Barrall Field Setup and Cleanup Instructions & Coaching Responsibilities 2023 

for Rec League and Travel Divisions: Updated 4.3.2023

 

 

 

6U TBALL Division

 

·      6U Tball coaches are responsible for their own setup and cleanup.  It is a very easy process as there is NO lining of the field or setting up a pitcher’s mound. 

·      Home Team should setup field

·      Away Team should clean up field

·      If you are not sure who the home or away team is, please check your Team Snap app as it is listed there. 

 

Junior Field Setup and Cleanup Instructions (these instructions are specific for 6U Tball:

·      The Junior Field is the all grass field near tennis courts.

·      You do NOT need to line this field or set up a pitcher’s mound for 6U Tball games.

·      The field should be setup and ready to go 5 minutes before the start of the game as to not hold up the game.  

·      Before the start of the game the Home Team will need to get bases from the shed and a tee.

·      If shed is not open, text or call Cabrina Stanek at 570-604-6220 for instructions on how to open.

·      There are base plugs for each base (2 base plugs for first base).  There is only one distance set for the Junior field (50 feet), so they are easy to find.  When you take out the base plugs to put the bases in, make sure to put the plugs along the side of the wall or behind the back stop, so that the person cleaning up can find them.  

·      There are portable benches in the shed for use on the Junior field. 

·      At the end of the game the Away Team, should take the bases out, put the base plugs back in and return the bases and tee to the shed. 

·      Bases are stored on the right side of the shed and should be placed back in the metal hangers when possible.  Please don’t just throw the bases and tee in the shed unorganized.  The tee should be placed to the left of the shed or wherever there is room for it to stand up.

·      If you are the last team to leave the field, please lock the shed by locking in the pins on the top and bottom of left door and then locking the pad lock on the shed.

 

 

Rec League 8U, 10U, 12U & 10U, 12U and 14U Travel Divisions

 

·      The Home team is responsible for field setup.

·      Both Home and Away teams should help with the field cleanup. 

·      If you are not sure who the Home or Away team is, please check your Team Snap app as it is listed there. 

 

Intermediate and Senior Field Setup and Cleanup Instructions:

·      The Intermediate Field is the dirt field near the tennis courts.  

·      The Senior Field is the dirt field near the snack stand. 

·      The field should be setup and ready to go 5 minutes before the start of the game as to not hold up the game.  

·      The Board will try and have the shed open for your convenience.  If shed is not open, text or call Cabrina Stanek at 570-604-6220 for instructions on how to open.

·      It is recommended to begin field set up 30- 45 minutes before game time as games must start on time.

 

Equipment Needed:

·      In the shed, you will need to get the following:

o   Bases

o   Chalk Liner (fill with chalk if needed)

o   Batter’s Box Template

o   Pitcher’s Circle Radius Tool (This tool is hanging above the entrance of the shed)

o   String to help with the chalk line (This can be found in the black bags in the shed labeled for each field)

o   Hammer (This can be found in the black bags in the shed labeled for each field)

o   Scoop Trowel Tool (This can be found in the black bags in the shed labeled for each field)

o   Rake

 

Field Setup:

·      Check the condition of the field.

·      Rake rough spots. 

·      Locate base plugs/anchors. There is white paint on the fence at 1^st and 3^rd bases at 60 feet on the Intermediate and Senior fields to give you a starting point.

·      The base distance is from the back of home plate to the back of the base.

o   8U, 10U, 12U and all Travel teams are 60 feet from home plate

·      Remove base plugs and place them is a secure location near the fence so that the person cleaning up can find them.

·      If needed, scoop out loose dirt from the base anchors using a putty knife or scoop trowel tool that can be found in the shed.

·      Secure second base in the second base anchor.

·      Attach 100 foot tape measure at back tip of home plate and take it all the way out to second base.

·      Center the pitcher’s rubber at the appropriate distance 

o   8U Rec pitcher’s mound is 32 feet from the plate

o   10U Rec and Travel pitcher’s mound is 35 feet from the plate

o   12U Rec and Travel pitcher’s mound is 40 feet from the plate 

o   14U Travel pitcher’s mound is 43 Feet from the plate

·      The measured distance of the pitcher’s mound is from the back of home plate to the front of the pitcher’s rubber.

·      Hammer in pitcher’s rubber using spikes on both sides of the rubber.  Cover silver metal sides of rubber with dirt.

·      Use pitcher’s circle radius tool to draw the pitcher’s circle. This process may require two people.

o   One person centers the end of the radius tool on the pitcher’s rubber. The second person draws the outline of the pitcher’s circle.

·      Apply chalk to the pitcher’s circle outline.

·      Use batter’s box template to mark the right and left batter’s boxes.

·      Apply chalk to the right and left batter’s box outlines.

·      Attach string at back tip of home plate and take it down the third base line.

·      Apply chalk to the third base line beginning at the outside of the right batter’s box.

·      Secure third base in the third base anchor.

·      Attach string at back tip of home plate and take it down first base line.

·      Apply chalk to the first base line beginning at the outside of the left batter’s box.

·      Secure first base in the first base anchor.

