Visiting a ball field sets you up for an experience like no other. If you're responsible for creating an outdoor baseball or softball field, it's important to plan out your project accordingly. To help you get started, we've created a general guide to how to build a baseball field. Things to Consider When Planning Baseball and Softball Field Construction Before you can begin designing an outdoor ball field, it's important to take a step back and assess your requirements for spectators, coaches and athletes. Baseball and softball fields look different based on their purpose and location. Some of the top considerations for your project are as follows. 1. Safety of Players and Spectators Baseball and softball field construction calls for you to think about how players and spectators will move about the facility. From an athlete's standpoint, the eye is always focused on the ball. Creating level surfaces and padded barriers will help players keep their heads in the game. While professional ball fields are required to have padding, it's not mandatory for college stadiums. Placing durable pads along fences, dugouts and surfaces behind home plate can protect athletes from injury. Spectators can typically sit toward the outfield, behind the batter or along foul lines during a game. Baseline fencing will help to protect attendees from getting hit by a wild pitch or foul ball. You can improve the spectator experience by investing in mesh fencing for visibility. 2. Uses for the Ball Field The dimensions of baseball and softball fields change based on application. If you're creating a baseball field, keep the following measurements in mind: Tee-ball: Bases are positioned 50 feet apart. There are no homerun wall requirements for a tee-ball field. Little League baseball: There should be 46 feet between the pitching rubber and the home plate. Place bases 60 feet from each other. High school and college baseball: A regulation baseball field will have the bases spread 90 feet apart. The distance between home plate and the pitching rubber should be exactly 60 feet and 6 inches. Consider these dimensions for softball field construction: Youth softball (ages 10 and below): Ensure each base is 55 feet from the next. Leave 35 feet between the pitching platform and home. High school and college softball: Regulation dimensions have baselines measuring 60 feet. Keep 43 feet of space between the pitching rubber and home plate. 3. How Many Acres in a Baseball Field? How many acres is a baseball field? On average, you'll need about 4.5 acres of land to complete a regulation-size baseball field with a 90-foot base layout. Softball fields with a 60-foot baseline typically require a minimum of 1.5 acres for just the field. Additional space is necessary for parking and any food stands. 4. Seating Arrangements Think about how many spectators you intend to seat when creating a baseball or softball field. Additional space is necessary for parking and any food stands. 5. Water Drainage All baseball and softball fields fall under a native soil, modified native soil, sand-based or synthetic turf design. Grading down surfaces is necessary to ensure the playing field is flat. In some cases, professional builders will construct baseball and softball fields on top of sand and gravel layers to promote drainage after inclement weather. 6. Access to Experts Field consultants and professional installers can guide you through the baseball field construction process. It's a good idea to hire a qualified surveyor. You'll also need someone to perform a soil analysis to determine whether you should treat or replace the native topsoils for drainage purposes. Equipment and Materials Needed to Create a Ball Field During the budgeting process, be sure to account for equipment and materials needed to host a game and maintain playing surfaces. Some of the items on this list are more expensive than others, but all are essential for the upcoming season: Bleachers: Evaluate seating requirements and be sure to purchase enough installations for friends, family and local fans. Make a point to account for the traveling team, too. Bases: No baseball or softball field is complete without bases. These can be reused, and you should store them in an enclosed area. Fencing: Baseball fences offer a way to enclose the playing area and keep players and spectators safe. Netting: Incorporating baseball or softball netting is a great way to create indoor practice facilities near your ballpark. Dugouts: Extra padding and materials will be necessary to build dugouts for the home and traveling teams. Field maintenance equipment: Protective tarps, rakes, carts and drag mats will help you keep your field in top condition. How Much to Build a Softball or Baseball Field? You can expect to spend anywhere from a few hundred dollars if you're repairing an existing field to tens of thousands of dollars if you're starting from scratch. Your baseball or softball field project will range in price depending on your intended purpose. Although your average costs included when constructing a ballfield may vary, setting a budget for your project long before construction begins is the best way to bring your vision to life with fewer risks. There are ways you can cut costs when constructing a baseball or softball field. Consider how often teams will be using the ball field to determine which features are appropriate for your applications. For example, opting for real grass versus artificial turf is one way you can reduce the total price. While real grass calls for routine seeding and upkeep, it's less expensive upfront. You can also lower the costs of building a baseball or softball field by purchasing portable fencing. Affordable outdoor fencing options enable you to change the layout of the park to meet the standards of youth, high school and college games. Purchase Baseball and Softball Fencing From Grand Slam Safety Grand Slam Safety is your source for custom solutions for all of your sporting needs. We have durable fencing products that work to keep spectators and athletes safe during the biggest games of the season. Save money during the design and installation stages of your construction project by browsing our removable baseball fencing sections online. We also offer softball fencing products to help you phase out chain link installations. If you have any questions about creating a baseball or softball field, we're here to help. Contact us online to learn more about our offerings.

