Divot repair
Divoting is the repair of damage to the playing surface caused by players turning or sliding on the pitch using a fork.
Although the actual area of damage may be small, when multiplied many times over the duration of a game, and by all of the players, the overall damage can be quite considerable.
The repair and reinstatement of these areas should be carried out quickly and correctly, in order to maximise the chances of the grass surviving the initial damage.
The equipment needed for carrying out this task varies, and each member of the ground staff may have their own preferences and opinions. The most commonly used are a garden fork or long handled divoting fork.
Key Steps:
- As with all tasks a risk assessment should be in place, please ensure you are wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. (PPE)
- Slowly walk over the pitch, adopting a pattern that ensures the whole area is covered, if you have limited time and resources you may wish to concentrate your time on repairing the largest divots.
If the damage is a small scar or overturned turf:
The operation required is to fold or tap the damaged grass back into place and lightly firm with the foot to provide grass soil contact and reduce the chances of the divot lifting.
If the damage is a fully removed section of grass:
The grass needs to be found and replaced. If the divot is deep, use a fork to twist and tap the sides of the scar in towards each other. Do not insert the tines into the scar and lever upwards as this will rip any surviving grass plants from their root system, causing further damage.
