Urgent warning over state of nation’s playing surfaces in wake of coronavirus crisis

The situation was already a problem due to years of cuts from austerity programmes, but has only been exacerbated further

The Grounds Management Association have issued an urgent “call to arms” asking for volunteers to help save the nation’s playing surfaces - and potentially the next generation of sporting talent, as well as the wellbeing of the population.

The recently re-branded body on Wednesday issued a report that reveals the damage done to the country’s playing pitches - right down to fields marked out on local parks - could prevent up over 1.8m children playing sport once lockdown ends.

The situation was already a problem due to years of cuts from austerity programmes, but has only been exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis. Since surface maintenance is a non-statutory requirement, it has seen resources deployed to statutory requirements like rubbish collection. Companies sub-contracted to do such jobs have also been unable to work.

This could have a disproportionate effect on women and children’s sport since it is adult men’s team sports that tend to take priority, and could cause a huge backlog once lockdown ends and people want to get back playing.

The data - gathered through national Playing Pitch Strategies, the Grounds and Natural Turf Investment Programme (GaNTIP) and a survey of over 4,000 people - indicates that help in the area could allow an extra 1.4m children to play football and rugby every week, and an extra 489,859 play cricket.

As such, the GMA are calling for volunteers to help, while also pointing out the wider benefits of such community work.

Merely marking out a pitch could make a huge mark for your local area.

“It’s a call to arms,” Jason Booth, GMA Director of Technical and Learning says. “There was already minimal maintenance being done. There’s now next to now maintenance being done. Some of these aren’t purpose-built pitches, either, but just markings drawn out and posts put up. In six to 10 weeks, hopefully, everyone will want to play sport again, forgetting how deteriorated the surfaces are because they haven’t been maintained. The situation is crucial.

“Sports such as cricket, football and rugby are beholden to those volunteers. And with all the talk of the Premier League or other major competitions coming back, the next generation of those sports are going to be playing on these surfaces. And what’s often misunderstood is the casual player, who may drop out if their experience isn’t good. Playing surface affects that. It shortens the pool available to sport. It does have a knock-on effect, massively.”

Booth also points to wider societal effects.

“We all know the benefits of playing sport. But there’s also physical or mental well-being. A large percentage of our volunteers are over 50, or 60, or 70, and it’s a crucial bit of activity as well as community support to get out marking out a local pitch. You can do something, for the mind and body.

“We’re working with the governing bodies at the minute, to see how we can work training courses. We at the GMA are shouting this from the rooftops, we need volunteers to get involved. It’s crucial to these sports getting back up and playing. Get in touch with the GMA, who can put you in touch with the relevant bodies or your local club, and see how you can help.”

Whilst play is currently restricted, it’s possible to sign-up with local teams and take specialist online training, to start the volunteering journey right now. Find out more here: www.thegma.org.uk/learning