The Factory Sports Training Facility in Rochester, NY had an indoor turf field that needed to be more versatile. They turned to Grand Slam Safety to transform their space. We installed 10 walk-draw curtains which allowed The Factory to have baseball/softball teams conduct hitting, fielding, throwing in each area along with the flexibility to move curtains to the side. The full turf field could then be used for other sports action like lacrosse, soccer, and field hockey to name a few. Grand Slam Safety also installed a full custom perimeter vinyl coated mesh netting system around the entire turf field. This fencing allowed for full use of the turf field allowing for ball containment as well as spectator viewing. Grand Slam was also able to provide: 7x7 Pitcher’s L-Screens Major League/Collegiate Pitcher Mounds Baseball Carts Baseball Batting Mats Baseball Batting Tees Baseball Cage Saver Target Pitching Machine “From the start of the very first sales call, to the last portion of install, Grand Slam Safety is pure class with complete professionalism. Their customer service is second to none. Grand Slam Safety's attention to detail and up front honest expertise will put your mind at ease that you are in good hands. They truly make your vision come alive! Sit back and enjoy the process...your dreams are about to come true!” - Brian McClare Owner The Factory Sports Training Facility Get in touch with us today to discover how our SPECTO® indoor systems as well as our divider curtains, batting cages, and netting can help your facility grow.

For many years, chain-link sports fencing served as the accepted standard at parks and stadiums. Made from galvanized steel, these fences keep spectators off the field and define the area of play. Smack a ball over the fence, and you could celebrate a home run. Put a fence around a soccer field, and you could keep the ball from popping into the parking lot or street. But while chain-link fencing once appeared to have many practical uses, people have begun to realize that it's not the ideal material to use in parks and places where young people play sports. Chain-link fencing has many downsides that may not be immediately apparent. Luckily, there are alternatives to this fencing. Smart recreation departments and schools are rethinking their use of chain-link fencing and instead considering options such as our SPECTO® outdoor fencing, which allows you to maximize playable surface areas. Learn more about chain-link fencing alternatives and what would work best for your property. Different Types of Athletic Field Fences There are different functions of a fence for every sport. Based on the gameplay, some may require extensive fencing for safety, while others may not need any at all. Here are some sports that use different types of athletic field fencing: Baseball: Baseball requires a fence to outline the edge of the field - far enough away and high enough to meet regulations. More fencing is required behind the batter's box to protect foul balls from flying into the stands and hitting fans. Sometimes netting is used to stop the balls, too. A tricky aspect of baseball fencing — especially the fencing in the outfield — is that it must be durable enough to withstand the elements while also flexible enough for players to run into safely. Football: Football — and soccer — usually only require some fencing to outline the field's perimeter and keep spectators out. Since the players won't be in danger of running into the fence, you can build a sturdier, decorative ornamental fence. Tennis: Tennis requires tall fences to keep the ball in play and protect spectators. It's easy to spike a tennis ball into the sky, so fences will have to be built high enough to account for this. Tennis courts often have mesh or netting as well to catch the ball. They shouldn't be constructed with hardened materials that pose a serious risk to players. Different Types of Baseball Field Fencing Materials Baseball requires a lot of fencing, so people are always trying to find the best types of baseball field materials to use. Here are some common types of baseball fencing materials: Wood: While there aren't many wood fences surrounding baseball fields, some still people like to keep wood fences up as a nostalgic symbol or to add character to a field. Though they may look unique, wood fences can create various problems as they age and lack the durability and resilience of other materials. Aluminum: Aluminum adds some strength and sturdiness to a baseball fence. It's typically reserved for those who are going for a more elegant, ornamental look for their baseball field. Steel: A steel baseball fence is all about stability — if you get this type of material, your fence isn't going anywhere. However, like aluminum, it doesn't play very well on a field where players will likely be running full speed into the fence. A more flexible material is encouraged for safety. Chain-link: Many people settle for chain-link because it's durable and has some give for safety. However, as we'll see, chain-link has its own disadvantages, and people are starting to search for better alternatives for their field. These options are sturdy, but they're often unsafe. An option like vinyl or mesh fencing has durability paired with the safety that many people are looking for. Cons of Chain-Link Fencing You can find many disadvantages of chain-link fencing. This material is: Unforgiving: When a baseball or softball player makes a running catch in the outfield and slams into a chain-link fence, they run the risk of getting injured. Chain-link fences have little give, and the links on top and bottom include sharp edges where players can cut themselves. Unattractive: Chain-link fences look old and clunky. They don't enhance the appearance of a park or tennis court. Unmovable: You can't move a chain-link fence from one location to another, which means you can't reconfigure the space to make another field. There aren't any additional options with a chain-link fence. A