Setting up a softball field (or "pitch") for play is generally the responsibility of the home team, as they are hosting the away team on their territory. Depending on the amount of set up required, coaches and helpers should arrive 45 to 60 minutes early before a game to prepare the field. The length between bases and other dimensional details are dependent on the type of softball being played, the requirements of the league and the size and type of field. The equipment required to set up a softball field should be kept in an equipment shed near the pitch.
Step 1
Drag the infield. Take your dragging tool (usually a large mesh mat attached to a wooden handle) and walk slowly while allowing it to scrape the ground behind you, smoothing out irregularities in the ground surface. Water the infield lighting before dragging if it is particularly dry in order to keep the dirt from blowing away.
Step 2
Install the bases: home, first, second and third. An orange safety base may be installed in the foul area behind first base. Refer to the dimension template for your softball field so as to place the bases at the correct spacing for your game. Install the pitching rubber if it is not preinstalled on the field.
Step 3
Fill the chalker with loose chalk, and arrange the batter box template on either side of home plate. Chalk the batter box by rolling the chalker over the template so that the loose chalk fills in the template and outlines the batter box. Remove the template when finished.
Step 4
Run a line of string from home plate (starting at the rear of the plate) to the outside of third base. Roll the chalker along the length of the string to chalk the line. Set up the batter box template five feet away from the third base line in the foul zone and chalk the third base coaching box. Chalk a third base on-deck circle in the foul zone, well outside of the line of play.
Step 5
Run a string from home plate (starting again at the rear of the base), to the outside of the inner first base. Roll the chalker along the length of the string and chalk the line. Place the batter box template five feet away from first base in the foul zone and roll the chalker over the template to chalk the first base coaching box. Chalk an on-deck circle for first base that is well outside of the line of play.
Step 6
Set up a line of string four feet long, anchored at the center of the pitching rubber. Walk in a slow circle, keeping constant tension on the string, and mark the circumference of the circle with a stick or nail. Chalk this circle around the pitching rubber.
Step 7
Water the field again lightly if it is particularly dry, to set the lines of chalk in place so that they don't blow away. Only water the field for two to three minutes.
Things You'll Need
- Chalk
- Bases
- Chalker
- String kit
- Batter box template
- Dragging tool
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