The Level 1 Module
The Level One modules cover a range of sports and allow candidates to gain an awareness and general understanding of the tasks involved in maintaining playing surfaces. The course costs £46 and takes 4-5 hours to complete and includes modules on:
- Requirements of the groundsperson and pitch
- Maintenance activities (Equipment & Machinery)
- Safe use and storage (Materials)
The Level 2 Module
The Level 2 modules for cricket surfaces allow candidates to understand how technical aspects of turf maintenance can influence overall pitch quality, helping to create a suitable annual maintenance plan for their surface. The course costs £93 (Member) or £125 (Non Member) and takes around 6 hours to complete with the following content:
- The performance requirements of a playing surface;
- How to monitor the quality of a surface;
- How different maintenance activities might influence pitch playability;
- The responsibilities of operatives and organisations;
- The purpose of risk assessments;
- Different soil types;
- Basic drainage design;
- How to identify turf grasses in general;
- General control methods for undesirable organisms;
- The use of annual work schedules; and
- How to create an annual work schedule.
The Level 3 Module
The Level 3 course for cricket surfaces allows candidates to understand about advanced technical aspects of turf maintenance and management, and how they may form an integral part of a detailed work programme. The course allows candidates to get the most from their surface in terms of quality standards and ultimately, carrying capacity. The course costs £132 (Member) or £180 (Non member) and covers the following content:
- The influence of drainage, soil type and compaction on playability
- Soil nutrient testing and what this might mean for your surface
- Grass cultivars and selection and evaluation
- Controlling undesirable organisms and Integrated Pest Management
- Health and safety systems
- Planning a work programme
- Managing a surface to optimise playability.
