The application to submit to SFMA’s premier program, Field of the Year, will be available July 1. Visit SportsFieldManagement.org and you’ll find the link on the home page, or you can access it from Programs.
Awards are given in three levels: Schools and Parks and Rec, Colleges and Universities, and Facilities used by Professional Athletes. In addition, five sports are eligible: baseball, football, softball, soccer and sporting grounds (which is a broad category for non-mainstream sports, such as lacrosse and rugby).
Applications are independently judged by the SFMA Awards Committee using a scoring matrix rather than a consensus approach. The deadline to apply is Oct. 15. Winners will be notified in November. Each winner receives three nights of hotel at the upcoming conference, which is in Salt Lake City, Utah, Jan. 16-19; signature clothing; and an award that is presented during the annual awards banquet on Jan. 19.