Field Preparation Guidelines
Info on using the Honda ATVs at Brier Park and Cypress School
General Info:
Remember the primary objective: Create a save environment for the kids to play - and one that looks good too - something everyone can appreciate.
Using the Drags: It is best to start at the center of the field - forming a tight circle around the pitcher's plate - overlapping your previous wheel marks as you work toward the outside of the field.
The drag should be connected to the ATV at the hitch (on the rear axle) - but keep the rope length short enough so you don't catch it on the wheel - which will then wrap it wound the axel. Some people prefer to attach the drag to the rack on back of the ATV. This can work - but you also increase the chance of lifting the drag too much causing it to bounce - which leads to a "washboard" effect.
Don't speed when using the ATV to drag the field - you do much more harm than good. If the speed is too fast, the drags tend to bounce - which will create a "washboard" infield - a very uneven playfield. Going too fast also throws the infield mix onto the grass - which contributes to building up the lip.
You shouldn't have to use the spiked drag every time - often the mesh drag is all you need to get rid of the foot imprints and smooth out the field. If you do use the spiked drag, be sure to follow up with the mesh drag to put down a more uniform playing surface.
There is a continuing problem of infield mix being drug onto the grass. PLEASE lift and clean the drag before moving on/off the infields. The practice of dragging into the grass creates the lip problems around the infield and, eventually, the infield/pro choice mix will kill off the grass. Also, keep in mind that the material is costly and should be preserved on the infield as much as possible.
Wet Weather Field Prep
After a rain, you should arrive early to allow enough time to prep the field and give it a chance to dry-out - on a bad field with standing water, it make take two hours to get a field prepped to play on.
The first thing to do after arriving on the field is to determine how bad the field is. Walk around the base paths and determine how far you sink in, how much standing water there is and make the call: can this field really be brought into playable condition? Keep in mind of the weather forecast as well - no sense spending an hour or more prepping the field and then have the rains dump even more water onto the field.
Once you have decided to get the field ready for play, take care of standing water first - use a portable field pump to remove the water - or an adsorbent pillow if they are at the field (these are reusable). You can also spread out the water and top layer of mud over the surrounding play area - a wide broom works well for this (but don't sweep the mud off of the playfield - keep it on the field, but spread around). The idea is to spread the mud into a thin layer that will promote drying.
Rapid Dry. Use the Pro Choice Rapid Dry sparingly - no more than three bags/field. If it will take more than three bags, then the field is too wet to play on. Spread a portion of the bag in a thin layer over the worst portion of the field (batter's box, mound and base areas) Mix the rapid dry into the top layer of muck with a rake - spreading it around as you go. Allow some time for the rapid dry to adsorb the moisture. You don't want to dump the entire 50lb bag in one area to suck up all of the water. Go onto another area, apply some rapid dry and work it in with the rake. After a while, come back to the areas and add some additional rapid dry - again raking it in to provide good contact with the wet ground.
SHETLAND (Ages 5 & 6 -Tee ball)
Practices & Games: Coaches (or parent volunteers) should arrive early to set up the bases and rake the dirt around the bases and home plate. Bases and rakes are kept in the shed at the South end of the parking lot. Remove rocks and debris from the playing area. Make sure litter (water bottles, etc.) is picked up after practice and games.
After games or practice are complete, replace the bases with the orange anchor covers - and cover them with dirt.
PINTO (Ages 7 & 8 -Coach Pitch) & MUSTANG (Ages 9 & 10 Players pitch)
Please make note of the amount of chalk left in the shed - when you see only two bags (or less), please notify the field guys by clicking here.
Practices: Coaches (or parent volunteers) should arrive early to set up the bases and rake the infield around the bases and home plate. (Drag the field if necessary, but shouldn't be needed for practices). Remove rocks and debris from the playing area. Make sure litter (water bottles, etc.) is picked up after practice and games.
Games: Coaches (or parent volunteers) should arrive early to drag the field, set up the bases and rake the dirt around home plate and the bases, and chalk the foul lines. Coaches should have keys to the sheds at Forest Crest & Brier Park. Parent Volunteers should get the keys to the shed to prep the fields. Note: the Quad & Honda ATV in the sheds at Forest Crest & Brier Park are chained in place. The key that opens the shed will also open the lock on these vehicles. Use the rolled up metal screen to drag the field. The triangle (wood) drag and spiked/heavy weight drag are only used to reshape the field after a heavy rain if gullies have formed. If you use the spiked drag before a game when the field is dry, the field will be too soft.
After games or practice are complete, replace the bases with the orange anchor covers - and cover them with dirt. Be sure to pickup trash from the dugout and near the stands.
BRONCO
The fields at Evergreen should be in good shape for games and practices - and really shouldn't need any field prep. Ballinger may require work however (since the Park employees don't have anything to drag the fields with), so allow extra time for raking the field prior to games.
Note on use of E3: Coaches should have a key to the tower. The home team is responsible for unlocking the tower, opening up the window covers and turning on the scoreboard controller - don't forget to turn on the power switch at the base of the scoreboard as well. After the game, home team needs to lock things up - and power down the scoreboard - including the switch at the base of the scoreboard.
Note on the Use of Cypress: Make sure no one parks on the grass!!!! Vehicles will be towed!!! During the week, no one can be on the fields at Cypress until 5pm. No one can use Cypress on Saturdays. On Sundays, Cypress is available after 1pm. After each game, coaches need to empty the garbage out of the dugouts (additional trash bags are in the shed). Trash should be brought over to the dumpster by the school.
PONY
Please make note of the amount of chalk left in the shed - when you see only two bags (or less), please notify the field guys by clicking here.
The fields at Evergreen should be in good shape for games and practices - and really shouldn't need any field prep (as long as someone preps them). Check the placement of bases before games - these fields are used by softball teams, and the bases (especially at E5) may need to be moved to 80 feet. If the fields haven't been prepped - or the gates are locked to get onto the fields, call the MLT Pavilion 425-776-9173 -or walk over to the Pavilion and NICELY request that someone prep the field - or unlock the gates.
Note on the Use of Cypress: Make sure no one parks on the grass!!!! Vehicles will be towed!!! During the week, no one can be on the fields at Cypress until 5pm. No one can use Cypress on Saturdays. On Sundays, Cypress is available after 1pm. After each game, coaches need to empty the garbage out of the dugouts (additional trash bags are in the shed). Trash should be brought over to the dumpster by the school.