Five years ago, grounds reports were carried out by umpires across the province's grounds on behalf of the LCU. There was one particular problem though; a problem which we now look back on with wide eyed amazement.
Reports were filled out on cards, posted off to a central point, and then slowly collated. By the end of the season, a list was produced, and problems could be identified. Unfortuntately this was normally (well, perhaps always) too late.
Fast forward to today, and the system has changed. The LCU&SA's new website, in partnership with the Grounds Committee has enabled umpires to submit their grounds reports online, giving the Grounds Committee opportunity for instant analysis, and the chance to take action as soon as a problem is identified.
So what are the umpires looking for? Pitches themselves are graded on four criteria - bounce, pace, spin and seam, using the same criteria that has been developed in the NCU. To achieve top marks a pitch should have good, consistent pace; good consistent bounce; and minimal seam and spin movement. In addition to this, the outfield is also marked. Using this information, the Grounds Committee can readily identify the pitches that are below standard, and then working with the Leinster Groundsmens Association, offer advice to how that situation can be improved.
This is very much a long term issue though, and with the aim to have trained Grounds Inspectors on the ground still a few months off, the current process is very much to make sure that serious problems with pitches and outfield are eradicated.
In addition to the pitch marks, umpires also report on basic problems that a ground may have. This is one area where clubs can improve relatively easily. Issues such as the boundary not being marked with a rope or a line and markers; the square not being marked properly; sightscreens not being available; stumps not being positioned correctly; umpires changing facilites being below par, and for most grounds - problems with covers and covering.
Any time that a problem exists, the Grounds Committee will be getting in touch with a club, to report the umpires findings and see if a solution can be found. Already this season five clubs have been contacted in such a way, as well as multiple further visits to grounds where problems have been identified with the square and outfield.
It is early days yet, but the system has exceeded expectations, and will be a great asset in improving the standard of ground across the province.
And I hear you ask, what has been reported? Who are the grounds that we should be aspiring to? As I said early days, but the umpires seem to know what they are talking about - the top grass squares after a month of the season are 1. The Hills, 2. North County, 3. Merrion and 4. Leinster. There have only been 13 non-turf/mat reports, but those have ranked the top four mats as being in 1. Laois, 2. Adamstown, 3. Mullingar and Sydney Parade.
If you have any queries, the Grounds Committee can be contacted as follows. Justin Rodgers (chair - jragencies@eircom.net), Guy Satchwell (guysatchwell@hotmail.com), Kenny MacDonald (ken.mcdonald@leo-pharma.com) and Paul Reynolds (paul.reynolds@leinster.cc)