Baseball Field Maintenance Preseason Ball Park Audit Checklist !

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Playing Surface – Infield Dirt Area

Soil
• too loose to provide good running traction or balls die instead of bouncing.
• surface is not loose enough around sliding zones for safe sliding or balls bounce too high.
• too abrasive (rocks, etc) for safe sliding.
• too compacted to provide good drainage. 

Running paths / Sliding zones – have become worn and dip down near bases and need to be leveled off.
Batter’s box / Home plate / Pitcher’s mound – have become worn and uneven. 
Pitching mound – does not include the proper ‘table’ area at the top of mound behind and to the sides of the rubber.
Infield area – has low spots, holes or is not level and should be dragged / re-graded.
Soil build-up – there is a hazardous lip or rolling hump between the skinned area and the turf.
Skinned areas – have unsafe wet spots and / or puddles.
Warning track – there is no track or it is less than 10 feet wide.
Warning track – is overgrown with vegetation and / or uneven in grade. Watch out for unmarked sprinkler boxes in this area.
Foul areas – are uneven in grade, need reconditioning, or are overgrown with vegetation. 

 Playing Surface – Grass ChecklistBare spots – hard soil surface exposed.
Soil sub-surface – is roughly graded making an unsafe running surface.
Grass edges – grass to dirt area is not a straight line, is not level, or turf is worn too back from proper line.
Soil sub-surface – is too wet or drains poorly making an unsafe running surface.
Sprinklers – stick up above the dirt level and could cause a player to trip.
Texture, density or height – turf is not uniform making an unsafe running surface.
Irrigation – irrigation system does not adequately cover turf areas or comes on during practices or games.
Thatch – excessive thatch is causing turf to be lumpy and unsafe to run on.
Vegetation – there are weeds with thorns, bristles, or burrs in turf.
Uneven surfaces – there are animal mounds and holes in the turf area.
Tire ruts – there are hazardous tire ruts in turf.
Playing Surface – General Checklist
Maintenance equipment – such as rakes, hoses, etc, have been left on the field.

Litter and unsafe debris – is scattered around the field and player / spectator areas.
Sprinkler heads, drainage grates, valve boxes, etc, – in the field are above grade or have sharp edges or unsafe protrusions or boxes have no covers.
Accidents – there have been reports from / about players running into surrounding objects such as fencing, light posts, bleachers, etc.
Field design – our facility does not comply with recommended field design specifications. May vary from specs provided that the safety of players and spectators is not compromised.
Home plate / Field layout – has been unsafely altered. Home plate has been moved back toward the backstop.
Bases & Anchoring ChecklistBase coverings – have unsafe rips or gouges.
Base framework or hardware – is loose or damaged.
Base ground stake – is unsafely protruding above the surface grade.
Base ground stake – is out of alignment or not level with the surface.
Base ground stake – is not firmly secured in its concrete footing.
Base ground stake – and its footing are not installed according to the manufacturer’s requirements.
Bases – do not seat properly with the ground elevation or they are seated loosely.
Bases – are not entirely within fair territory when foul line is drawn from home plate to foul pole.
Concrete footings – have rounded edges and may twist out of place in the ground.
Home plate – surface is not level with the surrounding surface. Corners of plate are turned
upward.

Home plate – surface is worn or irregular.
Pitcher’s rubber – is not level with the surrounding surface or is not secured safely into the ground.
Pitcher’s rubber – is showing unsafe wear or gouges.
Pitcher rubber and home plate – are not aligned with each other and angle off.
 Fencing ChecklistFence posts –
• are loose or improperly set in the ground.
• are on the inside of the playing area.

Dome caps – all dome caps are not in place.
Concrete footings – are exposed above ground.
Fencing – is not securely attached to the fence posts with loose or broken ties; boards not securely attached to anchor frame.
Gaps – there are unsafe gaps under fencing.
Bottom of fence – there is no bottom tension wire or railing to secure the bottom of fence; there are gaps between the bottom of the fence and the dirt.
Top rail – there is no top railing to secure fence.
Chain link – wire ends are exposed along the top.
Protrusions – there are damaged portions of fencing that are loose, sharp, or unsafe.
Gates – are hard to open / close. Hinge or latch problems.
Backstop – there are unsafe gaps or netting with worn out boards or fencing.
Outfield fence – temporary fence is sturdy and not collapsible.
Spectator Area ChecklistNuts and bolts – on the seating area are loose or missing or protruding.
Guard railing – side and back protective railing is not in place and solid.
End caps – plank or railing end caps are loose or missing.
Walking surfaces – are uneven and inaccessible.
Steps – are even and accessible.
Wooden planks – are worn out or splintered.
Grandstand – there are gaps between adjacent units.
Grandstand – adjacent units do not match in size.
Other – there are hazardous protrusions, edges, drop offs, gaps, or pinch points.
General Safety ChecklistFoul lines – skinned foul lines have become rutted.
Chalking material – use is irritating to the eyes. Lime or similar base should not be used.
Signage – there are no warning signs posted informing players or spectators of rules or hazardous conditions.
Comforts – there are no clean restrooms for convenience.
Concessions – facility is not checked for safety and compliance with local health regulations.
Construction areas – areas that are hazardous or under repair have not been blocked off or identified.
Communications – is not happening between the maintenance staff and the facility users.
Personal protective equipment – was not distributed to all employees / volunteers based on the tasks at hand.
Car Parking – general lighting problems, potholes, or not accessible from ball park.
Orientation – employees /volunteers did not received safety orientation for job tasks and the operation of power equipment.
Dugout ChecklistFencing – does not extend to the end of the dugout area.
Benches – are worn and in disrepair.
Equipment – storage system is sharp, worn and unsafe.
Waste containers – supply and location is
inadequate.

Player area – is not large enough to house all players or their equipment.
Lighting Checklist Lighting system – Mandatory that an audit/check to be completed by qualified personnel in accordance with AS 2650 before season commences.
Light bulbs – there are burned out light bulbs.
Utility poles – there is no padding for the light poles, concrete bases or base bolts.
Source:  Jim Reinor / Former Rangers Groundskeeper

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