December

The grass may still need a cut every so often just to keep it under control. Remember that you should remove no more than third of the leaf in one cut. Be aware of the pitch conditions before you cut. Make sure that the pitch is not too wet or that there is no frost on the ground, because even walking on the pitch while it is white with frost will damage the grass. Once the frost goes there will be black marks on the pitch showing where the grass has been damaged. Preseason training has started, and post session repairs like divoting or filling with a divot mix (sand, soil, and seed) should be completed following each session. These simple works will help the pitches recover better and maintain the surface levels. Try to talk to the coaches about rotating where each session takes place on the pitch too. This will help spread the wear on the pitch. The fixtures are now out so it is time to start planning any in season works around these. Try to look for gaps where pitch works like scarifying, de compaction and overseeding can take place. Ideally these need a two-week gap or if you can use another pitch on your site. Pre-season fixtures or Challenge Cup round One will be starting in of January so it is worth starting to re-measure and re-mark the pitch. For more information on pitch set up please refer to. https://resources.thegma.org.uk/rugby-league/rugby-league-pitch-setup.