Summary In this premiere episode of Inside Edge, host Paul Zwaska shares his journey from being a groundskeeper in Major League Baseball to focusing on youth leagues and community sports. He discusses the importance of maintaining fields at lower levels, creating long-range plans for field maintenance, and the challenges faced in implementing changes. Zwaska emphasizes the significance of budgeting, investing in quality equipment, and enhancing the overall experience for families involved in youth sports. He concludes with valuable lessons learned throughout his experience in sports management. In this conversation, Paul shares insights on creating exceptional youth sports facilities, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high-quality fields to attract families. He discusses the satisfaction derived from working with youth leagues compared to professional baseball, highlighting the need for better field maintenance at higher levels. The conversation also covers regional differences in field maintenance practices, innovative solutions for common challenges, and practical maintenance tips for optimal field performance. Links National Weather Service: https://www.weather.gov/ncrfc/LMI_FrostDepthMap GDDTracker: https://gddtracker.msu.edu/?model=7&offset=0&zip=53507 Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Inside Edge and Host Background 03:01 Journey from Major League Baseball to Youth Leagues 05:59 Creating a Long-Range Plan for Field Maintenance 08:53 Challenges in Implementing Change 11:49 Upgrading Facilities and Community Engagement 15:12 Budgeting and Financial Management in Youth Sports 18:02 Investing in Quality Equipment and Facilities 21:08 Increasing Participation and Revenue Growth 23:58 Enhancing the Overall Experience for Families 26:48 Lessons Learned and Future Directions 36:29 Creating Exceptional Youth Sports Facilities 39:25 Regional Differences in Field Maintenance 58:53 Innovative Solutions for Field Maintenance 01:12:05