There are dozens of critical tasks for a groundskeeper to complete to open a field. We’ve boiled down the list to the most important things you should remember to do so you can efficiently reopen your ballfield.
THE FIELD OPENING CHECKLIST
▢ Charge and reinstall all batteries for motorized equipment
▢ Inspect, repair or replace netting and padding on all screens
▢ Inspect last year’s bases and dispose of or replace any heavily worn bases
▢ Clean up any remaining fall/winter debris from along ballfield fence lines
▢ Replace any badly faded, worn or torn outfield advertisement banners
▢ Install backstop padding, dugout bat racks and helmet racks
▢ Hoist backstop nets, batting cage nets and soft-toss nets
▢ Turn on water to facility – Test irrigation system
▢ Renovate all mounds (tables, front slopes and new topdressing application
▢ Renovate all home plate areas (releveling batter’s and catcher’s boxes with clay and leveling home plate circle) and redress with new topdressing
▢ Relevel 1st and 3rd baselines and topdress
▢ Relevel infields and topdress as needed
▢ Relevel warning track and walkups (if track material is available)
▢ Apply crabgrass preventer
▢ Make sure mower is set to only cut one-third length of grass blades
▢ Check any field lighting and scoreboard operation and replace bulbs
▢ Hoist Flags
▢ Distribute picnic tables, garbage and recycling receptacles
▢ Update missing or faded signage, add new signs as needed
View The Ultimate Field Prep Checklist
