To the STMA review board

The following presentation is geared toward providing an understanding of the basic concepts required for infield maintenance. The presentation could be presented in a minimum time of 1.5 hours or could lend itself to a longer time frame possibly included with other presentations geared toward the municipal athletic field as in a work shop

I would anticipate audience participation including a Q & A time which could allow for a 2 hour time limit on this presentation.

I appreciate your consideration and can say that I wish a presentation like this was available when I first started in infield maintenance

In the event that this presentation is selected, I would also make myself available for other panel discussions etc. that might benefit from my view.

Considerations in Infield Design and MaintenanceJim Hermann, CSFM

Total Control Inc.

The professional infield (the Thoroughbred)Designed for the sprintDesigned to get through the 5th inningGraded at ½% slope radiating out from a point, central to all the bases Constructed with 2 distinct skin layers

A base layer and a topdressing layer Covered and irrigated

The municipal infield (the workhorse)Single skin systemUsed day in and day outAll day, every dayWorked hard and put up wet

Whether maintaining a thoroughbred or a municipal workhorse, it is the responsibility of the infield manager to develop an infield that fits his or her requirements through effective design and maintenance

Is this your infield??

Discuss the interrelationship between design, and maintenance

Investigate primary design flaws as shown through a review of the “criteria for a benchmark infield”

Discuss basic infield maintenance objectives and technique

Water can influence an infield in 3 distinct waysFree water

Most of the water we deal with on an infield is free water or water that is controlled by gravity

As water travels down hill over an infield, it has the potential to cause erosion and carry infield material with it

If free water stops moving on an infield, that’s another problem Understanding and effectively dealing with free water is the most important objective

in infield management. Control of this water is key to a quality low budget “municipal” infield

Capillary water Capillary water is the water held in the soil after all the free water has drained off this does not mean puddles Control of this water is the key to a quality high end “professional” infield This is the water that most infield amendments are designed to help control

Ground Water (also free water) High water table

Criteria For a Benchmark InfieldList of design guidelines intended to provide the sports

field manager with a means of evaluating different infields given site specific differences and limitations

The results of this comparison can be used to help predict potential problems or diagnose existing maintenance issues

Some criteria are the product of consideration in designSome criteria are the product of maintenance

Every infield should: Maintain positive surface drainage within a range of .5 to 1.5% slopes of less than 1% require periodic laser grading unless your really really good As you go above 1% slope you begin to experience excessive erosion, increasing the

potential for lip accumulation This problem can be magnified when using a sandy infield mix or excessive amendments

such as calcined clay

Calculating SlopeRise over run

Rise RunChange in elevation divided by the distance

1’ change in elevation over 100’ 1’ ÷ 100’ = .01 or 1%

Distance in feet × slope × 12” = rise or fall in inches50’ × .01 (1%) = .5 × 12” = 6”

Surface drainage should evacuate water from the infield the shortest distance.

Conical grade

Level (both axis Level)

(Single Plane)1 axis level

(Dual Plane)Neither axis

level

X Y

The dominant slope should never be parallel with the bases path. Dominant slope should be perpendicular to the base path

Every infield should provide a home plate with a minimum crown of ¾%

Home plate should be at the same elevation or slightly higher than 1st, 2nd, & 3rd base

A 2’ wall was constructed to elevate home plate

Every infield should exhibit a smooth transition into adjacent turf areaThe most neglected area of infield maintenance is the lip or interface between the skin and perimeter turf.

Fields are sometimes graded on a single plane (slope)

%

The affects of wear and improper maintenance

Be aware of critical areas of maintenance

Consideration for the internal drainage characteristics of a root zone is important in infield design. The less slope you have, the more critical internal drainage or bypass drainage in the form of slit drainage becomes in providing efficient evacuation of free water.

Sod over with sod grown on sandy soil or fill to top and dirty up surface, seed and mulch

4”

2 – 3” perforated pipe

ASTM C-33 silica sand

(drainage sand)

Do not use ground limestone

12” minimum

½ % minimum slope

Where a high water table or highly permeable root zone is identified, a subsurface drainage plan should be considered

Note: Not efficient for surface drainage

Note: Compatible materials do not require fabric

During the playing season Every infield should be free of unwanted vegetation

Drag your infield every week throughout the season to minimize unwanted vegetationMore than likely you will:

Negatively affect positive surface drainagePromote erosion

AlternativeIn the fall

Spray with roundupSod cut at a shallow depthRake and remove debris

Every infield should provide crisp definition between the infield skin and turf

Every infield should be constructed with ease of maintenance as a paramount objective

Optional plan for 1st and 3rd base

Not to scale

Every infield should be graded in a way that does not allow runoff from adjacent areas onto the infield skin.

The only surface water you should have to deal with on an infield is the water that falls on the infield

Where the potential for surface water running onto the infield exists, a diversion should be included in the design

Every infield should be graded in in a way that does not allow standing water to accumulate either on the infield or in adjacent turf areas

Internal drainage is non existent (inefficient at best) in infield mix “except” in colder climates where for a short period of time the skin can honeycomb from freeze thaw cycles

Determine the cause before you consider the cure

Infield mix was added and this field was regraded with a 1% crown from the pitchers mound. A perimeter slit drain was also installed to correct the problem

Skin fields are much more forgiving when it comes to grade modifications

Every infield should provide reasonable accuracy in mandatory dimensions • Baseline and diagonal distances• Pitching distance

5030

40

(60)

(80)

(100)

#10 Provide reasonable accuracy in mandatory dimensions

Infield safetyConstructed with safety as a paramount objective

Use of warning tracksFencing height compatible with the age of the playersStyle of bases compatible with the level of playSafe distances to obstructions off the playing area

