College Point Little League

FIELD MAINTENANCE TIPS

Do not push puddles into the grass
If using a drying agent such as Quick Dry, it must be picked up, you are much better off using a coarser material, that can be left on the fieldN
ever use a broom to get rid of a puddle, that will leave a hole
Grade fields away from home plate and the mound
Do not move material when nail dragging, just scarify the surface
Do not leave clay bits and chunks on the grass, these cause lips
Do not leave post game work for the next team
Cover up any clay storage, mounds and home plates

Water dirt night before field is used (if you have access to water)
Nail drag and screen drag in the morning before the field is used
Check the 1st base cutout and rake and level every time the field is used, if it looks like it is getting chewed up, roll it with the small lawn roller
Water again before the players come out and use the field
After they finish fix the holes in the mound and homeplate and cover them up until you have time to do finish work
When fixing holes follow these steps:

1. Sweep holes out
2. Water holes lightly
3. Scarify existing material
4. Add new material and pack together
5. Level out new material

Always rake dirt chunks off the grass when a field is finished being used
Water as much as you can, this is the key to good infield dirt
Top dress your infield dirt with calcined clay (Turface, Diamond Pro) or an expanded shale product (Dura Edge Pro Slide) so that you have a thin layer on top of the infield dirt.
Check your edges to make sure they are level and you do not have lips developing
If you use chalk, pick up the chalk lines after the game
If you have to add Calcined Clay to get rid of puddles make sure you pick up excess material when you are finished, you can store it for another rainy day

Add material to low spots as necessary, these usually develop at the position areas and in the first base cutout
Wash the dirt out of the grass edges to keep them nice. This is done with a gentle stream of water
Check the grass/dirt edges and make sure they are level, add material if they are not
Start watering 2 days before they use the infield dirt so that you have water all the way through the dirt
Check the mound and home plate to make sure they are level
Trim the grass edges around the dirt at least once every 2 weeks, run a string down the edge to keep it straight
Check the slope on the mound adjust it as necessary
Check the level of home plate

College Point Little League
13-28 123rd Street
College Point, New York 11356