Magazine - Articles by Gordon Jaaback

How to avoid disputes with contractors
15 Feb 2012 - Consultancy - Gordon Jaaback - Issue 40 - Dec / Jan 2012
The careful use of the most appropriate and explicit wording can contribute to a clear understanding between contractor and client. However, avoiding disputes and controlling costs is often best handled by employing a consultant suggests Gordon Jaaback

So many failures it makes you wonder!
20 Jan 2011 - Consultancy - Gordon Jaaback - Issue 34 - Dec / Jan 2011 - 1 comment
Time and again there are failures in pitch construction, especially drainage. Producing pitches that can cope in the wet winter months should be a basic and systematic undertaking. Yet, as often results, it can become a nightmare.

Water Run Off
8 Jan 2009 - Football - Gordon Jaaback - Issue 22 - Dec / Jan 2009
Muddy football pitches are common throughout Europe during the wet winter months. In most instances, particularly in the United Kingdom, topsoils are relatively impermeable with high silt and clay content. Infiltration measurements, using a double ring infiltrometer, are negligible, varying between 0.1 and 0.5mm/hr

The winter pitch crisis
25 Jul 2008 - General Sports - Gordon Jaaback - Issue 19 - Jun / Jul 2008 - 2 comments
Consultant agronomist, Gordon Jaaback, asks what value are modern well-equipped schools if outdoor sports facilities are neglected? Only on the sportsfield can children experience a microcosm of life - learning to succeed, to fail, to win, to lose and, above all, to respect one another.

The global Impact of Grass Cover
18 Feb 2008 - Consultancy - Gordon Jaaback
It seems logical to establish vegetative cover on critical bare areas, and grass is the only cost-effective solution.

Imminent water restrictions offer new challenges
19 Jul 2006 - Training - Gordon Jaaback
The need to conserve water now becomes a reality - shortly we could face drastic water restrictions and rising costs as a result of low rainfall this winter. Capacities of stored water reserves are much reduced and restricted pumping rights from rivers will present the same concern. On the other hand there is the challenge to reduce our water losses from run-off and control our water use. Monitoring will become a necessity. It is in times like these we need to become more informed of actual water losses, the rainfall that is effective and the minimum irrigation need. In essence, keeping track of the balance of available water supply in the root zone seems logical yet vital.

Must we accept potato patch football pitches?
10 Mar 2006 - Football - Gordon Jaaback - Issue 5 - Feb / Mar 2006 - 5 comments
Apart from the condition of sadly performing premier football pitches, how often do we hear of waterlogged pitches on school and communal grounds? We are now on the road to 2012 and sound outdoor leisure and sports facilities are essential if we as a nation are to perform in the future. Even more important,these areas are vital to the well-being of our youth.