baseball field can't change dimensions to become a softball field. Inflexible: Chain-link fences have no customizable elements that allow them to change depending on the sport being played and also the look you want for your sports fields. Unsafe: If you don't treat chain-link fences regularly, they can rust and become eyesores, in addition to safety hazards. Your park will look old and run down with a rusty chain-link fence. Alternatives to Chain-Link Fencing for Sports The good news is that you don't have to stick with chain-link fencing for your sports fields. You can find high-quality alternatives that will protect players on the field and give you greater flexibility. Your fields will also look more attractive with fencing that appears modern and sleek. You can find two main options. Vinyl-Coated Chain-Link Fences Vinyl-coated chain-link fences have a vinyl coating applied over the traditional chain-link material. They are less likely to rust. Plus, vinyl-coated chain-link is twice the cost of regular fencing and provides no extra protection for players. Vinyl-Coated Mesh Fencing Vinyl-coated mesh fencing, such as our SPECTO® fencing system, has many advantages. You can install it quickly and disassemble it just as fast at the end of the season, allowing you to store the fence away and keep it safe from the elements during the offseason. Our fences are transparent, improving the view for spectators. It can be difficult to see through a traditional chain-link fence, but you can add an unobstructed view through welded wire fencing. You'll also gain new flexibility with your facilities, allowing you to rearrange your fields however you prefer. The portability of our fencing also makes it more convenient than chain link. Grand Slam Sports Fencing vs. Chain-Link Fencing Grand Slam Safety sports fencing is recognized as the safest sports fencing on the market. SPECTO® gently cradles players when they crash into the fencing, so they can go hard without fear of getting hurt. In addition to its safety features, our sports fencing also has other advantages. You can: Remove it from one field and put it on another, allowing for multi-use fields. On the other hand, chain-link fences never move. Customize it to your needs for each sport or field. Chain-link fences can't adjust or give your fields any flexibility. Use it over and over and over again with no discernable impact because it's so durable. Chain-link fences can break and rust due to their exposure to the elements. Compared to chain-link fencing, our fencing allows you to save space because you can pack it away. The fencing folds up easily and won't take up valuable real estate in the winter, when sports equipment should be put away. Get in Touch With Grand Slam Safety to Buy Fencing Make this the year you explore options to replace your aging, unattractive chain-link fencing. Grand Slam Safety has outdoor fencing available that is perfect for baseball and softball fields, backstops, outdoor batting cages and more. Explore our options and improve the look of your park with Grand Slam Safety outdoor fencing. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us to learn more!

Creating a softball field is one of the best things a township, municipality or school district can do for its citizens. A softball field provides recreation for townsfolk. It gives high school students a way to stay active and experience the importance of teamwork. Students may also strive to receive better grades so they can stay on the school's softball team. When you decide to create a softball field, you need to make sure the field dimensions are correct. A poorly designed softball field could cause problems for the game. Players may struggle to reach their full potential. If the field's dimensions and layout are not up to official standards, then the school may be unable to use it to host home games. A softball field is a great addition to any town. But if you're going to make one, then you should make sure it's up to spec. The experts at Grand Slam Safety have created this guide to correct softball field layout with regulation dimensions to help you design your local high school or college's new softball field. High school softball field dimensions and measurements are specific. You'll need to have great attention to detail to create a field that adheres to the official rules and regulations. Use this guide to softball field dimensions to begin the design process on the right foot. When construction time arrives, everyone will be on the same page for a smooth project. Proper high school and college softball field dimensions are crucial in creating a field the whole town can enjoy. It can even make a difference in the lives of students for years to come. Table of Contents: The Parts of a Softball Field Softball Fencing and Outfield Dimensions Softball Field Diamond Dimensions High School Softball Field Diamond Dimensions College Softball Field Diamond Dimensions Softball Field Perimeter Dimensions Choose Grand Slam Safety to Equip Your Softball Field With the Best Outfield Fencing The Parts of a Softball Field Defined To take the right softball field measurements, you need to understand the terms. There are many parts of a softball field. Their locations in relation to the others are specific, so you should know each part before getting out the measuring tape. If you've played softball before, then you may be familiar with the field. Use this list as a refresher. If you have never played the game, then use this list to prepare for the specific measurements and dimensions to come. Here are the parts of a softball field: Home plate: This may be the most well-known part of the softball field. After traveling the bases, players seek to return to the home plate to score. Pitchers throw the ball over the home plate when someone is up to bat. Bases: Three bases exist on the softball field: first base, second base and third base. After batting, players will run the bases in hopes of making it back to