Soccer Field Question

[harvdog42]

Somebody brought up in a post a few weeks ago that soccer fields and sports fields were good places to hunt for gold. I'd like to concentrate on soccer fields for this discussion since there are a lot of them around here. I haven't hunted soccer fields too much and have a lot more time hunting parks. I've found the most jewelry in parks in shady areas.

So to help speed up my learning curve hunting soccer fields, I'd like to get some input from you guys. Most of the action takes place, of course, on the field and the concentration of that activity is usually more intense near the goal posts. But how many players are on the field at any given time and how many would be wearing items that could potentially be lost? Another factor to look at is that most of the grass is so worn down in front of the goals that most items, if lost, would be found by eye. Given that, I'm going to guess that the highest probability of find something of value is on the sidelines where people are concentrated, kicking back, changing and cheering. I could be wrong. Of the soccer fields that I have hunted, I've found a higher number of targets on either side of the goals but behind the "out of bounds" lines. I'm not sure why because I rarely see anybody in those areas during games. Maybe during practice sessions team members tend to "get ready" there.

I'd like to hear from anybody that has concentrated on hunting soccer fields. I'm sure there is a "big picture." I just can't see it yet.

Just to give this discussion another twist, how would you compare hunting ball diamonds in terms of productivity to hunting of soccer fields?

Harvdog

 

[JeffNS]

Baseball Diamonds are not as productive as Soccer fields simply because the number of players in a Soccer game outnumber the baseball players. That being said, Soccer is also much more active with players constantly running back and forth from one end to the other and everywhere in between where Baseball has players following a defined line around the bases with just a few players in the outfield at any given time. Simple math here.

As far as a method of hunting Soccer fields effectively...you're correct...sidelines first....then go right down the centre the entire length....then centre accross the width...then just grid it.

Sometimes areas behind the goals can be productive.

Most Soccer fields in my neck of the woods are Multi Purpose which means they see alot more action than single purpose baseball fields as well. Of course, I'd hunt a 1930's baseball field before I hunted a 1970's Soccer field.

Just my thoughts.

Good luck.

 

[tvr]

I agree with the sidelines. One park soccer field I did well in the middle of the field. I later found that they lay out two pee-wee lacrosse fields sideways on the soccer field making the center line of the soccer field the sidelines for both lacrosse fields.

Many of the sports fields I hunt have a lot of youth and teen sports activities. They police the no jewelry on players rules very well; so that's another reason the sidelines have more on those fields.

Fields I've seen with ultimate frisbee games have more targets all over the field.

Spend some time seeing how the filed is used and by what types of people and activities and you can do better figuring where to spend the hunting time.
Cheers,
tvr