Grounds & Environmental Management

Maryland SoccerPlex Completes Upgrades on Native Soil Natural Grass Fields Heavy Weekend Rain Highlights Recently Finished Field Improvements A $2.1 million investment and advancement in a recently completed drainage project for Maryland SoccerPlex’s 20 native soil natural fields proved its value during Spring Youth Soccer Weekend #1. March 22 – 24, all fields were open…

Meet Melissa Sibrian, an apprentice here at the Maryland SoccerPlex Sports Turf Institute!  Melissa has been a member of our team for over two years and began her apprenticeship with the Institute in the last year. Melissa grew up an athlete, playing with the Plex’s clubs, becoming a coach here, and eventually getting a full-time…

Meet Kevin Alexander, an Apprentice here at Maryland SoccerPlex Sports Turf Institute!   Kevin joined the Maryland SoccerPlex team after graduating from Rowan University in New Jersey with a degree in Environmental Science. Previously a soccer player, Kevin’s interest was piqued by the combination of sport, science, and environmentalism offered here at the Sports Turf Institute. …

Meet Gerson Cedillos, an Apprentice here at the Maryland SoccerPlex Sports Turf Institute!  Gerson began his work here over two years ago, starting as a member of the grounds crew now working and studying as an apprentice. Growing up as an athlete, and even playing at the Plex through childhood, Gerson was surrounded by the…

Meet Nicolette Cooper, an Apprentice here at the Maryland SoccerPlex Sports Turf Institute!  Nicolette joined the Maryland SoccerPlex team after earning a degree in Athletic Training from the University of New Hampshire Durham. Her previous work in athletics and love for women’s sports drew her to this field, combining her passion for science with the…

What is aerifying? Aeration is an important cultivation practice for any healthy field or lawn! Compaction from foot traffic prevents root penetration and can contribute to poor drainage. Even the best fields will need aeration to keep the field at high quality. When our team is aerating, they are essentially poking holes into the turf…

MLS Next Flex is basically here! This massive tournament is a major step in youth club’s journeys to the MLS NEXT’s Cup Playoffs and Showcase at the end of the season. MLS Next Flex is a 5-day tournament that invites 64 of the best MLS NEXT clubs from the U15-U19 age groups battling for position…

We try to be as green as possible here at the Plex, and we don’t just mean the color of our fields! We believe in creating a maintenance program that is eco-friendly while still being effective at providing the highest quality fields. One way we have gone green is by using organic fertilizer. Our plant…

Walle and Eva aren’t just Disney characters – they are our official Turf Tank robot painters!   These lovely little robots save our crew a TON of time, and money by doing the painting for us! Instead of us explaining it, we will leave it to the professionals: check out this case study, done by…

We have officially begun our 2023 Spring playing season! If you were at the Plex the past weekend you might have noticed we have signs that permit spectating in certain areas only – believe it or not, there is a science behind that request!   The middle third of the playing field will see almost…