Club Facility Management
Providing and maintaining safe, high-quality playing surfaces is hugely important, be they fine turf or non-turf practice facilities.
In order to provide players of all ages and abilities with a safe and enjoyable experience, we need to develop the best possible playing surfaces at all grounds.
For information and guidance on pavilion developments and topics such as energy consumption please follow the link to the ECBs website
ECB Energy Saving Guidance
The ECB have produced the following guidance to support clubs with the impending energy rises for cricket clubs. To read the guidance please click on the pdf link below:
Fine turf
The ECB’s recommended guidelines for the construction, preparation and maintenance of cricket pitches and outfields (PDF) at all levels of the game sets out procedures and methods for ground care related to fine turf pitches and outfields.
The guidelines contained in the above document can be used as a general guide to all aspects of construction, management, maintenance and pitch preparation of cricket grounds. Aligned to this please also see the Groundskeepers section on pitch support and advice.
Club groundsmen can use their knowledge of local conditions to adapt the recommended guidelines to suit their site.
Further support is available through the network of Cornwall County Pitch Advisors and Cornwall Association of Cricket Groundsman.
For clubs managing both cricket and football on the same site, the ECB worked with the FA, Sport England and the IOG (Institute of Groundsmanship) to produce this useful guide (PDF) to help ensure both sports can enjoy a long future working together.
Non-turf
Please look at the ECB's Performance Standards for Non-Turf Cricket Pitches Intended for Outdoor Use (PDF) describe the requirements for outdoor non-turf/synthetic cricket pitch systems, specifically practice areas and match pitches.
There are currently no stated standards for outfields.
Additional non-turf guidance for clubs
The following two documents offer additional guidance for clubs and ground staff around non-turf pitch provision and installation, and managing wider facility projects.
Our guidance for purchase of a non-turf pitch (PDF) is essential reading to help you understand non-turf pitches and the preparation work required prior to obtaining contractor quotes.
In addition, we also have helpful tips for developing your project (PDF) and taking it from concept to completion.
Code of practice for design and installation of non-turf cricket facilities
The voluntary Code of Practice (PDF) for ECB approved non-turf pitch system suppliers sets out the recommended minimum standards for designers, installers and suppliers of approved systems.
ECB approved non-turf pitch systems and suppliers
Updated 14th June 2023 - Download and read our full list of ECB approved non-turf pitch systems and suppliers (PDF).
Any enquiries relating to the list of ECB approved non-turf pitch systems should be directed to [email protected].
Information taken from the ECB website