home plate. Players are safe on the bases, so you'll see players standing on or near them throughout the game. Together, the three bases make a triangle around the pitcher's circle and mound. Batter's box: This is the area near the home plate where players are able to stand when they're up to bat. There is a batter's box drawn on the ground with chalk on each side of the home plate. This gives both right or left-handed players a chance to bat at the appropriate pitching distance. Backstop: The backstop is the fencing behind home plate that keeps a ball on the field and prevents it from hitting spectators. Pitcher's circle: This is the area in the center of the infield where pitchers stand. They throw their pitches from this mound. Pitching rubber: This is the rubber rectangle on the pitcher's mound where the pitcher stands during the softball game. Baselines: The baselines connect the bases and the home plate to each other. This gives the four bases the familiar baseball diamond shape that so many people associate with softball and baseball. Infield: This is the grassy area of the diamond and the packed dirt beyond the three bases. Outfield: This is the grassy area beyond the infield. It extends to the outfield fencing Foul lines: The foul lines are extensions of the baselines that run from home plate to first and home plate to third base. If a batter hits the ball outside of these lines, it's a foul ball. Foul poles: These tall poles mark the intersection of the foul lines with the outfield fencing. They make it easy for players to tell whether or not a fly ball is fair as it soars beyond the fencing. Outfield fencing: The outfield fencing lies at the furthest edge of the outfield. It marks where the field of play ends. If a batter hits a ball beyond the outfield fencing, it's a home run. Softball Fencing and Outfield Dimensions Outfield fencing is one of the most important parts of a softball field. By building a softball field with a fence, your town can host high school or college tournaments. This can drive up revenue for your town as people come from all over to root for their favorite teams. None of this can happen if your field lacks a fence, though. Fences are a crucial part of high school and college softball regulation guidelines, so you'll need them to host official tournaments. Student-athletes should have the chance to experience the thrill of scoring a home run. Hitting the ball "out of the park" is one of the most exhilarating accomplishments for young baseball players. The feeling never gets old as people continue their careers into college and beyond. This makes installing an outfield fence crucial to giving students and players the best softball experience possible. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) list dimensions for high school and college softball fields. We use their distances throughout this guide to ensure accuracy so you can determine your softball field dimensions and layout with confidence. For high school fields, the outfield fencing distance should be 185 feet to 235 feet from home plate for female fast-pitch softball. Female slow-pitch softball uses a longer distance of 250 feet to 275 feet from home plate to the outfield fencing. Fencing distances for college softball fields include a right and left field distance of 190 feet to 235 feet and a center field distance of 220 to 235 feet. The outfield fencing should make an arc-type shape that intersects with both foul lines at the point of the foul poles. The length of your fencing will depend on the exact distance you choose. The higher distance estimates will result in a longer fence than the shorter estimates. Here's one way to determine the exact distance and location of your softball field's outfield fencing. Follow these steps: Locate the back tip of home plate. You'll have to determine most distances on the softball field using home plate as the starting point. Mark this point with a stake in the ground. Tie a string to this stake and walk your desired distance into the outfield through second base. This will be the largest distance of the field as well as the center point of your outfield fencing. Use spray paint to mark this point on the ground. Next, walk the string toward one of the foul poles, spraying a dotted line on the ground below the string. Then walk in the other direction to spray the ground on your way to the other foul pole. Make sure to keep the string tight the whole time to ensure an accurate distance for the entire length of your future outfield fencing. You'll then have the exact location of your outfield fencing marked on the outfield. Then, it's only a matter of installing the fence and getting your softball field ready for some games. But, figuring out where to put your outfield fencing is easier when the rest of the softball field is set up. Softball Field Diamond Dimensions Lots of the game's action will happen in the baseball diamond. That's why you need to make sure you use accurate softball diamond dimensions when designing the field. As you read above, the diamond gets its name by drawing lines between the three bases and home plate. The four plates together make four corners of a square. Since home plate is the bottommost point, it looks like a diamond from above. The NFHS and the NCAA list specific distances for the diamond, so you must follow them to make your field game-ready for either high school or college competitions. High School Softball Field Diamond Dimensions Remember that you'll be measuring most of these distances using the bottom tip of home plate as the starting point. A couple common questions include how far are softball bases and how far is the pitcher's mound from home plate in softball? Here are some measurements you'll need to know as you create your high school's new softball field layout: Home plate to first base: Measure 60 feet from the back tip of home plate as a starting point to the right corner of first base. First base to second base: Measure a 60-foot line from