Athletes are thought of as some of the most devoted and gifted people on the planet. To achieve their goals, they have to be. Despite this, their performance on the field can be affected by a number of reasons, big or small. Honestly, there probably isn't a group more superstitious than athletes. However, one factor that does contribute heavily to performance is field quality.
When you walk on an uncared for sidewalk, do you pay attention to what you are doing or do you concentrate on making sure your next step doesn't end up in a divot? Similarly, athletes can find it very difficult to concentrate on the game they play while they are concerned with the field quality. A misstep on neglected fields can end up with a lengthy injury, and even though the game is important, so is their future. Unfortunately, even if athletes are cautious, injuries still occur. Such is the manner of playing a sport. But injuries caused by uneven ground, whether it be due to divots or patches of tangled grass, can lead to significantly harsher injuries and longer recovery times. No athlete wants to spend a prolonged time on the sidelines, and making sure the grounds they play on are of a playable quality can be a factor in mitigating the number of athletes injured.
Untended fields can be more than just safety hazards, though. Long grass, whilst being relatively harmless, can detract from the quality of the game being played. Take soccer, for an example. The ball is primarily played on the ground, and long grass can drastically slow down a pass that otherwise would have no problem getting to the recipient. This can lead to players attempting to simply pass the ball harder or lob it into the air, both of which can lead to a poor showing of everyone's ability. Similarly, long grass can make it very difficult to judge a rolling baseball, affecting the speed of reaction time and being a disadvantage for most players. In general though, long grass is just harder to run in and makes everyone seem a little slower.
As spectators, we want to see the best game we are able to see. What goes on in the players' heads are something most of us cannot control, but what the city can do is make sure the factors we can control are not a detriment to their performance. A key part of accomplishing this involves making sure the fields are well taken care of, and Camden County, New Jersey is seeking to do just that. They are requesting bids from qualified contractors to provide athletic fields mowing, treatment, maintenance, supplies and repairs for their athletic fields. If interested in this opportunity, click on the link to learn more. The bid closes May 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM EDT.
