UIUC - Sports Turf Management: Best Practices 

Principles of Athletic Field Construction

The History of Sports is Turf

Soldier Field Introduction

Jets Field Introduction

Getting into the Sports Turf Business

1.1

Athletic Field Drainage

1.2

Soil

1.2a

Natural Soil Fields

1.2b

Modified Soil Fields

1.3a

Jets Field: Turf Species and Varieties

1.3b

Other Field Designs

Course Introduction

Instructor Profile

Module 1

Introduction

1.2c

Construction of Sand-based, Natural Grass Athletic Fields

Module 1

Quiz

Athletic Field Maintenance

2.1a

Mowing

2.1b

Irrigation

2.1c

Fertility

2.1e

Pest Management

2.2a

Soldier Field: Use and Maintenance

2.2b

Jets Field: Challenges and Responsibilities

Module 2

Introduction

2.1d

Cultivation

2.2c

7 Habits of Poor Sports Turf Managers

Module 2

Quiz

Traffic and Compaction on Athletic Fields

3.1

Traffic, Compaction, & Wear Tolerance

3.1a

Soldier Field: Crew and Challenges

3.1b

Jets Field: Player Safety

3.2

Managing Traffic and Compaction

3.2b

Soldier Field: Sod and Topdressing

3.2c

Soldier Field: Technology and Machines

3.2d

Jets Field: Traffic

Module 3

Introduction

3.2a

Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Why it's Important to Decompact Your Fields

Module 3

Quiz

Artificial Turf Fields

4.1

History and Evolution of Artificial Turf

4.2

Artificial Turf Maintenance

4.3a

Injury Concerns on Artificial Turf

4.3c

Player Preference

4.4

Artificial Turf vs. Natural Turf Costs

Module 4

Introduction

4.2a

Synthetic Turf Best Management Practices

4.3b

Why The NFL's approach to Field Surfaces is Uneven

Module 4

Quiz

Case Study: "Something's Rotten in this Field"

Supplementary Readings & Resources

Sports Turf Management Slides (PDF)

Case Study: Part 1

Case Study: How Water Moves Through Soil

Congratulations!

Case Study: Diagnosis

Final Assessment