FEATURES:
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BASEBALL FIELD PROJECTS: what to do when the decision makers don't
believe you can really make it happen
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FIELD MAINTENANCE: weekly activities for the best field
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SHOW ME THE MONEY $$: on getting grant money
ALSO
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Feedback:
Ever ask players how the field is they play on?
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Did You Know... trying hard might not be good enough
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Preparing for next year - It's not too early to start
Field
Renovation: Make 'em a Field They Can't Refuse
Once upon a
time a high school senior headed off to college to play baseball
and to learn about life.
His college
team was in its third year and really the program was still forming.
Being a new program, the college team played on a field at a park
and rec complex. There were six fields... softball, little
league, and one college size field used by PONY league.
The college
field was old, worn out, and worst of all, had a huge buildup
in the middle of the infield. It was as if the mound was 30 feet
in diameter and much higher than regulation. Not many grounders
bounced straight.
People had
talked for years about scraping it flat and starting over.
But since it was a multi-use field, the only time open to work
on it was during the winter rainy season. And that just
wasn't going to happen.
Read
the rest of this surprising baseball field story here.
Weekly
Field Maintenance Activities - What Should You Be Doing With Your
Field Now?
lt's All Star
Tournament time! Here's what players age 11-16 said about
the fields they played on (park and rec, little league, and a college
field)
good: no lips, short grass for good bounces, hits
in the gap go to the wall, the mound is sloped right and has a good
landing
bad: dusty and loose infield skin, bad hops at
the grass edge, the mound is like a big bump in the field and pitchers
loose their footing and balance
I wouldn't say any game's outcome was determined by the field, but
the various fields did add some challenges to the games. The
fields need more WATER! It's Hot out!
It always
come back to basics. Whether it's the field or it's
the players.
[Note: If you are
caring for baseball or softball fields, then
this log of baseball field activities has a gold mine of ideas and
tips for you.]
Need
Money for Your BIG Baseball Field Project?
Then Maybe Grant Money Is For You.
Brian was
stuck. He dreamed of a BIG ball field upgrade, but didn't
know where he'd get the money. He didn't know there really
is baseball grant money out there. But, you have to seek it out
and work for it.
One
source of funds for your baseball field projects is the
Baseball Tomorrow Fund. This is sponsored by Major League
Baseball and the Players Association.
So, I want
to show you three things:
- one very
good example of an initial inquiry for a grant,
- a thorough
grant request itself, and
- several
case studies of those who were successful in getting a baseball
grant.
Ready
for baseball project grant examples and case studies?
Then try this: Pursuing
a Baseball Grant $$
Feedback:
What
Players Never Tell You
It was
a typical senior league baseball practice.
The 15 and
16 year old players stretched and played catch. They took
their positions and went through some game situation drills.
Then they took batting practice and set up a few stations for batting
drills. This concluded with some baserunning.
Then the players
and the coaches huddled up and talked about the next game and where
they needed to improve.
Just before
they broke to head home, a coach asked them a question rarely asked
of players, "How was the field to play on?"
It was silent
for a moment. Was this a dumb question? Or what?
Suddenly there
was a flood of responses: Find
out what players think about your baseball field
It's
Good to Know:
Trying
Hard is Not Good Enough.
The difference between success and disappointment often lies in
what each person knows and how he or she makes use of that knowledge.
Here's a true story of two young men who were little league stars
at age 12. Nine years later they meet and reflect on what
has happened with their baseball, college, and business interests.
Read
this true baseball pitching story of two young men.
Getting
a jump on preparing for next year
Unfortunately, I've learned the hard way that it’s better to do
some planning before you start a major project. That way
you'll incorporate the right materials, the right equipment, and
the right labor to get the job done.
A little time up front will save you a lot of headaches later
that just eat up your time.
Here's how to get on top of this.
Use a ballpark audit checklist.
When you are done, you'll know exactly what your ballfield condition
is and exactly what you need to do to fix problem areas or prevent
something from becoming a problem.
I've found
that a checklist is the way to go. It also shows me where
the priority areas area: safety. I'm sure you could make
up your own checklist, or just go out and walk your entire field
and take notes.
If you want a starter checklist that I've used, try this:
Save
Time with Preseason or Pre-Tournament BallPark Checklists
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