Can Dormant Bermudagrass Support Both Fall and Spring Sports?

Mike Goatley, Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech
 

QUESTION: "Our county schools have bermudagrass fields. These fields are shared by the soccer team and football team, as neither school has a dedicated soccer field. There has been a great deal of discussion about how harmful spring soccer is to dormant bermudagrass (Tahoma 31 variety in this case), but yet there was no concern about practicing and playing on the dormant bermudagrass for football well into November.  Can someone from the VT Turf program please shed some light on this issue for us and whether or not spring soccer is damaging our playing surface for fall football?"

ANSWER: As with many situations in turfgrass science, the correct answer to your question is "it depends"! The density of the new generation bermudagrasses (cultivars like Tahoma 31) that are now being installed around the region are exceptional.  My congratulations to you all for making the commitment to installing such a high quality grass.

Even as a dormant grass, bermudagrass has a tremendous amount of wear tolerance.  However, since it is not biologically active during the dormancy phase, repeated wear and tear in the same areas will logically remove that carpet of dormant stems and leaves.  Will it kill the grass? Typically, the answer is no unless the wear and tear is so extreme that the site becomes barren soil, void of even the below-ground stems (rhizomes) whose regenerative nature make bermudagrass such a desirable grass for sports turf uses.  In the expansion in acreage of bermudagrass sports fields across the mid-Atlantic over the past 25 years, history has shown us that both fall and spring sports can co-exist on the same field IF responsible decisions are made regarding field use.  The MOST critical point to be made regarding natural grass field use is this: one event on a saturated natural grass field can destroy an entire season's worth of effort in developing a safe, visually attractive field. This event could be a practice, a scrimmage, a game, a marching band practice or contest, etc.  

I have never found 'responsible' use of dormant bermudagrass turf in the spring to be harmful to the field such that field conditions are so impacted that they will detract from safety and playability for fall football. Those worried about the play on the field at this time do have a valid point that warrants some additional concern - the bermudagrass is probably the most sensitive to wear and tear, environmental stress, traffic, etc. as it is at any time of year during its spring transition from dormancy to actively growing grass.  It is not realistic to say “stay off the field” for spring sports, but to just remind everyone that these transition phases have the most potential for damaging the grass if the field is over-utilized or mismanaged (especially with ill-timed or improper rates of fertilizers or pesticides). With the right management plan in place, there should be plenty of time for recovery of even the weakest areas as long as the recovery practices are instituted at the right time.  The one situation where I have found issues (still, not catastrophic loss of large portions of turf, but predictable problems that emerge) is the use of the dormant game field for regular intensive practice sessions.  Hopefully you have dedicated practice fields?  But in case not, I mention this just in case the game field is used for practice.  If that is the situation, then be sure the coaches and players know to move practice drills around whenever possible, run training drills on “short fields” whenever possible, use and move portable goals, have the athletes run a yard or so "off" instead of "on" field lines etc... simple things that coaches and players alike can do that collectively greatly improve the quality and persistence of natural grass surfaces.

I am including the link for a general calendar for bermudagrass field maintenance (https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/spes/SPES-329/SPES-329.pdf) just as an FYI for anyone that might be interested in the general programming for bermudagrass sports fields.  By following these strategies in timing for fertility, mowing, cultivation and pest management, I believe your fields can effectively support both fall and spring sports.