the right corner of first base to the middle of second base. Second base to third base: From the middle of second base to the left corner of third base, measure another 60-foot line. Third base to home plate: Measure a 60-foot line from the left corner of third base to the bottom tip of home plate. This summarizes the distance between bases in softball and these four lines together make the classic diamond shape seen on baseball and softball fields around the world. Home plate to second base: The base distance from the bottom tip of home plate to the middle of second base should be 84 feet and 10 and 1/4 inches. Home plate to the front of the pitching rubber: Make sure the distance from the bottom tip of home plate to the front of the pitching rubber is 46 feet. This is the high school softball pitching distance between the batter and the pitcher. Pitcher's circle: The pitcher's circle surrounds the pitching rubber. Create an eight-foot radius from the center of the pitching rubber to create the right size pitcher's circle. This would create a pitching circle with a 16-foot diameter. Infield arc: The infield arc marks the separation between the packed dirt of the infield from the grassy area of the outfield. From the center of the pitcher's circle, measure a 60-foot line into the outfield. Use this distance to create the infield arc. It's essentially a part of a circle using a 60-foot radius from the center of the pitcher's mound. College Softball Field Diamond Dimensions If you plan on using your field for college softball games, then you'll need to make sure you follow these collegiate softball field dimensions: Home plate to first and third bases: Both of these lanes should be a distance of 60 feet from the back tip of home plate to the base. Home plate to second base: This should be a distance of 84 feet and 10 and 1/4 inches from the back tip of home to the base. Distance between bases: Measure 60 feet between first, second and third bases. Home plate to the front of the pitching rubber: The distance from the back tip of home plate to the pitching rubber should be 43 feet. Pitcher's circle: This should have an 8-foot radius drawn in the same fashion as the high school pitcher's circle. Infield arc: This should be a 60-foot arc with its start at the center of the pitcher's plate at the mound. Softball Field Perimeter Dimensions The final step in creating a softball field with the right dimensions is setting up the perimeter. The perimeter of the softball field is any area not found within the diamond, infield or outfield. If a batter hits the ball into these areas, then it's a foul ball. Yet, the opposing team can still catch the ball before it hits the ground for an out. There needs to be enough room in the perimeter for such actions to occur. Here are the dimensions of the softball field perimeter: Backstop to home plate: There should be a distance of 25 feet from the backstop to the bottom tip of home plate for both high school and college softball fields. This gives enough playing area for catchers to make plays on stray balls, catch a ball from another player and move around as they need. Foul lines: The foul lines separate the areas of fair hits from foul hits from the batter. They run from the bottom tip of home plate down the left and right baselines. They extend into the outfield and end when they intersect with the outfield fencing at the point of the foul poles. Foul lines to nearest obstruction: Make sure you give softball players plenty of room to safely make moves on foul balls. To achieve this, the NFHS and NCAA recommend leaving a distance of 25 feet to 30 feet between the foul lines and the nearest obstruction. Obstructions could be walls, fencing or even the audience stands. Softball players use these areas to catch fly balls and get the opposing team out. And with that, you have all the measurements needed to create a regulation-compliant high school or college softball field. Your next order of business should be to ensure the safety of everyone who uses the field once you complete it. You can achieve this with an outfield softball fence from Grand Slam Safety. Choose Grand Slam Safety to Equip Your Softball Field With the Best Outfield Fencing Traditional chain link fencing can cause player injuries in the heat of intense games. Some players may stop paying attention to their surroundings, placing all their focus on the ball flying through the air. They could run into the fence and hurt themselves. Chain link fencing is also a permanent solution and is difficult to remove. Avoid these issues with softball field fencing from Grand Slam Safety. Grand Slam Safety is your answer for providing and installing fencing for your new softball field. Our state-of-the-art softball fencing uses SPECTO® mesh to deliver a cradling effect when players run into it. This reduces injuries, keeping players in the game. We care about the well-being of all athletes. Our goal is to reduce the number of concussions and other bodily injuries sustained by all athletes with the help of our specialized fencing. Our softball fencing is also portable, increasing your productivity. Set up and tear down your fencing with ease. You'll have no issue moving the fencing between games to accommodate different age groups. When you're done for the season, you can easily uninstall and store your fencing until it's time for the new season. This portability provides unmatched flexibility. Use your field for more than softball if the need arises. Our softball fencing even gives spectators a better view of the playing field. The SPECTO® mesh provides great visibility for anyone seated behind the fence, so they never miss a moment of the action. With benefits in safety, portability and visibility, the softball fencing from Grand Slam Safety is your best option for your town's new softball field. Contact us today for more information or to learn how you can get your own softball fence from Grand Slam Safety. We look forward to hearing from you.

