Pitch perfect: Apprentice training for a job in sports

Another sign that summers on its way is the much-awaited return of the cricket season. 

Whether you're a fan of Twenty20, test matches, one day internationals, county championship fixtures or local club games, there's something for everyone.  

According to the ECB, cricket's national governing body, there are more than 5,000 cricket clubs in England and Wales, encompassing everything from grass roots level to the professional game.  

That's a lot of grounds to keep in pristine condition, and while smaller village clubs usually rely on volunteers to look after the pitch, larger clubs employ part-time or full-time professional grounds staff. 

Sports turf operative apprenticeships 

For people looking to get into a ground staff role, the level 2 sports turf operative apprenticeship offers a direct pathway to working in sports ground maintenance - and not just in cricket. 

It's an occupation found in a great variety of different sports and types of sporting venue, including football, rugby league and union, tennis, bowls, athletics and hockey. Carried out mainly outdoors, ground staff roles can be found at local schools and sports clubs through to international stadiums and large sports training facilities.  

This apprenticeship attracts government funding of up to £6,000 and typically takes 18 months to complete. Seventeen training providers offer the course nationally including well known land-based colleges Myerscough in Lancashire, Bishop Burton in East Yorkshire and Askham Bryan in North Yorkshire.  

Employers involved in creating the apprenticeship standard, which was last updated in June 2024, include test match venue Edgbaston, Leicester City Football Club, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, York Racecourse and England rugby union's governing body, the Rugby Football Union (RFU).  

Skills taught 

This apprenticeship teaches a wide range of skills, all designed to keep playing surfaces in the best possible condition. As well as sports turf operative, this course can also lead to groundskeeper and grounds person roles. 

Apprentices will learn how to:  

• Apply the correct rates and range of materials, such as grass seed, turf and granular fertilisers, to sports turf surfaces. 

• 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). 

• Maintain levels of soil moisture using either irrigation or drainage systems. 

• Inspect the condition of sports turf, looking for and reporting back on pests, weeds, signs of disease and thatch content.  

• Prepare machinery and equipment so it's safe and effective to use when carrying out sport turf tasks. 

• Repair sports turf surfaces using the relevant equipment and machinery. 

• Use a cylinder mower to mow sports turf surfaces. 

• Prepare the ground and established grass areas as part of sports turf renovation 

• Prepare and safely operate a tractor and its attachments. 

• Use the most appropriate communication styles (e.g. verbal, written, digital) to convey information to different audiences such as clients, staff and suppliers. 

• Troubleshoot in a systematic way to solve day-to-day resource or equipment issues. 

• Identify a range of turf grasses, vegetative and seed.  

• Maintain sports turf surfaces using relevant equipment and machinery, including scarification and aeration. 

• Dispose of waste safely and in a sustainable manner. 

Much of a sports turf operative's job is, of course, outdoors so the role is best suited to people who enjoy hands-on practical tasks and working in the open air. Ground staff are expected to take ownership of their work and manage their time well. They should also have a sharp eye for detail, a strong work ethic, be safety conscious and committed to staying up to date with industry best practice.  

For further information click here!