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HOW TO SETUP AND BREAKING DOWN THE FIELD:

*  Bases and platforms (bases are the white part, platforms are the part with the stem that goes into the hole).  Our bases are all known as "safety bases" where the base disengages from a platform that sits tight to the ground. This reduces the risk of breaking an ankle when players slide into bases.

*  Chalker half filled with chalk - the "chalker" or field liner is the metal machine with wheels on it.  Most hold enough chalk to do the field twice - so you should only need it about half full.  If you paint the lines heavy or do extra stuff, you might need more than a half full chalker.

*  Dig tool - this is the flat blade "trowel" that you will use to dig the dirt out of anchor.

*  Nails - these are used to hold the pitching rubber in place OR to keep a mound from slipping back toward second base.

*  Hammer

*  Pitching rubber or mound (neither needed for tee ball or coach pitch)

*  Tape measure

SETUP THE FIELD:


Paint your lines first....

Take a nail and secure the end of the tape measure as close to the back point of home plate as you can. Note that the plate flanges out underground a bit - so you will hammer the nail in an inch or two behind home plate.

Stretch the tape measure out all the way to the outfield grass (if long enough) and align to the outside edge of the outfield foul line.  The tape measure should run right along the outside edge of the angled portion of the back side of the plate. Pull the measuring tape tight so that it creates a straight line from home plate to the outfield grass.

Position the chalker about 2-3' away from the plate an up the base path.  You don't want / need the line to touch home plate. You'll have batters boxes - so the foul line will start a couple of feet away from the plate.

Open the chalker to the narrow line "open" position.  If chalk isn't coming out, you can open to the wider line position. Most of our chalkers have two positions.

Drive the chalker up the Infield edge of the measuring tape all the way to the outfield grass. Chalkers sometimes hit bumps and wander around - so take your time and draw as straight of a line as possible.

Once one foul line is drawn, grab the tape measure at the outfield grass and walk across the field to set up the opposite foul line.

Once both foul lines are drawn, pull the tape measure to second base - measure the location for your mound or pitching rubber.  Mark both distance and center in the dirt.  Be sure to make your lines "long" so that when you set the mound or pitching rubber down you don't completely cover you line and lose your position.

Wind up your tape measure and remove the nail from behind the plate.

Batters boxes can be drawn in two ways: 

1) Set the cloth template down so that the front edge of the "tab" lines up with the front edge of home plate.  Tab should be completely off the plate and right next to the edge of the plate. Use a nail to draw around the template.  Remove the template, flip it over and draw the other side box.  Use the chalker to create the lines of box INSIDE your trace marks. The template is the full size of the box - so your chalk lines should be inside the trace - not on top of our outside. Down chalk "around the template" as your box will be too big. The template is meant to let you draw the box in the dirt - then paint lines inside the lines.

2) Measure / estimate 6" away from the edges of the plate - mark a line in the dirt. Measure / estimate 3' away from the first line (so 3' 6" away from the edge of the plate - mark a line in the dirt. Measure / estimate 3' toward the pitchers mound starting from the middle of the plate (where the "break point" is and the plate starts to angle back to the point) - mark a line in the dirt.  Measure / estimate 3' back from that same middle point - mark a line in the dirt.  Do both sides of the plate.  These "marks" are the outside lines of the batters box. Use the chalker to create lines inside you marks. 

For softball only - measure / estimate 4' from the center position of the pitching rubber in all four directions away from the rubber. Use the chalker to create an 8' circle around the pitching rubber.

Pitching Mound:

Place the pitching rubber of the mound or your pitching rubber so the front edge of the rubber is at your distance mark.
Seniors: 60'6"
Intermediates: 50'
Majors/AAA: 46'
AA: 42'
A: 38'
Softball Upper Division: 40'
Softball Lower Division: 35'

Use at least two nails to secure the rubber. Make sure is it parallel to the front edge of the plate. For the mounds, put one nail right behind the mound (not through the mound) far to the left and another far to the right of the back edge of the mound. Two nails is enough - you only need to make sure it doesn't slide backwards.

If the mound wobbles, remove or add dirt under the mound until it is stable.  You can additionally scrape some dirt to the front edge of the mound cover the gap where the front edge of the mound meets the infield.

Bases:

Use the dig tool to remove dirt from the three base anchor. 
Seniors bases: 90'
Intermediate bases: 70'
Majors / AAA / AA: 60'
A / CP / TB - 50'

You will need to make sure the anchor is very clean of dirt and is deeply dug out - otherwise the platform will get stuck.  Insert the metal stem of the platform into the anchor.  The stem should slide reasonably easily into the anchor all the way until the platform is flush with the dirt.  If it does not go in easily, re-dig out the anchor. Please do not stomp on the platform to force it to go into the anchor.  Make sure the platform is flush with the dirt. For the magnetic platforms, if they are bent, you may need to re-flatten the platform in order for it to go in flush.  Set the white base on top of each platform.


BREAKING DOWN THE FIELD:

Pull up the nails from behind the mound!!

Remove bases and platforms during field breakdown.  There is a flat crow bar that can be used to "unstick" a stuck platform. Please be careful not to damage the platforms.

Place mound fat side down and with bottom of mound toward the fence.

Empty the chalker of any remaining chalk.  Please do not leave chalk in the chalker.

Secure all locks - mound, storage box, and chalker.


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