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.
Slide 2
Considerations in Infield Design and Maintenance Jim Hermann,
CSFM Total Control Inc.
Slide 3
The professional infield (the Thoroughbred) Designed for the
sprint Designed to get through the 5 th inning Graded at % 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
Slide 4
The municipal infield (the workhorse) Single skin system Used
day in and day out All day, every day Worked hard and put up
wet
Slide 5
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
Slide 6
Is this your infield??
Slide 7
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
Slide 8
Water can influence an infield in 3 distinct ways Free 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, thats
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
Slide 9
Criteria For a Benchmark Infield List 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 design Some
criteria are the product of maintenance
Slide 10
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
Slide 11
Calculating Slope Rise over run Rise Run Change 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 inches 50 .01
(1%) =.5 12 = 6
Slide 12
Surface drainage should evacuate water from the infield the
shortest distance.
Slide 13
Conical grade
Slide 14
Level (both axis Level) (Single Plane) 1 axis level (Dual
Plane) Neither axis level X Y
Slide 15
The dominant slope should never be parallel with the bases
path. Dominant slope should be perpendicular to the base path
Slide 16
Every infield should provide a home plate with a minimum crown
of %
Slide 17
Home plate should be at the same elevation or slightly higher
than 1 st, 2 nd, & 3 rd base
Slide 18
A 2 wall was constructed to elevate home plate
Slide 19
Slide 20
Slide 21
Every infield should exhibit a smooth transition into adjacent
turf area The most neglected area of infield maintenance is the lip
or interface between the skin and perimeter turf.
Slide 22
Slide 23
Fields are sometimes graded on a single plane (slope)
Slide 24
% The affects of wear and improper maintenance
Slide 25
Be aware of critical areas of maintenance
Slide 26
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.
Slide 27
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 %
minimum slope
Slide 28
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
Slide 29
During the playing season Every infield should be free of
unwanted vegetation
Slide 30
Drag your infield every week throughout the season to minimize
unwanted vegetation More than likely you will: Negatively affect
positive surface drainage Promote erosion Alternative In the fall
Spray with roundup Sod cut at a shallow depth Rake and remove
debris
Slide 31
Every infield should provide crisp definition between the
infield skin and turf
Slide 32
Every infield should be constructed with ease of maintenance as
a paramount objective
Slide 33
Optional plan for 1 st and 3 rd base Not to scale
Slide 34
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
Slide 35
Where the potential for surface water running onto the infield
exists, a diversion should be included in the design
Slide 36
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
Slide 37
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
Slide 38
Every infield should provide reasonable accuracy in mandatory
dimensions Baseline and diagonal distances Pitching distance
Slide 39
Slide 40
5030 40 (60) (80) (100)
Slide 41
#10 Provide reasonable accuracy in mandatory dimensions
Slide 42
Infield safety Constructed with safety as a paramount objective
Use of warning tracks Fencing height compatible with the age of the
players Style of bases compatible with the level of play Safe
distances to obstructions off the playing area
Slide 43
There is a direct relationship between safety, durability and
playability
Slide 44
Slide 45
Slide 46
Infield Mix Every infield should utilize an infield mix
compatible with both the level of play and level of maintenance A
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 mix Safety and
playability are not the direct result of products used but are
related to how those products are used
Slide 47
Sand, Silt, Clay Sand The more sand, the more your infields
plays like a sandbox 75 80% sand provides the integrity need for
higher levels of play If 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
Slide 48
Silt The more silt you have, the dustier a dry mix will be The
more silt you have, the gooier a wet mix will be Maximum of 8% No
more than.5 1 silt to clay ratio I believe silt has more benefit in
the moist compacted base of a professional (thoroughbred)
infield
Slide 49
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
Slide 50
Gravel Less than 4% gravel
Slide 51
Amendments Calcined 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 cant
maintain an infield effectively without amendments, you wont be
able to maintain that infield with amendments
Slide 52
Clay bricks dont eliminate maintenance. Clay bricks can
minimize maintenance when utilized correctly. The maintenance that
remains becomes more critical.
Slide 53
Slide 54
Slide 55
Questions??
Slide 56
Maintaining the Municipal Workhorse Wear When and How
Slide 57
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.
Slide 58
Areas of concern Pitchers area Home plate Base areas Perimeter
turf (lip) Raking and dragging Before it rains After it rains
Slide 59
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
Slide 60
Home Plate Area Start raking 6- 8 from the plate Rake toward
home plate Fill holes and cut high spots Tamp to create firm
footing After a rain is an ideal time to fill wear areas and cut
high spots Note: 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 pitchers areas
Slide 61
Base Areas Remove base and or rake adjacent to the base to
maintain the correct elevation of the base and surrounding area Use
existing loose material to fill depressions created by runners. Do
not add new material unless absolutely necessary Give special
attention to: the area between 1st base and sideline The area
surrounding 2nd base The area between 3rd base and sideline
Slide 62
Turf Perimeter (lip) Management What 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
Slide 63
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 5drag Always complete hand raking prior to dragging
the infield
Slide 64
After it Rains As soon as you can step on the skin without
observing water or a shiny area surrounding your footprint This 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 pitchers 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
Slide 65
Before it rains When rain is predicted be sure to blow or broom
off perimeter turf. Rain washes in loose material making removal
more difficult, increasing lip accumulation
Slide 66
The infield drag Whether you use a roll up or rigid drag mat
Designed to smooth a rough infield Designed to take out the
footprints Designed to smooth an infield already on grade Not
designed to grade an infield Should not be used in place of hand
raking
Slide 67
The nail drag or spring tine rake In many low budget
situations, a better choice than the roll up drag, Causes less
compaction Moves less material Easier to maintain an effective
grading plan
