MANAGERS/COACHES/PARENTS: The following field preparation and maintenance instructions will be followed before and after every game. They apply for both sets of coaches (Home and Visitor) and for all games and practices. All teams are responsible for removing all garbage, water bottles and miscellaneous items from the dugouts, surrounding areas and field after each game or practice. Please make sure the park is cleaned up before you leave.
Batting of any kind is prohibited against any backstop or fence. No pepper games are allowed.
Please use this information to educate yourself AND your parents who help out before and after games and practices. Make sure they understand the proper steps toward good field maintenance. Ultimately, our number one goal is to provide the safest playing surface possible to ensure maximum injury reduction, along with having great eye-appeal. Pre and Post-Game Field Preparation is hard work, but the benefit is better and longer lasting fields for our kids to play on.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR HELPING KEEP GOOD TIMES PARK IN GREAT SHAPE.
Step 1 - Arrive at your field early!!!
Rake the heavy traffic spots around all the bases to prevent puddles, especially on mound and batter's box.
If needed, fill in low spots with Infield Mix only, and rake and tamp down as necessary.
If it is raining or has rained and the high traffic areas are wet as you approach game time,
you may apply Turface SPARINGLYto assist with drying out the wet area.
Concentrate first on the pitching area and the batter's box, then move to around the bases.
If the areas are not drying out, then it may not be safe to play and the game should be called off.
Please work with the opposing manager and umpires to determine the best course of action.
Step 2 - Drag the infield, either by hand or with the tractor. Start at the pitcher's mound and go around until you're done. Don't get too close to the edge of either the fence or the grass. Make sure you do not push/pull any dirt onto the lip of the outfield grass. This will create a longterm problem with drainage and kill the grass.
Step 3 - As the fields dry out later in the season, spray the infield down with water. This prevents it from getting too dusty for the players as well as softens the infield for more consistent hops and bounces. This will help somewhat alleviate tough hops that could cause injury to infielders.
Step 4 - Place the appropriate sized batter's box template next to home plate with the handle touching the edge of home plate. For T-ball through Majors use the 3'x6' template. For 50/70, please use the 4'x6' template.
Step 5 - Walk on the the template to press it into the dirt.
Step 6 - On the lines left by the template, using the 2" setting, chalk in the batter's box.
Step 7 - With the nail at the back corner of home plate and someone holding the other end of the string, chalk the baseline to the outfield using the 2" setting. The string should be positioned about 1" in from the impression of the base, so that the outer edge of the line aligns with the base.
Step 8 - Ideal bag and baseline alignment.
Step 9 - Using the 2" setting, chalk the 3rd base line, extend to outfield grass.
Step 10 - Using the 2" setting, chalk in the coaches box at 1st and 3rd base. You're ready to play ball!
Step 11 - Please make sure you drag/rake the infield after your game or practice. Fill in any holes in front of the pitching rubber and in the batters box. Lightly watering the area and tamping down will create a better playing surface. Don't forget to remove all of the equipment from the field of play and return to the appropriate storage area.
Always leave the field in better shape than how you found it!
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