It is the managers and coaches responsibility to take care of the fields so please review the content below to provide the best playing conditions for the kids as possible.
Practice
Field maintenance is required after every practice. Leave the field how you would like to receive it. Please make sure to use the hitting mats. Last practice of the day, lightly wet the clay boxes and clay mounds and cover with the tarps.
Games
Home Teams are responsible for field prep before the game. This includes responsible for clay mound and clay box repair, brooming, dragging, raking, and for painting the lines. The Visiting Team is responsible for post game maintenance including brooming, raking, dragging, and covering the mound and home plate area. Both teams are encouraged to assist each other as more hands get the job done faster.
Soggy field practice, rule of thumb
If the infield dirt or clay sticks to the bottom of the cleats, do not practice in the infield or use the batters boxes. Please modify your practice and use the outfield and cages. This will eliminate damage to the infield and prevent transporting mud, dirt and clay to the turf areas. The clay batters boxes and mounds should not be used if they are too wet. Please make sure to use the hitting mats.
If you see standing water in the outfield, don't practice in the outfield either. Batting cages should be okay as long as it's not actively raining.
If you see lightning or hear thunder, you must stop all outdoor activities until you haven’t heard thunder or seen lightning for 30 minutes. Note that the dugouts do NOT provide safe shelter from lightning. See Appendix A (Lightning Safety Guidelines) in the Little League Baseball rule book for more information.
Soggy Field Prep
If games are not canceled after a rainstorm, representatives from the first teams to use the field (home and visitor) should show up at least an hour and a half before their game. For best results rake, sunshine and time. If it’s not to muddy, you can drag. Import dry dirt if necessary or minimal Quickdry to the heavily soaked areas and rake. Field 1 dugouts will have to be pumped or scooped with the pans or buckets. Put the water back on the grass, not on the infield. The large plastic tarps should only be used to keep rain off the field the day before play. Do not leave them on the grass after it rains. The sun and plastic will kill the grass.
Who locks up?
The visiting team of the last game of the day. Field boxes, gates, bullpens, lights, porta potty's or anything else. If you're not sure if you're the last game, go ahead and lock up.
Education on Turface Products (mound, box and infield maintenance)Video Links:
Our catcher areas, batters boxes and pitcher mounds are built out of clay. Proper maintenance is required to keep them safe and prevent costly overhauls. They need to be repaired with clay every game and not just covered with infield dirt. This video shows you how to do so.
Game Day Field Prep:
Baseball infield skin and lip maintenance: