As 2025 winds down, we take a look back at the most read posts to SportsFieldManagementOnline.com this year.
1. The Road to FIFA World Cup 26
FIFA World Cup 26 is an unprecedented undertaking that will see the world’s largest and most prestigious soccer tournament played out in 16 host stadiums throughout North America. This article covered the groundbreaking research and years of preparation for this unprecedented event.
Dr. Grady Miller discussed UNC-Chapel Hill converting its football stadium playing surface from synthetic turf back to natural grass.
3. Keeping Bermudagrass Greener All Season
A multi-state study offers recommendations for keeping some varieties of turfgrass greener, longer.
4. The Rise of High School Turfgrass Education Programs
An inside look at high schools throughout the country that are offering turfgrass management courses.
5. FIFA World Cup Training Pitch Management
For the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and FIFA World Cup 26, the pitch management team at FIFA rigorously prepared training pitch locations for the team base camps and venue-specific training sites.
6. SFMA 2024 Field of the Year winners
SFMA announced its Field of the Year winners, and the individuals and programs that excelled at providing quality, safe playing surfaces.
7. Rising Star Winner Profile: Justin Danelutt
Getting to know SportsField Management Rising Star Award Winner Justin Danelutt, director of grounds and athletic fields for the City of Oxford, Alabama.
In a June 2 letter to members, Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) President Adam Thoms, Ph.D., announced Paula Sliefert as the association’s new CEO.
One of the most basic yet most important management practices is the efficient delivery of water to the turf and ornamentals on a sports turf facility. This article shows how implementing various techniques and adjustments will be a significant improvement.
10. Inside the field conversion process at MetLife Stadium
Tyler Morris, CSFM, sports field manager at MetLife Stadium – home of the New York Giants and New York Jets – outlined the stadiums playing surface planning and maintenance.
11. SFMA Mowing Patterns Contest Winning Design
Jeff Ross, head groundskeeper at Great Lakes Loons, won the 2024 SFMA Mowing Patterns Contest with his “Fan Appreciation Pattern.”
12. How Field Variability Impacts the Athlete
A safe playing surface is essential for athletic competition; and key field characteristics such as surface hardness, rotational resistance, soil moisture, thatch depth and infill depth (for synthetic fields) play a crucial role in assessing field quality.
13. Using Compost on Native Soil Fields
Pamela Sherratt outlined the use of compost on native soil sports fields, either as an amendment or topdressing.
14. FIFA president visits University of Tennessee
FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the groundbreaking efforts at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s turf research and development facility during a visit earlier this year.
15. SFMA Conference Post-show Recap
The 36th SFMA Conference & Exhibition was held at the Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, California, January 13-16, 2025.
16. Using Plant Growth Regulators to Manage Facility Landscapes
Plant growth regulators are often an unfamiliar concept outside of turf management, but these products can be highly effective tools for managing landscape plants and trees around sports complexes.
17. Industry mourns the passing of Dr. Tony Koski
Tony Koski, Ph.D., longtime professor and turfgrass extension specialist at Colorado State University (CSU), passed away July 12 after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
18. Mow, Mow, Mow
Dr. Grady Miller shared tips for keeping up with proper mowing practices.
19. The Evolution of Track and Field Facilities
Track and field may be one of the oldest sports in the world, but it’s easy to lose sight of what really is new in facilities these days.
20. Planning a Dog Park? Start Here
Several decades ago, the gotta-have amenity was the swimming pool. Fast forward to today, and dog parks are in demand.
21. Pickleball Design Solutions
For municipal leaders and recreation professionals, the demand for pickleball courts is outpacing supply – creating both a challenge and an opportunity.
22. College and University Turfgrass: Mt. San Antonio College
Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC), one of the largest community colleges in California, offers both an associate degree in Park and Sports Turf Management, as well as a Sports Turf Management certificate option.
23. SFMA CEO Paula Sliefert brings industry knowledge and connections to leadership role
In selecting Sliefert as its CEO, SFMA chose a leader with whom it is familiar, and one who is familiar with SFMA, the sports field management industry, and the broader green industry overall.
24. Examining the relationship between sports field managers and their vendors
SportsField Management magazine spoke with Joe Churchill, fields and grounds specialist at Reinders, Inc., about the essential components of a successful vendor/customer relationship.
25. Adam Thoms, Ph.D., brings academic perspective to role as SFMA President
During the 2025 SFMA Annual Meeting in Palm Springs, Adam Thoms, Ph.D., associate professor, commercial turfgrass at Iowa State University, was sworn in as the thirty-first president of the association.
