presentation cfs base-soft ball-1

California Facility Specialties Inc.

05/03/2023 California Facilities Specialties Inc.


Sports Field Dimensions

Baseball and Softball field dimensions


Welcome to California Facility Specialties

Baseball and Softball are the only sports that are played on fields that have two different types of turf. Most of the game is played in the infield in the skinned area. This area should receive same attention as the turf areaProperly laid out and constructed baseball fields are important to the game. Make sure you have a relatively level, and open area of ground, make sure you have a supply of turf grass playing surface.

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Skinned Infield

350’ Homerun Fence

Backstop

95’ radius

18’ Dia.

60’-6”

45’

90’

60’

Recommended outfield fence distances min. of 300’ down the foul line, min. 350’ to Center field.

1st and 3rd base are measured from the rear tip of home plate to back corner of base. 2nd base is measured from center of base to baseline.

Pitching distances are measured from the front of pitcher’s plate to rear point of home plate

5’ Dia. On deck circlePlaced in a safe location Baseball

California Facilities Specialties Inc.


1.Placement of home plate determines layout of the field. Be sure to plan for some type of backstop to contain stray pitches and to protect fans from tipped balls. If it is truly a backyard field and fans behind the batters box are not likely, planting shrubs about 60 feet (minimum required for high school and college fields) behind home plate may prevent errant balls from rolling too far away from the field

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2.Using the apex of home plate (back corner), cut out turf in a 13-foot radius.3.The next step is to locate second base. Measure from the back tip of home plate to a distance of 84’-10 ¾” (CA.) Mark with a wooden stake. When installing base pads, this will be the center of second base



4.With the tape measure still in place, it is easiest to go ahead and mark the location of the pitching rubber at this time. The placement can be marked by measuring from the back tip of home plate along a string stretched to second base. The pitching rubber should be at 60’-6” inches.


5. The easiest way to find first and third base is to use two tape measures. Stretch one tape from second base stake toward the first base line and the second tape from the back tip of home plate toward first base area. The point where the two tapes cross at the 90-foot mark is the back corner of the bases. Repeat this step to find third base. A baseball diamond is actually a 90-foot square.


6. First and third base fit within the square, but second base is measured to the center of the bag. Improperly placed second base is one of the most common mistakes made when setting up a baseball field.

7. To make a "slide area" around the bases, cut out turf around bases by measuring a 13-foot radius within the 90-foot square. You can leave the base paths grassed if you like, or you can turn them into skinned base paths.


8. Next, turn your attention to the pitcher's mound. The diameter of a pitcher's mound clay is 18’, with 10’ from the front of the rubber, toward home plate and 8’ from the back of the rubber.

9. The top of the mound consists of a plateau that is 5’ wide.


10. A regulation pitcher's mound is 10 ½ inches high (compared to surface level of home plate). Miscalculation of the pitcher's mound height is probably the second most common error in setting up a baseball field. A transit or field level is best for setting the height, but in a pinch, other methods my also work. I once saw a guy peering through a cheap scope clamped to a carpenter's level on a makeshift tripod. Another option is to use your stakes with taut string and a ruler. A standard pitcher's rubber is 24 inches by 6 inches.


11. Building a pitcher's mound is as much an art as it is a science. Build the mound from ground up, 1 inch at a time keeping in mind the mound's slope (see next step). As you add each layer, tamp or roll the soil.

12. Beginning 12 inches in front of the pitcher's rubber and measuring toward home plate, for every one foot of distance the slope will fall one inch (until the slope meets ground level).

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16’ Dia.

Skinned Infield

250’ Homerun Fence

Backstop

40’

84’-10”

60’ radius

30’

60’

25’ Min.

Recommended outfield fence distances 250’-275’ to center field

1st and 3rd base are measured from the rear tip of home plate to back corner of base. 2nd base is measured from center of base to baseline.

Pitching distances are measured from the front of pitcher’s plate to rear point of home plate

5’ Dia. On deck circlePlaced in a safe location Softball



Copyrights by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural

Sciences (UF/IFAS)

Some of the reference information in this presentation is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication 3/25/2014.


Planning and Coordination

Planning for sports courts and athletic fields is one of the area that CFS can help.There are many choices that have to be made in a new construction projects or modernizations that it’s easy to be overcome with choices for equipment needs. The time that is invested into reference catalogues and samples for ideas of what equipment to used can be time consuming.

Evaluate the needs of the project for sports equipment;Is the facility going to be year round or seasonal and the level of competition that will be using the facility can range from amateur and high school to professional or college level competition.

Factor in maintenance and support for your new equipment. Many manufacture are not located in California and it can be difficult to get service or information, also having a locally based person to contacted for questions regarding DSA submittal can be helpful. This save time in waiting for a response and coordination of updates. When you are designing a new or updating an existing facility you want to partner with a company with a solid understanding of the equipment and manufactures with a long history of projects in California.

All of the items are important things to consider when you are planning or updating your sports facilities.


Planning and Coordination


SpecificationsRemember this important item. A minimum of three manufactures listed as “Approved Manufacture” it keeps the bidding competitive for the sports equipment products in your project.

Consideration of these areas will help create a successful project.

presentation cfs base-soft ball-1

Design