PRE-GAME / PRACTICE FIELD MAINTENANCE

•  Check the field for hazards (insecure bases, holes in the ground / fencing). 
•  Repair minor issues; report major issues to the League Commissioner or Field Maintenance Director.

•  Remove tarps.

•  Drag / groom the skinned areas level and smooth.

•  Moisten the skinned areas.

•  Rake, fill, and groom mound / batter box, as needed.

•  Line the field.  

POST-GAME/PRACTICE FIELD MAINTENANCE

•  Remove bases and cover base anchor sleeves.

•  Drag the skinned areas.

•  Rake loose dirt from the grass along the base paths, the mound circle, and infield edge back into the skinned areas.

•  Rake, fill, and groom the field mound and home plate area.

•  Rake, fill, and groom bull pen mounds.

•  Replace and tamp loose divots in turf areas.

•  Moisten the skinned areas.

•  Replace mound and home plate tarps and secure if necessary.

•  Sweep out the dugouts. 

•  Dispose of trash and recycling in and around the field, dugouts, and bleacher areas.

FIELD MAINTENANCE CHECKLISTS

BASE PATH MAINTENANCE

•  Remove bases and debris (sticks, rocks, grass clippings).

•  Lightly moisten the skinned areas.

•  Drag the skinned areas—slowly. This grooms the surface and levels low spots. Keep the drag at least 6 inches 
   from the grass edge to prevent lips forming.

•  Groom the areas next to the turf with a landscape rake and broom.

Tips & Hints

–  Change the direction of the drag to prevent buildup; try a spiral drag path.
–  If infield mix gets on the turf, use a plastic fan rake or broom to get it out. Plastic fan rakes and brooms work better 

    because  they cause less damage to roots.

Please Avoid

–  Raking across the base path. This creates low spots in the middle of the base path and a lip along the grass.

–  Raking or squeegeeing water out of the base path, going across to the grass, will quickly develop a lip.

–  Entering and exiting the field at the same place with the drag.
–  Dragging past the skinned area onto the turf will create lips.
 

HOME PLATE MAINTENANCE

•  Rake loose material from the batter & catcher boxes and umpire area to expose hard ground. 

•  Moisten exposed hard ground and loose material to ensure the mix will bind when packed in the holes.
   Give the mix a few minutes to absorb the water.

•  Rake the moistened loose material into holes in the batter & catcher boxes and umpire area.

•  Tamp loose mix into the holes using a tamp or the smooth back of a field rake.

•  Rake then broom the repaired areas and the rest of the home plate area.

•  Moisten the entire home plate area.

•  Cover with a tarp to hold in moisture and protect the skinned area from heavy rains. 

MOUND MAINTENANCE

•  Rake and sweep loose material from the landing area and top of the mound exposing hard ground.
   The landing area is the place where the pitcher lands with his lead foot. 

•  Moisten exposed hard ground and loose material to ensure the mix will bind when packed in the holes.
   Give the mix a few minutes to absorb the water.

•  Rake the loose moistened material into in the holes created by the pitcher.

•  Tamp the loose fill using a tamp or the smooth back of a field rake.

•  Rake and broom the repaired areas and the rest of the mound.

•  Water the mound area.

•  Cover with a tarp to hold in moisture and protect the skinned area from heavy rains.