after DDs game last night (LL 10u), DW informed me that the opposing coaches griped a little about our pitching "mound", but was not certain of specifics.
trying to fathom what they might have to grip about, I came up with a few possibilities. the field is used for 10u, 12u, and 14u, all with different pitching distances (35, 40, and 43). rubber for 43 is permanent, rubber for 35/40 is removable. we have "mushroom" plugs when a set of anchors is not in used. the anchors are slighly below ground level, so if plugs are in, and dirt raked around, just the top of the plug might show, and it is rounded, so no tripping hazard if mostly buried.
so we are using the 35 foot anchors. when I prep field, I normally rake dirt around rubber and wet it down to try to get is mostly level (surface and top of rubber). I also normally fill in inevitable divot in front of rubber, and wet this all down some to get it to kind of set (I do all this first normally), and do same for right hand batters box and catchers area, try to level it and wet it to hold it in place a little. I did not prep field this night, and I notice the rubber is above the dirt (ie like it was just resting on top, rather than anchored, but not really sticking up (rubber is about 1 inch thick). and there is a small divot in front.
I have seen much worse fields in our district, was wondering if anyone thought a situation like that was a cause for concern? I know DD kinda likes the rubber up a bit, kind of gives something to push off on.
trying to fathom what they might have to grip about, I came up with a few possibilities. the field is used for 10u, 12u, and 14u, all with different pitching distances (35, 40, and 43). rubber for 43 is permanent, rubber for 35/40 is removable. we have "mushroom" plugs when a set of anchors is not in used. the anchors are slighly below ground level, so if plugs are in, and dirt raked around, just the top of the plug might show, and it is rounded, so no tripping hazard if mostly buried.
so we are using the 35 foot anchors. when I prep field, I normally rake dirt around rubber and wet it down to try to get is mostly level (surface and top of rubber). I also normally fill in inevitable divot in front of rubber, and wet this all down some to get it to kind of set (I do all this first normally), and do same for right hand batters box and catchers area, try to level it and wet it to hold it in place a little. I did not prep field this night, and I notice the rubber is above the dirt (ie like it was just resting on top, rather than anchored, but not really sticking up (rubber is about 1 inch thick). and there is a small divot in front.
I have seen much worse fields in our district, was wondering if anyone thought a situation like that was a cause for concern? I know DD kinda likes the rubber up a bit, kind of gives something to push off on.