Everett Little League 11/19/2021

EVERETT WASHINGTON MAINTENANCE OF SKINNED AREAS One part of the maintenance program that is crucial to the safety of the player is having an even surface that allows the player to run and slide safely. Some of the problems associated with the maintenance of the infields and running paths are: ♦ Worn areas near bases. ♦ Soil build-up between turf and skinned areas. ♦ Problem wet areas. ♦ Dusty or loose running paths. ♦ Abrasive soil composition. LEVELING OFF WORN AREAS AND HOLES It is important to level off certain high use areas on a daily basis so that the players may perform safely. These areas include running paths, sliding zones, pitcher's mound, and the batter's box, and positional players' areas. Leveling off will be done every day before use. After this is done, the daily prep will be started. Shovel and/or rake excess-mounded infield mix into the holes in the running paths and around bases. Watering, grading and packing are then necessary to form a firm level surface. Put bases back in. DRAGGING SKINNED AREAS The purpose of dragging the skinned area is to retain a smooth and level-playing surface that will be safe to run on and will help prevent bad ball hops. Dragging loose surface material into the low spots with a variety of dragging equipment and procedures can do this. Dragging and scarifying the infield dirt, will mix the various sizes of the sand in the mix, and assist in the percolation of water (drainability) in the infield mix. It is beneficial if the surface can be scarified to a depth of 0.5", but not greater the 1.0" Before and after the field has been dragged, lightly wet the surface to settle the dust and to gently pack the loose material. Having the appropriate soil moisture level is critical to the safety and performance of the players so it should be monitored carefully. The amount of water to be used will depend on soil properties and environmental conditions. The drag apparatus usually consists of a heavy steel frame with bolts projecting into the infield surface. Commercial Grade Drag is required. When using mechanical drag, stay 3 feet away from the outfield grass. This area will need to be raked by hand. DO NOT drag over: sprinkler heads, bases, base anchors, pitching rubbers, or home plates. There are several types of dragging patterns that can be used to achieve the desired result, such as baseline, circular or figure eight patterns, or reversing the direction every time. The type of equipment you use will influence the pattern you use. Becoming familiar with your equipment is a key to successful dragging. Changing your dragging pattern will avoid uneven dragging. Everett Parks Athletic Maintenance will provide a copy of the drag patterns they use, if requested. B4