They have their feet firmly on the ground, literally. They bend their back all the while on a taxing routine, ever on their toes. They are the markers, the custodians of the playing field.
A marker’s day begins early, well before that of players and coaches. They are first ones to enter the field, but last to leave. Their work begins as soon as they step on to the ground to get the playing area ready.
Cleaning, levelling the surface, if needed, and marking the field and boundaries before the day’s practice session begins ... Once the games are over, they need to take the kits back to the storeroom.
Maintenance is key
Sometimes it could involve a small exchange with the users of the fields too. “I used to enquire how the players felt after the practice session and if they required any assistance,” says K Arjunan with an air of responsibility.
Arjunan has been a marker at Bishop Heber College for over three decades. He points out that one of the most important traits of a marker is punctuality. “I come at least 30 minutes before the start of the practice session, because what is the point in me coming to the ground after the players arrive?”
Earlier, the veteran marker used to board the bus from his village (Nachalur) at four in the morning and reach the college at around six. "Nowadays, since I come by two-wheeler, I start at 5.30am.”
He is very particular about maintenance. “Just like we keep our dining area clean, we must keep the grounds tidy,” he says. “A well-maintained ground creates interest in the students to play. The more the number of students on the ground, the happier we are.”
Like most markers, Arjunan learned the job only after joining the college. “I was always interested in sports and used to play a lot of football at my village. I learnt the technicalities involved in marking, including the measurements and ground-maintenance aspects from physical education directors and coaches,” he says.
What happens when weather plays a spoilsport? Recalling a memorable moment, Arjunan says: “Once, after completing all arrangements for the annual sports meet the next day, we had heavy overnight rain. Luckily for us, the rain stopped early in the morning. The college management provided me the manpower to prepare the ground and we worked very hard to ensure that it was ready by that afternoon for the event to start on time. It happened almost a decade ago, but I still remember it.”
Always on the move
Since the job of a marker is by itself a very good exercise it helps these workers to remain fit, says P Raju, marker at Jamal Mohamed College. “Waking up early in the morning helps in keeping the mind and body fresh. I consider this work as a gift as it has helped me to stay free of illness,” he says.
He had even brought in youngsters from his village (Thennambadi) to work as markers, but they didn’t make much headway. “They find the job strenuous. But a good thing about it is that you feel energised in the company of a lot of youngsters,” says Raju, who used to be a farmer before he became a marker.
The farming experience, he says, came in handy. “I was already familiar with tasks like filling the ground with soil, levelling the surface, and watering. I used to accompany the team as a helper for tournaments conducted in colleges at Chennai, Madurai, and Coimbatore. There I learnt the finer points of marking from seniors,” he says.
Have multi-purpose indoor stadiums minimised the job of the markers? “No. In fact, indoor stadiums require more maintenance. The playing area has to be mopped at least once a day,” says Raju.
Ground connection
Having seen the budding sporting talent of the city over the years, the markers have a close connection to the students. “They are very friendly with me,” says M Mariyappan, marker at St Joseph's College.
Some achievers remember them even in their hour of glory, he says. “When athlete Arokia Rajiv, an Olympian and Arjuna award-winner came to the college sometime back, he met me and asked whether I remember him. It was very nice of him and I was touched indeed,” says Mariyappan, who had just finished preparing the volleyball court for The Centenary Tournaments, which was to begin the next day.
“During tournaments, I finish the ground preparation on the previous day. On the morning of the event, I do some watering, net adjustments and check air level in the balls,” says Mariyappan, who played volleyball during his school days.
As a young boy, Mariyappan used to come to St Joseph’s College regularly as his uncle was working as a cook in the college hostel. “I got an opportunity to interact with the markers and learnt about the job while I was still in school,” he remembers.
So the next time you venture out on to a level playing field, remember the work of the markers, the foot soldiers who have made it all possible.
