Apprenticeship training course

Sports turf operative (level 2)

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Information about Sports turf operative (level 2)

Maintaining and renovating sports surfaces to make sure that public and private sports facilities are available for use.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • Environmental, health, and safety legislation and regulations (e.g. Health and Safety at Work Act, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health, principles of risk assessment).
  • Governing body rules and regulations relevant to the particular sports turf surfaces.
  • Materials, tools, equipment and machinery used in maintenance and renovation activities.
  • Soils structure and texture (including amended rootzones and top dressings).
  • Sports turf reinforcement methods (including hybrid surfaces) and artificial turf materials.
  • Common names of turf-grasses (vegetative and seed). (Including, perennial ryegrass, smooth stalk meadow grass, annual meadow grass, fescue grass (fine), bent grass).
  • Common threats to turf health :- Weeds: Daisy, Dandelion, Yarrow, Mosses, Procumbent pearlwort, White clover, Greater (Broad leaved) plantain, Ribwort (Narrow leaved) plantain, Knotgrass, Creeping buttercup, Creeping cinquefoil, Slender speedwell Pests: Cockchafer grub, Earthworm, Leatherjacket grub, Nematode Diseases: Anthracnose, Leaf Spot, Fairy rings - (Type 1 or Type 2 or Type 3) – (acceptable example of a correct Genus name only required, e.g. Type 1: Marasmius spp; Type 2: Lycoperdon spp; Type 3: Hygrophorus spp), Microdochium (Fusarium) patch, Red thread, Take-all patch. Turf disorders: Fertiliser scorch, Hydraulic oil scorch, Black layer, Drought.
  • Processes for setting up sports turf surfaces in line with relevant governing body requirements (including line marking, the 3-4-5 squaring technique, and marking arcs and semi-circles).
  • The principles of plant science (including photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration in the growth and development of plants).
  • The principles of plant nutrition and impact on sustainability (including Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Magnesium, Sulphur, Iron).
  • The impact of climate, weather and ground conditions on the maintenance and use of sports turf surfaces.
  • Different methods to sustainably and safely dispose of waste to minimise and reduce environmental impacts.
  • Methods to assess the condition of sports turf surfaces (including thatch content, root depth, uniformity of cover, weed/pest/disease content).
  • The principles of sports turf irrigation and drainage systems (including layouts, components, and basic maintenance).
  • How to calibrate equipment to apply a range of materials associated with sports turf surfaces (e.g. grass seed, granular fertilisers, bulky top-dressing, turf and root zone).
  • Maintenance operations required to ensure the quality of sports turf surfaces.
  • Operations and techniques required for general day-to-day maintenance of sports turf surfaces.
  • Operations and techniques required to repair damaged sports turf surfaces .
  • The application of integrated prevention and control methods to reduce the threat to sports turf health (e.g. weeds, pests, diseases, disorders).

  Skills

  • Apply the correct rates and range of materials to sports turf surfaces (e.g. grass seed, granular fertilisers, bulky top-dressing, turf and root zone).
  • Set and mark out the sports turf surface in accordance with the relevant governing body rules (including line marking, the 3-4-5 squaring technique, and marking arcs and semi-circles).
  • Prepare machinery and equipment to ensure their safe and effective use when carrying out sport turf tasks.
  • Maintain levels of soil moisture using either irrigation or drainage systems.
  • Inspect the condition of sports turf, make observations and communicate findings (e.g. PQS, weeds, pests, diseases, thatch content).
  • Prepare the ground and established grass areas as part of sports turf renovation tasks (e.g. overseeding, turfing).
  • Carry out cylinder mowing of sports turf surface(s) in accordance with set requirements.
  • Carry out repair of sports turf surfaces using relevant equipment and machinery (e.g. divot repair, foot hole repair, animal damage).
  • Prepare and safely operate a tractor and it's attachments.
  • Select and use relevant communication styles (e.g. verbal, written, digital) to convey information to different audiences (e.g. clients, staff, suppliers).
  • Adopts a systematic approach to troubleshooting and solving day-to-day resource or equipment issues.
  • Identify a range of turf grasses (vegetative and seed). (Including, perennial ryegrass smooth stalk meadow grass, annual meadow grass, fescue grass (fine), bent grass).
  • Carry out maintenance of sports turf surface using relevant equipment and machinery (including scarification, and aeration).
  • Dispose of waste in a safe and sustainable manner.

  Behaviours

  • A strong work ethic including attention to detail and good time management.
  • Flexible and positive attitude to work.
  • Takes ownership of own work.
  • Committed to keeping up to date with industry best practice.
  • Possess a safety mindset for self, colleagues and others.
  • Team focused and works effectively with colleagues and others.
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Agriculture, environmental and animal care
• Qualification level: 2; Equal to GCSE
• Course duration: 18 months
• Maximum funding: £6,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
• Job titles include:
  • Groundskeeper
  • Groundsperson
  • Sports turf operative

View more information about Sports turf operative (level 2) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.