Field Preparation

Field preparation takes about 45 minutes and needs at least three parent volunteers. The designated home team is responsible for field setup and takedown.

You will find equipment in the Seacan or storage containers at each field. Please gather all necessary equipment before beginning field preparation, and ensure everything is cleaned and returned afterward.

  • Three bases (first, second, third)
  • Chalk and/or paint and the line marking machine(s)
  • Rake
  • Shovel
  • Batter's box template
  • String reel
  • Base anchor dig-out tool
equipment
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INITIAL PREPARATION

  1. Remove the tarps and weights from the mound and plate area. Store them outside of the fence.
  2. Rake and level the home plate area. If necessary, add some shale to remove depressions.
  3. If needed, use the dragger on the infield.

BASES

  1. First, locate the anchors that the bases plug into. The orange caps may be hidden under the dirt. On Chaldecott North, be aware that there are different anchors for U13 and U15.  U13 is a 70' basepath, U15 is 80'.
  2. Install the bases onto the anchors. You may need to remove sand from the anchors using the dig-out tool.
  3. Store the orange caps in a safe location off the field.
bases

GROOMING THE PITCHER'S MOUND

To groom the pitcher's mound, begin by using the large metal rake to smooth out the surface,
focusing especially on high-traffic areas such as the pitching rubber and landing spot. Remove
any debris or loose material, and ensure the area is even and safe. Rake in a circular motion,
starting from the center and working outward to maintain a consistent, even slope. Be careful
not to flatten the mound too much—preserving the correct height and shape is important for
safe and effective pitching.

Smooth out any divots or holes left by the previous pitcher to prevent tripping hazards and
ensure a fresh, level mound for each game. If there are large holes or uneven areas, use a
shovel from the equipment shed to retrieve fresh clay (located in front of the shed) and fill them
in. After filling, use the tamper tool or rake to pack in the dirt.

mound
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BATTER'S BOXES

The batter's boxes are two rectangles on each side of home plate as shown in the diagram below. We do not make a catcher's box.

  1. Carefully align the batter's box template as shown. Use the dig-out tool to trace around the inside of the template. Alternatively, you can press the template into the sand to mark the edges.
  2. Repeat this on both sides of home plate.
Field Markings
battersbox
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  1. Remove the template and use the chalk liner to mark the batter's boxes. Note that the chalk lines should be inside the edges you marked in Step 1.
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Lever in On Position

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FOUL LINES

At VCB, we use field paint to mark the foul lines on the grass portion and we use chalk to mark the portion along the shale base paths.

Most times, the grass foul lines will be done for you already.

  1. Insert the spike of the String Reel at the apex of home plate, using the shovel to hammer it in.
  2. Pull the string reel to the foul pole and pull the line tight. Note that the string should touch the outside edge of the base.
  3. Use the chalk liner to mark the portion of the foul line between the batter's box and the edge of the grass. Note that the chalk line should be inside the string (i.e., the string is not the middle of the line, it is the outside edge). You may need to remove the base temporarily so that the line goes under the outside edge of the base.
  4. If the grass foul lines require repainting, use the paint liner to mark the portion of the foul line on the grass. Shake the paint cans before use. Be sure to place any empty paint cans in the recycling bin, not the regular garbage.
  5. Drag the string across to the other foul pole and repeat the process for the other foul line.
baselines
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TAKEDOWN
  1. Return the bases to storage, unless another game is scheduled following the current one, in which case you may leave them in their anchors.
  2. Replace the base plugs to keep dirt out of the anchors.
  3. Lock up the L screens and anything else that won't fit into the Seacan.
  4. At fields with shale (dirt) infields, use the dragger on the infield to fill divots and footprints and remove bumps. You may use the riding mower to pull the dragger at Hillcrest Park. Do not mow the grass.
  5. Rake the 1st and 3rd base paths. When doing this, rake from the edge of the basepath to the middle, which keeps the shale from spreading out on the grass. This does not need to be done at Trafalgar or Chaldecott South.
  6. Rake the home plate area and the pitcher's mound
  7. Replace the tarps and add the weights to the edges of the tarps. Fold the tarps so they are not covering any grass as this will kill the grass in hot weather. This does not need to be done if there's another game following yours.
  8. Clean the dugouts. Put garbage into cans. If the cans are full, dump them into the City's container by the curb. Sweep the dugouts with brooms.
OTHER

Garbage is usually picked up but if the garbage cans are full of garbage, please take a minute to empty the refuse and put in a new garbage bag. It only takes a minute and leaves Chaldecott, Trafalgar and Hillcrest in great shape. Bags are located in both metal storage bins.

Only adults are allowed to operate any kind of machinery at any of our Parks. This includes lawn mowers push or ride, edgers, etc.

If there is a weather problem and the field needs some work prior to game time, please help out the home team in order to get the field in game shape.

VCB has spent many thousands of dollars improving our playing fields and bringing our equipment up to date. Please make sure you do your very best in keeping our fields in great shape for your game and the games that follow.