WHAT CAN WE CUSTOMIZE FOR YOU? CONTACT US TODAY! Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania needed to close the gaps between its aquatic center and gymnasium. Customized walk-draw divider curtains from Grand Slam Safety were the solution they were looking for. “The customer service was great from the initial custom measurements to the installation. We would highly recommend Grand Slam Safety for your facility projects.” - Karen Perry, Director; Campus Recreation Doral High School in Florida needed to stop balls from flying off their rooftop gymnasium. Customized suspended outdoor netting from Grand Slam Safety solved the issue. Utica College in New York wanted a removable indoor batting cage in their sports dome. With no ceiling to attach to, Grand Slam Safety was able to provide an indoor batting cage that was the perfect solution. Gulfport Sports Complex in Mississippi needed to bring their outfield fencing right up to a cement retaining wall. Grand Slam Safety's full customization outfield fence now keeps players safe and the game exciting. Gulfport was so pleased with their new fence they ordered 3 more and then an additional 6 for their newest softball field expansion. WHAT CAN WE CUSTOMIZE FOR YOU? CONTACT US TODAY!

Are you an Architect or thinking of hiring one? Don't save safety for last! Grand Slam Safety is now offering continuing education courses through the American Institute of Architects. Our course entitled, Safety Concerns to Consider in Design of Barrier System, Wall and Fences for Athletic Courts and Fields, brings into sharp focus up-to-date ideas and precautions for safety in sports facilities. This course will lead you to design safer athletic facilities resulting in fewer injuries to athletes and spectators. Learning Objectives: 1 - Reduce force of impact with walls, fences and other barriers. 2 - Prevent entanglement and/or puncture wounds from barrier systems. 3 - Prevent toppling/tripping injuries from short or unsecured barrier systems. 4 - Provide proper deceleration zones to reduce or eliminate probability and severity of injuries. 5 - Prevent spectator injuries from errant balls and/or contact with athletes. Course Number - GSS#1 Provider Number - 404108939 If you're designing or building an indoor sports complex or an outdoor athletic complex, safety is paramount. We would love to come and present this educational course to you and your architectural staff. Schedule a "Lunch and Learn" or a standalone CES meeting. We'll come to you! Contact Mickey Lehman, PE at Grand Slam Safety for more information.

Grand Slam Safety has the privilege of partnering with The Miracle League to provide safe fencing solutions for special need athletes. When communities decide to install a Miracle League field in their hometown they can be sure that all aspects of the playing field will be safe. The Miracle League of Dubuque decided to go with SPECTO fencing around their field. And they couldn't be happier. "My recommendation would be for any new Miracle League projects to make sure they are in touch with the Grand Slam Safety team to make sure they are aware of the uniqueness of this product and how safe it is for these children," said Merle Santjer, president of Miracle League of Dubuque. If you or someone you know would benefit from a Miracle League field we'd be happy to discuss it with you. #TheMiracleLeague

Hard Wall Hits Milwaukee, WI Miller Park George Springer, of the Astros was carted off the field this month after smashing his head into the outfield wall. His risky catch landed him in the hospital. Outfield walls have been made of different materials over the decades. From wood to concrete to padded steel, athletes have had to risk broken bones or worse. In fact even Babe Ruth, who played outfield from time to time, was knocked out cold after slamming into a concrete outfield wall. Injuries from solid outfield structures is no joking matter. Players have been seriously injured. Grand Slam Safety is hoping to change the industry with fencing systems that will provide both play-ability as well as protection. Here is an informative article of wall collisions that have resulted in some pretty major injuries. SPECTO Saves the Day Olean, NY Olean High School It was the