·      Return small tools (tape measure, string, hammer, putty knife or scoop tool) to the black bag and return all items to the shed. 

 

8U Pitching Machine:

·      The coaches can decide at the beginning of the game if they want to do coach pitch or use the pitching machine.

·       The pitching machine we use is the Louisville Slugger UPM 45 Blue Flame Pitching Machine. The standard setting for the league should have the Release Arm Block (handle setting) at 4, the Micro Adjustment (ball rest) at 2 and the power petal at 2. Coaches should agree on any changes that need to be made if the above settings fail to provide a hittable pitch within the strike zone.

 

Postgame Breakdown:

·      Remove bases from anchors.

·      Insert base plugs into anchors.

·      Cover base plugs with a thin layer of dirt. Exposed base plugs invite unwanted attention.

·      Remove pitcher’s rubber.

·      Drag or rake the entire infield.

·      Rake the pitcher’s mound near the pitcher’s rubber. Fill in holes created by the pitchers.

·      Rake the batter’s boxes. Fill in holes created by the batters.

·      Rake the area behind home plate. Fill in holes created by the catcher.

·      Return all items to the shed.

·      Bases are stored on the right side of the shed and should be placed back in the metal hangers when possible.  Please don’t just throw the bases and other items in the shed unorganized.  

·      If you are the last team to leave the field, please lock the shed by locking in the pins on the left door and then locking the pad lock on the shed.

 

Dugout Clean Up:

·      Coaches should make sure their dugout area is free of trash before leaving the field. Field Complex Shut Down

·      There is a strict lights out curfew at 10:00 pm.

·      The lights must be off at 10:00 pm even if you are finishing postgame field maintenance

 

Golf Cart:

If using the golf cart please do the following:

·      Taking Golf Cart Out of Shed:

o   Place wooden ramps to line up with golf cart wheels.

o   Unplug cart from charger. 

o   Slowly back out golf cart (watch for dirt box on your left and for any stray rakes hanging out of the storage box.

·      Returning Golf Cart to Shed:

o   Line cart up with wooden ramps and slowly pull cart into shed. 

o   Plug in charger fully to the golf cart under driver’s seat position. Make sure the charger turns on. The charger will make a clicking noise and the needle on the charger will move from 0 to the higher right numbers. 

o   Please wipe down the cart if it is wet.

o   The MAGS Field Manager will clean the dust and dirt off batteries twice a week to keep them from getting corroded. 

 

 

Field Dimensions and Location Cheat Sheet

 

Pitching Distances:

The pitching distance is from the back of home plate to the front of the pitcher’s rubber.

·      6U T-Ball – 30 feet

·      8U Rec – 32 Feet

·      10U Rec and Travel – 35 feet

·      12U Rec and Travel – 40 feet

·      14U Travel – 43 feet

 

Base Distances:

The base distance is from the back of home plate to the back of the base.

·      6U T-Ball - 50 feet

·      8U, 10U and 12U Rec & 10U, 12U and 14U Travel– 60 feet

 

Field Locations:

·      The Junior Field is the all grass small field near the tennis courts

·      The Intermediate Field is the dirt field near the tennis courts

·      The Senior Field is the dirt field near the snack stand/bathroom building (closest to Media Elementary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Coaching Responsibilities

 

Paying The Umpire:

·      Each team splits the cost of the umpire. The total cost for an umpire is $65 total for 10U, $70 for 12U. That means that for 10U the cost per team is $32.50. For 12U, the cost per team is $35.00. The umpire should be paid at the beginning of the game during ground rules.

·      There are no umpires for 6U and 8U

 

Game Record:

·      The winning team is responsible for recording the game score in TeamSnap immediately after each game.

 

Weather Cancellations:

·      The Media Softball Board will make decisions on game cancellations for home games due to weather. We will make the decision around 4pm on weeknights and about 1-2 hours before game time on weekends. The Board will handle cancelling with the umpire and then work with the teams to reschedule the game. The Board will also make the update on TeamSnap. Coaches are not able to make the game updates on TeamSnap. 

 

·      If Media is playing an away game (i.e. at Springfield or Clifton), that home team will be responsible for cancelling the game and notifying us as the away team. The Media Board will still make the update to TeamSnap once notified of the cancellation. 

 

·      If Media is the home team and the away team is a team outside of Media (i.e. Springfield or Clifton), although our Media Board will cancel the game via TeamSnap, the Media Home Coach should text or call the opposing coach and make sure they are aware of the cancellation. If both teams are from Media, there is no need for a call to the coach as they will be notified via TeamSnap. 

Game Balls:

·      Each team is responsible for providing a game ball. Rec 10U & 12U: For each game, you will get a game ball out of the shed. You will want to make sure you have one brand new game ball for each game. You will find the game balls in white boxes on the back shelf of the shed. They are all clearly labeled. 11inch for 10U and 12inch for 12U. Please only take 1 per game. 

·      6U: Do not need game balls and can use whatever balls you have in your buckets

·      8U: You can take a new game ball for each game and then gather 5 other balls that are in good shape. 

·      Travel: Games balls are in the shed for you to take. 

 

MAP OF BARRALL FIELD