The Call for Presentations for the 2023 SFMA Annual Conference has closed, and the Conference Education Committee is working hard to develop the educational program. Tracks to look forward to include:
- General Turfgrass Management – SFMA seeks to provide education on how to better manage fields and facilities. Presentations about mowing, nutrient management, improving sports field rootzones, pest control, best environmental practices, and more, fit into this category.
- Water Management/Irrigation – This competency will include topics on best management practices for water on sports fields, such as water restrictions, water shortages, drainage, high precipitation events, and irrigation.
- Research/New Technology – The industry is evolving and sports field managers need to be educated on current research and technological advances. Presentations may include unbiased research on products and practices to improve plant health and field safety, as well as innovations in the industry.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Individuals that care for and enjoy sports and recreational surfaces vary in many ways including race, gender, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and disability. SFMA is a community built on inclusion and presentations that encourage diversity in the workplace, promote justice and fairness, and ensure individuals feel included and welcome will be featured.
- Professional/Leadership Development – Expectations on many of our sports field professionals are changing and presentations may address communication, negotiation, public speaking, interview skills, managing up, problem solving, leadership, teamwork, work/life balance, and more.
- Baseball – Infield skin maintenance and management is a unique part of sports field management. Presentations may include best practices used at the professional levels that can be useful to lower budget facilities, unbiased research on infield products, preparation and recovery from special events, recruitment and retention initiatives, industry specific field techniques, and more.
- Synthetic – Some sports field managers may be challenged with synthetic field management. Presentations may include getting a seat at the table when a decision is being made about synthetic installation, as well as unbiased information on synthetic field maintenance, lifecycle costs, and field safety.
Don’t miss the SFMA Conference January 16-19, 2023, in Salt Lake City, Utah!