Module 2:

2.2 Examples of Performance Standards

2.2.8 Surface ponding

This is related to infiltration rate and is especially important as a pre-match assessment for safety.

We don’t want to play on a pitch that has puddles of water on as these can be a hazard which can result in player injuries. In addition, the playing experience can be seriously compromised with standing water.

A very small amount of surface water, in limited areas only, might be acceptable in certain situations, so this would need to be determined by the pitch providers as part of conditions of use.

Checking pitch condition mid-week before weekend games can help provide an indication of likely ponding issues nearer a weekend match day. Action can be taken to help alleviate ponding issues in time for a weekend game. Localised forking, aeration and sanding might be considered as possible short-term solutions, if appropriate.

Picture of water ponding on a pitch

  Consider the following questions:

1. Do you have any puddles on your pitch at the moment??

YES   or   NO ?

2. If there was a heavy downpour, say 6mm or ¼”, over the next hour, how much of your pitch do you think would have puddles present or be waterlogged?

Assessing surface water presence

Walk the entire pitch to make observations and count the number of areas that have water present in them.

There can be several ways of recording data and for our course we take the following approach for the presence of surface water:

1. First, count the number of areas that have water present.

2. Next, record the maximum size of each area, in m².

3. Finally, also record the maximum depth of water that is found in each area.