鈥 Hardin said.聽
The field is covered with Tifway 419 Hybrid Bermuda Grass grown in Tupelo, overseeded each fall with perennial ryegrass. This combination provides a durable yet forgiving surface, critical for both athlete performance and safety. The grass鈥檚 unique characteristics, such as its ability to recover from wear and tear, ensure the field remains consistent and uniform, even under intense postseason play.聽
McCurdy explained that the type of turf often influences the choice of cleats.
鈥淓quipment staff will consider what kind of grass the athletes are playing on鈥攚hether it鈥檚 natural or synthetic, warm season Bermuda grass or Bermuda grass that has been overseeded鈥攁nd choose different shoe cleat lengths or even choose cleat arrangements based on the turfgrass,鈥 McCurdy said.聽
Hosting the NCAA tournament requires more than just well-maintained grass. It鈥檚 a carefully choreographed effort involving field prep, paint drying schedules, and communication with coaching staff. With four teams practicing and playing on the field in one day, distributing wear and tear becomes a priority.聽
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 preseason, midseason or postseason, we prepare the same way. But the excitement of hosting a tournament like this makes everything worth it,鈥 Hardin said.
Learn more about MSU鈥檚 golf and sports turf management program at . Visit 草莓视频Women鈥檚 Soccer online at .
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