There is a direct relationship between safety, durability and playability

Infield MixEvery infield should utilize an infield mix compatible with

both the level of play and level of maintenanceA quality infield mix is a mix that accurately represents the

product description provided Safety and playability are not directly related to sand, silt

clay ratios of an infield mixSafety and playability are not the direct result of products

used but are related to how those products are used

Sand, Silt, ClaySand

The more sand, the more your infields plays like a sandbox75 – 80% sand provides the integrity need for higher levels

of playIf you anticipate blending calcined clay, lower the sand

requirement to 70% +or-Most of the sand should be medium sand or larger

Fine sand starts to act like silt in a mix Blows in the wind, adds to the lip

The more sand, the less slope

SiltThe more silt you have, the dustier a dry mix

will beThe more silt you have, the gooier a wet mix

will be Maximum of 8%No more than .5 – 1 silt to clay ratioI believe silt has more benefit in the moist

compacted base of a professional (thoroughbred) infield

Clay In combination with silt no more than 20 – 25%Around 16% with a .5 – 1 silt to clay ratio More if amendments such as calcined clay are considered

GravelLess than 4% gravel

AmendmentsCalcined clay, Diatomaceous earth, clay

bricks,Whether your problems are due to improper

field construction, poor quality infield mix or lack of proper maintenance, if you can’t maintain an infield effectively without amendments, you won’t be able to maintain that infield with amendments

Clay bricks don’t eliminate maintenance. Clay bricks can minimize maintenance when utilized correctly. The maintenance that remains becomes more critical.

Questions??

Maintaining the Municipal Workhorse“Wear” When and How

I see more infield damage done every year by improper maintenance, than by no maintenance at all

The following principles and procedures are designed to help maintain positive surface drainage within the infield skinned area. Positive surface drainage is necessary for an effective infield maintenance program.

It is important to evaluate the current condition of the infield prior to implementation of these procedures to determine whether or not initial repairs are necessary to insure the effectiveness of your infield maintenance program

Proper maintenance cannot eliminate the formation of a lip around the perimeters of your

infield. You cannot eliminate rainouts. You can however, minimize conditions that take away from the durability and playability of your

infield. It should be understood that additional procedures will be needed on a yearly basis to effectively

manage the infield skinned area of your baseball/softball infield . 

Areas of concern •Pitchers area•Home plate•Base areas•Perimeter turf (lip)•Raking and dragging•Before it rains•After it rains

Mounds and Pitching Areas Start raking 6’ to 8’ from pitching rubber Start at the turf perimeter with pitchers mounds Rake parallel to or away from turf, being careful to maintain smooth transition into turf Rake material into any depressions Tamp as needed to create firm footing

Clay Mounds and Clay Pitching Areas Sweep loose material from worn areas to expose clay base Score clay base with shovel blade or sod knife Lightly moisten to provide “shiny” surface Do not over moisten to create puddles Add new “moist”, loose clay and tamp smooth Cover with 1/4” loose infield mix or topdressing 

Home Plate Area Start raking 6’- 8’ from the plateRake toward home plate Fill holes and cut high spotsTamp to create firm footingAfter a rain is an ideal time to fill wear areas and cut high spotsNote: In order for new material to bond to the old, the new material

must be moist and the bottom layer must contain as much moisture or more moisture than the new material.

Clay batters and catchers boxes Repair as with clay pitcher’s areas

Base Areas Remove base and or rake adjacent to the base to maintain

the correct elevation of the base and surrounding areaUse existing loose material to fill depressions created by

runners.Do not add new material unless absolutely necessaryGive special attention to:

the area between 1st base and sideline The area surrounding 2nd base The area between 3rd base and sideline

 

Turf Perimeter (lip) ManagementWhat happens on the skin, stays on the skin

Never rake material toward or into the grass Rake parallel to or away from the grass perimeters Be careful to maintain smooth transition between infield skin and grass Use a backpack blower to remove loose infield mix from adjacent turf, blowing material onto the

skinned area Alternatives to blower:

High Pressure water High pressure air Power broom Heavy bristle push broom

Caution should be exercised when brooming grass perimeters so as not to cause turf damage. “Never” broom grass under draught stress Sod cut to remove excessive lip buildup  

Raking and Dragging (after hand raking is accomplished)

Hand rake perimeters to provide a buffer area between the infield drag and the perimeter turf Always rake parallel to or away from turf. Hand rake base paths where an adequate buffer area cannot be maintained Maintain smooth transition into the perimeter turf Vary dragging patterns so as not create low spots Do not drag 4’ base paths with a 5’drag “Always” complete hand raking prior to dragging the infield

 

After it Rains As soon as you can step on the skin without observing water or a shiny

area surrounding your footprintThis is an ideal time to cut high spots and fill and tamp holes that have

accumulated in hard packed dry infields.Use this opportunity to drag your infield with a spring tine or nail drag

that has the ability to scarify the infield mix 1/2” - 3/4” deep, relieve compaction and improve drying time

After a rain is an ideal time to reshape the pitcher’s mound by adding new material or cutting any high spots adjacent to the pitching rubber and front landing area

Care should be taken to retamp wear areas such as around bases, home plate and pitching rubber as conditions permit

 

Before it rainsWhen rain is predicted be sure to blow or broom off

perimeter turf.Rain washes in loose material making removal more

difficult, increasing lip accumulation

The infield dragWhether you use a roll up or rigid drag matDesigned to smooth a rough infield Designed to take out the footprints

Designed to smooth an infield already on gradeNot designed to grade an infieldShould not be used in place of hand raking

The nail drag or spring tine rake In many low budget situations, a better choice than the

roll up drag, Causes less compactionMoves less materialEasier to maintain an effective grading plan

Questions??