If you are sitting at a major or minor league baseball game when a rain delay is called, you’ll see the ground crew jump into action and within about 2 minutes the field has been covered — usually it’s made to look all too easy. But for those of us who have done it, we know just how critical it is for everyone to work together to ensure the tarp is placed properly and safely on the field.
Full infield tarps can be as large as 175′ x 175′ and, depending on material, can weigh about 2,500 lbs for the heavier 10 oz per sq. yd. vinyl material that some major league teams use. Lighter weight tarps like the 6 oz. per sq. yd. woven polyethylene tarps will weigh about 1,700 lbs for the same size. Lightweight tarps will cost about a third of what the heavy duty vinyl tarps will cost. There are pros and cons to the to using heavier or lighter tarps. Lightweight tarps need fewer people to operate. Heavyweight tarps handle better in the wind than their lightweight counterparts. But if you encounter a strong enough wind or have an untrained or misdirected staff, things can get ugly quickly no matter what material the tarp is made of. The bottom line is a trained tarp staff and an experienced person directing them can make it look easy. If manpower is not an issue, then I’ll take a vinyl tarp over a lightweight tarp any day. Here are some important tips for handling full infield tarps…
► Keep It Clean
Soil and topdressing add weight to an already heavy full infield tarp. Whenever you dump a tarp in the outfield to drain the water off it, allow the underside of the tarp to dry. To remove the soil and topdressing that collect on it, fold the tarp in half and then open it back up. Repeat from the opposite side of the tarp. If done correctly, you will have a nice line of dried material that originally was stuck to the bottom of the tarp now in a windrow. Using a plastic scoop shovel, scoop up the material and return it to the infield skin or discard. To wash the large tarp, flip the tarp over periodically so rain can wash the underside of the tarp.
► Repair Holes
Like I talked about in last week’s blog with the small tarps, repair holes as soon as they are discovered before further damage can occur. Clean the fabric around the holes thoroughly with soapy water or a very good household cleaner and allow the area to dry completely before applying a patch. Use patches that are round or with rounded corners to prevent being snagged or caught on something that could dislodge the patch. Apply glue if needed and use a quality contact cement to apply to both the patch and the area where the hole is in the tarp. Allow cement to dry so it is tacky and then apply the patch. Be sure to patch both sides of the tarp where the hole is for the strongest repair.
► Practice Wind Safety
One of the most dangerous operations a grounds crew can do is to deploy tarps in thunderstorms with strong winds. While everyone else scampers for cover, the grounds crew is thrust into action to attempt to deploy a tarp as a storm moves in. Here are a couple of cardinal rules to live by that will help keep safety as a priority.
- When high winds come in, keep the tarp as low to the ground as possible to try to keep the tarp from inflating.
- If large air bubbles get under the tarp making it hard to control, NEVER stand with both feet on the tarp trying to anchor it down. A strong enough gust can push that air bubble right at you and launch you into the air, creating space for a possible injury to take place
- If the wind is taking it away and you have a hold but can’t control the tarp and it wants to pull you, let it go. Don’t risk a shoulder separation. If you let go, the wind will actually rapidly evacuate the bubble and deflate the tarp. You can then grab it and move it into position. Don’t try to be a hero. This is a time to be sensible & smart and respect the tarp.