Sports Field Forum Delivers Valuable Learning: On and Off the Field

November 9, 2026 | New England Sports Field Management Association | PODCAST

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Beautiful fall weather, an impressive athletic field, and outstanding educational content made NE-SFMA’s recent Sports Field Forum at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium a tremendous success. The well-attended event brought together sports turf professionals from throughout New England for a unique opportunity to combine classroom learning with practical, real-world applications.

The program, Maximizing Playability: Leveraging Soil Surfactants to Enhance Playing Surfaces, featured Christian Baldwin, Ph.D., scientist, educator, and researcher with The Aquatrols Company. Dr. Baldwin shared valuable research and practical insights into how soil surfactants can improve moisture management, promote more consistent playing conditions, and enhance overall turfgrass performance. His presentation offered attendees a better understanding of how these products work and how they can be incorporated into everyday field management practices.

Following the classroom session, attendees headed outdoors to the beautifully maintained natural grass field at Rentschler Field, home of UConn Huskies football and a popular venue for major concerts and special events.

Head Sports Turf Manager James Lappetito and his experienced team provided a firsthand look at the challenges and strategies involved in maintaining a high-performance playing surface. The field session brought the earlier discussion to life, demonstrating how soil surfactants and other management practices are put to work to maintain field consistency, improve playability, and support athlete safety.

The combination of classroom instruction and on-field learning was especially appreciated by attendees, who welcomed the opportunity to ask questions, exchange ideas, and gain practical knowledge they could take back to their own facilities.

NE-SFMA extends its appreciation to Dr. Christian Baldwin, James Lappetito, and the Rentschler Field team for sharing their expertise and providing such an outstanding educational experience.

We are also grateful to our event supporters: Read Custom Soils, PBI Gordon, and Tom Irwin, whose generous support helps NE-SFMA continue to deliver quality professional education.

Finally, special thanks to Scott Vose and the other members of NE-SFMA’s Education Committee for their leadership, planning, and commitment to making this year’s Sports Field Forum such a success. Events like this demonstrate the value of learning from one another and the strength of our New England sports field management community.

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