Sports Field Maintenance Tips

Baseball

Infield Area

• Loosen shale and silt with appropriate tools to a depth of 5cm
• Rake and float skinned areas with a steel mat leaving a slight crown for water drainage
• Compact soft areas by rolling and tamping
• Fill any depressions on skinned areas with shale/silt
• Vary floating patterns to avoid lipping
• Keep bases level and aligned with the dimensions of the diamond

Home Plate Area

• Fill with shale/silt to provide a workable yet firm footing that is not too loose
• Level it with the top of home plate to prevent water pooling and provide proper drainage

Base Paths

• Should be straight, following 90 degree angles from home plate point towards first and third bases
• Edge the base paths to keep grass from encroaching defined areas as required
• Grade as required so there is no rutted or dished appearance
• Fill any depressions with shale/silt

Outfield

• Mow to a height of 5cm
• Top dress with topsoil and overseed depressions as required

Backstops

• Ensure area is free of holes and structurally sound
• Ensure area is free of any other hazards
• Repair backstops as required
• Drill a 1cm at the base of upright poles for water drainage and to stop frost heaving
• Install bottom rail 30-45cm above ground along bottom edge of structure to prevent mesh warping

Bleachers and Benches

• Sand or rasp all surfaces to remove graffiti and prevent slivers/splinters
• Replace broken wooden boards/components
• Eliminate any protruding object
• Adjust and tighten/replace as required: nuts, bolts, screws, couplings
• Paint as necessary

Shale

• Recommended shale size is 5/16" crushed, often labelled as "ball diamond"
• Reclaim material from surrounding area
• Remove lipping
• Define and edge as per standard dimensions
• Add shale to get correct grade
• Rake and level area
• Ensure area is clean and free of debris

Silt

• Use baseball standard silt or use a mixture of 50% silt and 50% playground sand
• Reclaim material from surrounding area
• Remove lipping
• Define and edge as per standard dimensions
• Add silt/sand to get correct grade
• Rake any excess silt/sand and level area
• Ensure area is clean and free of debris

Cricket

Pitch Area

• Water, roll and pack leaving slight crown for drainage
• Surface to be kept compact and hard
• Add material to bring to standard
• Lightly rake for playing

Field of Play

• Surface to be kept clean/free of debris, obstructions and protrusions
• Remove diseased/damaged turf
• Fill, level and reseed/sod
• Field of play determined by available space

Rectangular Fields

Playing Surface

• Remove diseased/damaged turf
• Fill, level and reseed/sod
• Fill in and level depressions with soil top dress and overseed
• Fertilize, water, and aerate

Goal Posts

• Check bases and weld joints for cracks and excessive rust/wear
• Check concrete/secure footings
• Ensure all tops of vertical poles are capped
• Refurbish/replace goal posts that cannot be repaired
• If poles are to be refurbished, strip tape and remove rust and loose paint
• Prime/paint as required and use a quick drying paint
• Drill a 1cm hole at base of upright poles for water drainage

Tennis Courts

Spring Start Up

• Clean, sweep and wash surface area
• Check posts and mesh
• Check turnbuckles
• Check condition of nets and cable supports
• Replace/repair as necessary
• Adjust to proper height for play
• Check timer and lights

Summer Maintenance

• Check courts on a weekly basis
• Check nets/posts
• Clean/sweep up debris
• Make repairs as necessary
• Check for vandalism

End of Season

• Make sure timers for light are shut off
• Remove/repair, fold and store tennis nets
• Remove turnbuckles
• Inspect chain link fence, fixtures and playing surface
• Make repairs where possible

Track and Field

Pole Vault

Note: Portable pits are recommended for high jump and pole vault.

Long Jump Pit

Note: pit dimensions: 8m x 3m x 0.3m deep

• Define edges
• Remove lipping
• Level to grade
• Sand to be clean and free of debris
• Ensure takeoff boards are in place and secure (track venues only)
• Replace takeoff boards if worn/splintered (track venues only)
• Maintain proper drainage/compaction

Jump Pit Material

• Use "washed playground sand"
• Sand to be clean and free of debris
• Reclaim material from surround area
• Rototill as required
• Rake sand level with perimeter
• Add sand as required
• Define and edge pit
• Dimensions for runways are 1.2m wide and a minimum of 37.5m long

¼ Mile Track Material

• Recommended shale size is 5/16" crushed, often labelled as "ball diamond"
• Reclaim material from surrounding area
• Remove lipping
• Define and edge as per standard dimensions
• Add shale to grade
• Rake and level area
• Area to be clean and free of debris
• Mark using chalk not lime

For More Information

Online	Contact 311 Online

Telephone	In Edmonton: 311 Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
TTY	780-944-5555
Email	311@edmonton.ca