How to Maintain a Baseball Field
A baseball field requires a bit more maintenance than many other sports fields. This is true even for the youngest teams, although at these levels, maintenance is often ignored. However, putting kiddos on a smooth infield that reduces bad hops and subsequent whacks in the nose makes baseball a much more enjoyable experience--particularly if you're seven years-old and already "shy of grounders."
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Instructions
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Begin by clearing the infield of as many rocks as possible. Then, if needed, add a layer of "infield dirt" that covers the entire infield. This dirt is a mixture of sand, silt and clay that allows for traction but is still soft enough for sliding.
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Construct a durable pitcher's area. On fields for older players, this will include a pitcher's mound. Consult the league rules for the appropriate specifications for the mound. Review the steps needed to build a professional level pitcher's mound on a groundskeeper's website.
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Convert to an all dirt infield, without infield grass, if there will be enough play for infield grass to be difficult to maintain. This also makes dragging the infield easier.
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Make sure that the home plate area is well built with a base of clay and 2 to 3 inches of heavy infield dirt.
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Sod or reseed outfield areas that have become bare over an off season. Use the hardiest grass available, matched to your climate.
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Create a schedule of field maintenance responsibilities that leaves no doubt about who is responsible for what activities at what time. Weekly activities should include watering, mowing, maintenance of infield integrity including adding dirt as the season progresses, maintenance of the pitcher's area including rebuilding it if needed and maintenance of the home plate area.
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Assign the short term maintenance for each game to either a volunteer committee or to the home team for each game, but make sure there is a reasonable chain of responsibility. These activities include dragging a field before games, setting bases, raking base and home plate areas, and lining base paths.
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Tips & Warnings
Infield dirt runs the gamut from almost pure sand to dirt from Wrigley Field that is sold in small vials. For the average youth league, the quality of dirt sold at discount houses is quite adequate.
For safety's sake, the pitching area and home plate area are the two most important places on the field. Constant action takes place in these small areas attention to laying a good base and maintaining the areas goes a long way to not only increase the playing experience, but also reduce injuries.
On fields that are used for play from little league through high school, a simple accommodation in placing a pitcher's rubber on the pitcher's infield cut at a Little League distance and base moorings along the full sized bath paths allows for all levels of play.
Sometimes offering a document that defines the "best practices" with regard to maintenance establishes a comfort level for those unfamiliar with field maintenance. Major League Baseball offers such a manual.