sectional final for the girls softball team at Olean High School. They had recently installed a SPECTO Outfield System which was about to be put to the test. In the second inning a ball was crushed to deep right field. Outfielder Katelyn Szefler, of the opposing Depew team, was chasing it down at a flat run. The fence was coming up fast and...we'll let Chuck Pollock of the Olean Times Herald tell the rest. "It seemed Olean would take full control in the second when, with a runner on second and nobody out, Ramarage crashed a ball deep to right that Depew outfielder Katelyn Szefler, running full-speed, made the catch on crashing into the wall. It was a ringing endorsement for Olean’s newly-installed SPECTO fence, a product of Grand Slam Safety. The mesh surface acts almost as a vertical trampoline and Szefler bounced off, uninjured. “The ball might have been out with our old fence,” Brooks said. “But that right fielder’s play was incredible. That girl would have gotten hurt on a metal fence.” When we here at Grand Slam Safety hear a story like this we know that what we are doing is important in protecting athletes, at any level of play. Contact Grand Slam Safety. We would be happy to discuss your next sports facility need. From start to finish Grand Slam Safety will walk with you every step of the way. We customize to your needs. Any Space. Any Sport. Grand Slam Safety and SPECTO® Fencing Systems. #SPECTOBaseballFencingSystem #SPECTOSoftballFencingSystem #safety

Fan Hit by Puck Tampa, FL Tampa Lightning Amalie Arena How would you react to a hockey puck coming at you at speeds pushing 80 miles per hour? A mother took a blow to the head from puck at a Tampa Bay Lightning game last year, leaving her with multiple injuries – and it very easily could have hit one of her two young sons. Sabrina Pattie and her husband had taken their boys to the professional hockey game as the boy’s inaugural hockey outlining. They were seated near the edge of the protecting netting when suddenly a puck flew into the stands, striking Sabrina above the left eye. NHL arenas are required to have protective netting at certain points in the spectator stands. Sabrina and her family, although not directly behind the netting was supposedly in a “safe” zone. As the number of fan injuries continue to rise it is imperative that sports facilities go above and beyond the “required” safety precautions. Curtain netting, impactable fencing, and canopy netting all add layers of protection that allow the players to play and the fans to enjoy the game. Safe Play in Indiana Finch Creek Fast Facts over 700' Netting over 900' SPECTO® Indoor Containment Fencing 7 retractable Batting Cages 4 permanent Batting Cages 225' Slopefold Divider Curtain 2 -115' horizontal Fold Divider Curtains The owners of Klipsch-Card Athletic Facilities and the Lauth Group were looking for a company that could fill the bill for this huge project. Grand Slam Safety and its SPECTO® products were the perfect fit. The Finch Creek facility is over 75,000 square feet with two high-school sized infields for baseball and softball along with eleven batting cages. Two full turf fields allow for football, soccer, lacrosse or any other indoor sport. The facility also includes five courts for basketball and volleyball. Grand Slam Safety stepped up to the plate to deliver a complete package of over 700 feet of Sport Netting for the ceiling and upper walls, over 900 feet of SPECTO® Indoor Containment Fencing for the turf fields, seven retractable and four permanent batting cages, a slopefold divider curtain, and two horizontal fold divider curtains. “From the moment we sat down with Grand Slam Safety, both Ryan Cole (President of Finch Creek Field House) and I, knew this was going to be a good fit for our project." said Clay Kelly, Project Manager for the Lauth Group, Inc. "Grand Slam Safety's honest, 'not telling you what you what you want to hear', approach was refreshing. This company more than exceeded our expectations." Contact Grand Slam Safety. We would be happy to discuss your next sports facility build. From start to finish Grand Slam Safety will walk with you every step of the way. We customize to your needs. Any Space. Any Sport. Grand Slam Safety and SPECTO® Fencing Systems.

