Baseball Field Maintenance

The field in a national game of USA, that is baseball is sometimes a forgotten entity at lower levels and for younger teams. The fact is that, baseball field requires a bit more of maintenance than other sports. Especially when it comes to youngsters who have just started off, a well kept baseball field will prevent those unexpected whacks on the nose for them. This article will tell you more about maintaining a baseball field.

Baseball Field Maintenance Checklist

Rake: A rake is a device used to smoothen the dirt over in the infield pre and post a game.

Lawnmower: This is used to cut the grass and keep it at a proper height. It is mandatory as per the baseball organization.

Tampers: A device used to smoothen the artificial turf in the ground.

Fence Capping: These are mainly used when there are little league games having fences around the playing area. Any area where the fence is frayed or cut is to be covered by the fence cap.

Sprinklers: These are used to give proper moisture to the grass on the grass field, to maintain the grass.

Tarp: Tarps are tools to protect the field from getting wet and flooded on account of rain.

After we have checked what we need to maintain a baseball field, let's actually get on to how to maintain it.

Maintaining a Baseball Field

• The first thing you need to do is to clear off the rocks and small sticks on the whole infield. If required, add a layer of infield dirt covering the whole field. This dirt comprises sand, silt and clay allowing for traction, at the same time it is sufficiently soft for sliding.
• Prepare a pitcher's area and mound which is durable. For preparing a pitcher's mound, you may have to consult a professional league to know about the exact specifications of the mound.
• Have an infield totally without grass, an all dirt field. This is in case if you feel the amount of grass is going to be tough to maintain. Dragging the infield will be made easier by doing this.
• Ensure that the area of the home plate and surrounding is built properly. Ideally, it should be built with a base of clay and there should be 2 to 3 inches of heavy infield dirt.
• Use the hardiest grass as possible, which will suit the climate. If there are bare areas developed over an off season sod, reseed the outfield areas.
• Create a schedule for field maintenance for every game to a volunteer committee or to the home team.
• However, make sure that each person knows what is supposed to be done and when it is supposed to be done.
• Ensuring a proper chain of responsibility is essential.
• The activities which need to be done on a weekly basis are watering, mowing, maintenance of infield integrity including adding dirt as the season progresses, maintenance of the home plate area and maintenance of the pitcher's area and rebuilding it if necessary.
• Then, there has to be a short term plan for baseball field maintenance, just before a game.
• Dragging a field before every game, setting bases, lining base paths and raking base and home plate areas are the things which need to be done just before a match.

In case there is some doubt, offering a document defining the best practices can prove to be helpful.

I guess this is enough for the day, about maintaining a baseball field. Good luck!