Field Spaces

1
Field Spaces

• Chapter 11

2
Safety Considerations in Selecting Field Acreage

• Size
• Proximity to
• streets
• railroads
• water courses
• trenches
• ponds
• storage yards
• Soil suitability

• Climactic
• noise
• odors
• smoke
• dust
• Visibility of entire area
• Protective perimeter
• Illumination of area

3
Safety Considerations in Selecting Field Acreage

• Space for multiple fields
• Baseball/softball concerns for spectators and
  parking
• foul balls
• home runs
• over throws
• Site conditions

• Space
• safety zones
• obstructions
• Circulation
• Access
• Utility lines

4
Field Safety Concerns

• Size of field
• safety buffers
• proximity to other fields, buildings, and parking
• Access
• Parking
• Illumination of the field

• Spectators
• Handicapped accessibility
• Fences
• height
• padding
• buffer zone
• Materials used

5
Field Turf Options

• Synthetic
• Natural

6
Seating Considerations

• Conforms to ADA guidelines
• Railings
• Enclosing spaces under seats
• Enclosing structure to gain additional storage
  space
• Aisles with railings

7
Field Orientation

• North to South
• Baseball/softball establish an orientation that
  avoids the batter/catcher and pitcher from facing
  directly into the early morning or late afternoon
  sun.

8
Fencing

• Height - 6 to 8, 8 preferable
• Sturdy enough to support players weight and/or a
  wind screen
• Top covered with colorful vinyl tube
• In front of dugouts
• Post on outside of fence fabric
• No closer than 50 to sidelines/foul line

9
Drainage

• Subsoil 80-90 sand
• Crowned playing field, not exceeding 1/4 per
  foot
• Sidelines drainage at least 5 from playing field
• French drains along sidelines

10
Irrigation

• Types
• underground throughout playing field
• underground along the perimeter of playing field
• above ground with portable piping and sprinkler
  heads

11
Planning Concerns for Irrigation

• Tie-ins for drinking fountains and hose bibs
• Liquid fertilization options

• Participant safety
• Type of sprinkler heads
• Watering pattern layout
• Source of water
• Timing system
• Winterizing

12
Sport Field Planning Tips

• Have good construction specifications
• Have good communications
• Be able to compromise and solve problems
• Use sound agronomics
• Follow a good fertilization, irrigation, and
  mowing program

13
Planning Concerns for Press Box

• Table(s) for reporters or broadcasters
• Comfortable chairs
• Phone hook ups
• Computer hook ups
• Electrical outlets
• Coffee maker
• Filming area

• Specific areas for press, radio announcers,
  scorekeeper, PA announcer, coaches, and scouts

14
Restroom Planning

• Twice the number for women
• Changing areas for babies
• Waste disposal for diapers
• Handicapped accessible
• Fluorescent lighting
• HVAC

15
Scoreboard Planning

• Scoring
• Periods or innings
• Balls, strikes, outs
• Injury time
• Penalty time remaining
• Times and places by lanes

• Diving scores by judge, degree of difficulty,
  total points scored, ranking after X number of
  dives
• Roster
• Players vital statistics
• Advertising
• PA system

16
Scoreboard Planning continued

• Multiple functions for various sports using the
  field complex
• Close-ups of players and spectators
• Video capabilities
• Time of day
• Scores from other games

17
Storage Planning

• Riding lawn mowers
• Push mowers
• Tillers
• Weed eaters
• Shovels, racks, and hoes
• Utility vehicles
• irrigation pipes

• Hoses and sprinkler heads
• Field liners
• Goals
• Field flags
• Benches
• Waste containers
• Protection screens

18
Storage Planning

• Pitching machines
• Tarps
• Fertilizers, insecticides, and talc
• Paint
• Chains, yard markers, and padding for goal posts

19
Planning for Baseball/Softball Fields

• NFHSA, NCAA, NJCAA, Softball USA, NAGWS Rules
• Bases
• stationary bases
• modified stationary bases
• release-type bases
• throw down bases

• Skinned infield
• Turf infield and outfield
• Pitchers mound
• Base paths
• Warning tracks
• Backstop
• Players bench area
• Batting cage

20
Planning for Baseball/Softball Field

• Bull pen
• Size
• Multi-field Complex
• Spectators
• Restroom area
• Concessions
• Spectators
• Press Box

21
Other Fields

• Football
• Field Hockey
• Lacrosse
• Soccer
• Rugby
• Bocce