The following steps outline a daily maintenance routine that, if followed, will provide the safest, most playable sports field for your players. Also, this short daily routine will keep fields manageable and will eliminate the struggles of field maintenance. A little dedication is all it takes to keep your new infield in proper playing condition.
Maintenance should be performed immediately following field use, leaving it in good condition for the next day. Your field should be in the same shape for practice as for games. Inconsistencies can lead to the downfall of your infield surface.
A key to success is getting others involved in maintaining the field. Assign different people with certain responsibilities which they must accomplish everyday. Give parents and board members incentives to participate in the field’s maintenance. The more people involved, the more work will get done to the field.
Skinned Area Maintenance
These simple steps will keep an infield playing surface - safe, playable, and manageable.
Water the Infield
Water is important to the skinned areas. Water will keep the infield moist, providing many benefits. You don’t want your clay mix to dry and breakdown. The moisture keeps the fields soft and prevent wind erosion. A moist infield is more playable and easier to maintain. Try to water in the morning and before games. Provide enough time for partial dry down. Nail drag before games when field is damp.
Dragging
An infield should be dragged daily. This process will keep the skinned playing surface loose, level, and consistent. There is no one way to drag an infield, but there are key rules to follow.
Rule 1
It is important to drag the field slowly.
Dragging the field quickly can cause loss of materials as well as an uneven surface.
To begin, slowly drag around the perimeter of the skinned area before starting your dragging pattern.
It is important to leave at least a six-inch buffer between the drag and the edge of the turf while dragging. This will prevent material from building up in the turf edges. Use a rake to smooth out this area after dragging is complete.
Rule 2
Alternate starting and stopping points every day. Otherwise, you will create low areas on your field that will lead to puddles.
Nail Dragging
A nail drag should be used at least once a week. It keeps the top ¼ to ½ inch loose and workable. Not only does it make the field safer by relieving compaction, it also makes it easier to maintain.
Matt Dragging
A matt drag should be used to smooth the playing surface. The loose material that you create with nail dragging will be used when matt dragging, to level all low areas on the playing surface.
Mound Repair
Because of the abuse the pitcher's area takes, it must be repaired everyday. This simple process should only take a few minutes at the end of each day.
Batter's Box and Catcher's Box Repair
The batter's box and catcher's box are heavily worn areas. These areas must remain firm. To fix the holes, follow the same easy steps as those to repair the pitcher's area. The entire batter's box and catcher's box must be level and firm for the job to be complete And remember to add new Mound and Plate Clay to these areas as needed.
Walk the Field
Slowly walk the entire field before every practice or game. In doing so, look for these following hazards: