WHY:
- Daily field care is the responsibility of LHLL, not the City.
- If not done properly, it not only looks bad, it also creates safety hazards.
- The City is responsible for the basic grounds, repairs and major renovation investments.
- The City has provided/installed 15 tons of soil, 3000 sqft of sod, 8000 pounds of mound dirt and drying agents amongst the 3 fields (Cabot L/U and Majors), laser leveled cabot, and provided lots of labor
- Fellow parents (Field Setup Parents) have spent approx 4 hours each doing heavy labor working to improve the fields in preparation for the season.
- Mounds have been rebuilt.
- LHLL is a 100% volunteer organization; its success is wholly dependent on volunteerism.

WHEN:
- Practices (allow 30min for 1 person):
> the field should be raked/dragged and lightly watered in after every practice
> after the final practice, it should be raked/dragged followed by a heavier watering (not puddles)
- Games: (allow 25 min for 2 person)
> The home team is responsible for field setup rake/drag/light-water/lining BEFORE each game (home team sits on 3rd base side)
> The visiting team is responsible for the field maintenance after the last game of the day (rake/drag/light-watering/covers/lock-storage

WHERE:
- Field maintenance applies to ALL dirt infields (game or practice), regardless of division

WHO:
- Those parents that signed up during registration for "Game Setup"
- HOWEVER, it would be a gracious gesture to have additional parents help out, even with the ancillary work.
- It's shameful to see coaches/managers also doing field maintenance, if a coach/manager is out there, parents should be taking that work over.

ISSUES:
- any safety or supply issues should be communicated immediately to your division commissioner.
- when there are only 3 bags of chalk left in storage for game fields, please notify the division commissioner.

HOW:
- Raking: Raking is for smaller areas where the drag can't be reach and for "working out" holes and hills. Best results occur when working it back and forth, changing 90 degree positions. Before dragging large areas, rake bad areas first. When raking, you should be breaking the upper crust of dirt, breaking chunks up and spreading it out evenly. If after dragging there are high spots, knock them down with a rake.
- Dragging: The purpose of dragging is to level load the upper layer of dirt across the infield. The dragger should be flat and pulled across long flat areas. The dragger should NEVER touch the grass (edge of infield or dragged to/from storage). Do not drag over the bases.
- Watering: Though watering gives the dirt a deeper red appearance and "keeps the dust down"… it really is about keeping the soil moist. The key to keeping an infield soft is water. Frequent watering will have the biggest positive impact on the infield. Lightly water between uses, and medium watering (not puddles) at the end of the day.
- Covers/Mats: Covers are to be put over the mound without touching the grass at the end of the day. They are to put on AFTER watering. This helps keep the mound moist. There are covers for home plate as well. When not in use, covers should be stored in storage or away from players. Black mats (kept in front of the duggout entry) are used to prevent high traffic from ruining dirt/grass areas. They should never be left anywhere on the grass.
- The Mound: The mound should only be lightly raked (never dragged) to clean up foot prints and holes. If the front of the rubber is dug up, it needs to be filled and repacked, then watered. The mound requires this grooming after every use (practice or game). DO NOT add dirt to mound from anywhere else on the field. For SanJoauin, do not drag dragger over the mound. Don't let the dirt invade the grass area. Do not "reshape" the mound, there is an intential perch in front of rubber called a landing area.
- Home plate area: The chalk around home plate needs to be worked into the regular soil with a rake. Chalk, when watered and reapplied, results in "near concrete", so it needs to be dispersed. DO NOT add dirt from anywhere else on the field. Don't let the dirt invade the grass area.
- Baselines: Only rakes should be used for the base paths. The raking should be in the directions of home/to base only, not side to side.
- Around Bases: The dirt around the base should be level with the bottom of the base (no space showing). Holes should be filled and repacked and raked flat.
- Dirt infield: At a minimum, for the dirt infield, every crew should locate 3 bad areas and flatten/soften them up with a rake. Also gently rake edge of dirt near grass. Then the infield should be dragged. Don't let the dirt invade the grass area.
- Storage: At the end of the game, all the maint gear (rake/hose/hosebib/drag) should be stored. Also, the bases on Majors/Cabot/Valencia should be removed from the field and stored, with rubber stoppers inserted into the holes to prevent them getting refilled. Make sure the tumblers of the lock are spun and locked securely closed.
- Bases: To install the bases, remove the rubber plug and insert. If there is dirt in the square receptacle hole, use the dirt removal tool to dig out first. Store the rubber plugs in the storage area when not in use.

For Coaches:

- Do not hit ground balls from the batters box dirt area. If you do, you should be on a MAT. Otherwise, stay to the sides.

- Do not pitch batting practice from in front of the mound on grass unless you are on a MAT.

- Do not run catchers drills from behind the plate unless they are on the MAT.

- Do not leave the MAT on the grass when not in use.

- Do not hit balls into any fences, it destroys the chain link fence and creates a safety hazard.

- Do not do warm ups on infield grass or infield dirt, use the outfield.

- Do not let your pitchers dig holes on the mound in front of the rubber.

- Do not let your fielders dig holes in the outfield to put their feet in.

- Chalk is for games/scrimmages only.

- If there is a cover for the chalk in storage, make sure the cover remains on the chalk protecting them from rain.