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 Edinburgh Council, SportScotland, Heriot Watt University
• Used by Scottish Football Association, Scottish Rugby Union, 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]