Grounds Manager: Heather MacKinnon

Head Groundsman: Richard Pleass

Groundsman: Blair Montgomery

An Introduction to Oriam, Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre

Regular Pitch Monitoring from a Groundsmans Perspective Background • Located within Heriot Watt University, Ricarton Campus

• Funded by Scottish Government, City of Council, SportScotland, Heriot Watt University

• Used by Scottish Football Association, , Scottish Rugby League, Scottish Institute of Sport, Basketball Scotland, Handball Scotland, Scottish Squash and Racketball, Heart of Midlothian Football Club, Hibernian Football Club, Heriot Watt University

• Created to address issues raised in 2010 Henry McLeish report

• Opened to public Aug 2016 and officially Nov 2016 Pitch Facilities Natural Football • 6 areas- 5 pitches plus goalkeepers area 2x Rootzone and 4x Soil 1x Reinforced and 5x Unreinforced

Rugby • 3 areas- 2 pitches plus scrummaging area 2x Rootzone and 1x Soil 2x Reinforced and 1x Unreinforced

Synthetic Multi-use • 3 areas 2x Full-size FIFA Quality Pro/WR approved 3G (1x indoor) 1x Half-size Indoor 3G Pitch Facilities Pitch Facilities Indoor Facilities • Hydrotherapy Pool • Elite Performance Gym • Public Gym • 8x Squash Courts • 2x Indoor Sports Halls • Governing Body Offices • Conference and Press Conference Space • Bistro Cafe Testing Programme- Process

• Clegg Hammer, Porosity Rings, Traction Kit, Ball Rebound Kit, Ball Roll

• 20 hours allocated per month

• Weekly Summary Reports- Clegg

• Monthly Summary Report- Clegg, Traction, Ball Rebound, Ball Roll

• Both natural and artificial pitches tested for comparison

• Gradually developing database Testing Programme- Process

• Conducted in 4 locations each pitch Testing Programme- Process

• Ratings Brackets description given to clients rather than numerical results Testing Programme- Process Testing Programme- Process

Results Year to Date FIRMNESS (G) UNIFORMITY (%) BALL REBOUND (cm) TRACTION (Nm) Rootzone 90 Rootzone 7 Rootzone 86 Rootzone 47 Topsoil 72 Topsoil 11 Topsoil 80 Topsoil 45 Synthetic 76 Synthetic 4 Synthetic 81 Synthetic 40

Reinforced 91 Reinforced 7 Reinforced 88 Reinforced 48 Unreinforced 74 Unreinforced 10 Unreinforced 81 Unreinforced 46 Testing Programme- Benefits

• Quick and flexible (20 hours pm from 162 hours worked)

• Can predict when certain tasks will be needed and rearrange less important tasks accordingly

• Concerns from users can be answered factually

• Predict when infill top-up is needed on synthetic

• Recollection of a pitches exact condition can vary after time

• Justify the expense of better quality constructions when pitches being replaced

• Coaching staff make informed decisions Testing Programme- Limitations

• Not conducted in quality-controlled environment

• Guideline figures for AAA only- for accurate top-up advice see Accredited Lab

• Expense of buying equipment plus operators wage Testing Programme- Areas of Current & Future Research • Building a Factual Idea of User Group Preferences Effect of Aeration on Firmness. Effect of Watering on Ball Roll Distances

• Does Clegg Relate Linearly to Surface Porosity?

• Installation of New Weather Station allowing Accurate Irrigation

• Increase Uniformity across each pitch by Altering Maintenance Procedures

• Clegg as an Objective Method to determe Playability after Frost?

• Communicating with Stadium Groundsmen to give current pitch comparisons

• Communication with Sports Scientists and Physios Thank you for listening and please feel free to pop in for a guided tour! Heather MacKinnon: [email protected] Richard Pleass: [email protected] Blair Montgomery: [email protected]