Get to Know KYSFMA Member: Nolan Dumstorf Stadium Grounds Manager at Lynn Family Stadium
· How did you get into field maintenance?
I was a senior in high school, and our school counselor sent a memo out regarding a job opportunity with the Louisville Bats. I remember immediately reaching out and becoming a game day guy and realized how much I enjoyed it and decided to stick with it.
· What’s a typical day out here look like for you?
Tasks vary day to day depending on many factors, but a typical day involves usually involves mowing and painting the fields either for training or a game.
· What part of the job do you enjoy the most?
I always say I appreciate the camaraderie that’s formed amongst the crew the most. Being able to work outside and each day being a little different are perks as well.
· What’s the toughest part about keeping this field in good shape?
Toughest part is handling the shade issues we have at the stadium, along with managing the busy schedule of two soccer teams and now a spring football team.
· How do you decide what needs to get done on a busy day?
There is always an understanding of what the priorities are when planning out the week. Just being able to know what can wait and what can’t, as we are always preparing for the next game.
· What kind of equipment do you use the most?
Reel mower, tow behind blower, aerators, top dressers, pro gators, painters.
· Ever had any funny or unexpected things happen while working on the field?
Every day will have its moments, usually just banter amongst the crew. Being able to laugh and keep things light through a long and demanding season is important.
· How do you handle the field after bad weather?
It always depends, how much time do we have until the next game? What kind of weather did we incur? At a soccer stadium we don’t have to worry about a tarp, and we are lucky enough to have the SubAir system which helps with rain situations. A good aeration, topdressing after a rain game can be beneficial.
· What’s something most people don’t realize goes into keeping a field looking good?
It is so much more than just mowing the field. Most people are amazed at how much time we as groundskeepers put into providing an aesthetically pleasing and more importantly safe playing surface. Most people I talk to are surprised by how much of a science there is to groundskeeping.
· Which tasks take the longest or require the most patience?
Aeration is always a long tedious task, especially in the heat of the summer. Irrigation work can require a lot of patience as well.
· How do you work around team practices or games?
A lot of long days early in the week to make sure we are prepared for weekend games. We also have stayed late after games to do things like mow, aerate, verticut, fertilize to make sure we can fit these tasks into a busy schedule. It takes a lot of planning, but also a lot of on-the-fly decision making.
· What’s one thing players or coaches do that makes your job easier? Harder?
For the most part our coaches and players will work with us to make our lives easier. Though there will always be instances where certain players or coaches insist on doing a certain drill or warm up in the same spot repeatedly. Athletes are typically creatures of habit, which can cause headaches.
· Is there anything you wish people understood better about field maintenance?
How much time and effort is required. How much weather impacts us. How difficult it is to maintain a high-level surface for an entire season.
· What’s your favorite season for field work? Least favorite?
Spring, although it is not necessarily the best time for our grass, is always nice because the weather is typically pleasant and it marks the start of a new season after what can be long and boring winters. Summer is obviously peak growing season, but the heat and humidity can make for some tiresome days.
· If you could upgrade anything about the field or equipment, what would it be?
First thing that comes to mind in terms of equipment would be getting walk behind reel mowers. In terms of the field, the shade issues that are caused by the roof and there only being one entry/exit point in what happens to be the worst part of the field in regards to shade. Full synthetic out of bounds area would be nice for maintenance purposes.