Sports are more than exciting games or competitive challenges. For many individuals, the ability to play a sport in a safe, clean and controlled environment is an essential part of their everyday lives. Athletes strive to improve their stats and define their own success. Adults use recreational pick-up games and club leagues as their source of exercise, stress-relief and excitement. Children step up to the plate and swing for the fences, hoping to one day live their dream in the major leagues. Sports are a priority, and your athletic facility design needs to cater to the importance these children, women and men place on their performance. Grand Slam Safety knows the sports facility planning and design process is a difficult task that requires thorough attention to detail in every corner of the complex. As the sports fencing solutions that sports complex managers trust, we're here to offer our advice and help you design an indoor sport facility layout that is versatile, practical and most importantly, safe. Table of Contents: Sports Complex Design Considerations Programming and Sports You Will Offer Planning for Players and Spectators Maximizing Space and Versatility Maintaining a Smooth Flow Safety First in the Design Process Keep Your Indoor Sports Complex Safe With Help From Grand Slam Safety Sports Complex Design Considerations Designing a multipurpose indoor sports facility can't be done overnight. We recommend that before you even think about breaking ground on a new facility or undertaking a complex remodel, you first take a moment to identify your goals, prioritize the needs of your clients and imagine what future needs you may have to accommodate for them. Here are five key points you should consider when designing an indoor sporting complex: The types of sports and programming your complex will facilitate The planning required to host players, spectators and vendors during diverse events The design necessary to maximize space and enhance the versatility of the sports complex The layout design needed for convenient guest and employee movement between areas of the complex All elements of player, employee and spectator safety that must be addressed throughout the facility design process Each of these items is important individually and collectively. Ideally, your sports complex design will adequately address these points as well as integrate them together to form a cohesive concept. Knowing which sports you'll facilitate enables you to plan for these events and will aid in the design process. Anticipating the needs during these events will enable you to devote adequate space to each area which will create a convenient and easy-to-navigate layout. Safety is a keystone in the success of this design — without safety as a priority, the facility design will fail. Programming and Sports You Will Offer The wide world of sports is getting larger by the day. If there was a "traditional" sports complex, those limited gymnasiums are far from what is needed and expected now. Sports complexes are as diverse as their clientele. Basketball, racquetball and court volleyball are being played next to yoga, dodge ball and mixed martial arts. Soccer, baseball, football and even golf are moving indoors. Amenities and activities such as tanning beds, rock climbing walls, dance studios and arcades demand their own space. There is no longer a distinction between sports you need to offer, programs you could offer and activities you will want to offer. Athletes and casual fans alike crave variety which means that the more you can accommodate, the more people will want to use your complex. Instead of waiting out the winter wishing it was spring, baseball players and golfers can enjoy your indoor baseball field and golf simulator any time of the year. Consider which sports your multipurpose facility could offer. Traditional indoor sports Basketball Gymnastics Racquetball Floor and roller hockey Handball Running Outdoor-turned-Indoor sports Football Baseball Soccer Rock climbing Golf Rowing Softball Lacrosse Additional sports and activities Wrestling Dancing Martial arts and boxing Cheerleading Cycling Roller derby Yoga Additional amenities Exercise equipment Locker rooms with showers Tanning beds Therapy pools Massage chairs Your complex may cater to some or all of these programs and sports throughout the year, many even simultaneously. As you list these diverse sport activities, you must also consider how you'll offer use of your facility. Members and guests can use indoor sports complexes for recreation or training. They can also be used to host tournaments, championship games and leagues. Consider the following questions as you finalize your list of potential events: Will you be able to host external events while members or local guests continue to use the space? Can any area be designed to accommodate multiple sports? For instance, can a multipurpose area function as a dance and yoga studio or wrestling and martial arts space? If a versatile area acts as a space for multiple activities, can the equipment needed for each activity be adequately moved and stored or will these supplies constantly be in the space? Will each area be large enough to safely accommodate those who engage in these sports and activities? Choosing which programming and sports to offer at your facility can be challenging. An indoor soccer facility could be configured to double as an indoor football field. However, an indoor baseball and indoor softball area might each need a separate field to accommodate your needs. Once you have an idea of which events you will offer, consider how your sports facility design will cater to the players, spectators and visitors who frequent your complex. Planning for Players, and Spectators and Vendors After you've determined which programming and sporting events your complex will offer, you need to design these spaces with your players in mind. However, before you begin mapping out the general fields, courts and arenas, consider the other necessary areas that the complex requires. Spectators may outnumber the players, which will require an adequate seating area for audiences. Vendors may also need space to serve these fans and provide appropriate customer service. Your sporting complex might need additional space for special events like championships and award ceremonies. Consider how many events you may host throughout a single day then try to anticipate the number of spectators who may attend these games. Friends and family members will attend these competitions, and more importantly, will need places to congregate before and after their player's game. Your spectator seating needs to accommodate a large audience consisting of visitors attending games throughout the day. Players and spectators make up the majority of those attending your sports complex, but there's another important group of people you cannot neglect. Vendors are often overlooked in the complex design planning process even though their presence is meaningful to the players and spectators. Sectioning off dedicated areas for vendors allows local and traveling attendees to purchase sporting equipment, commemorative merchandise and other promotional items. Although you've planned your indoor complex design to host multiple tournaments featuring diverse sports simultaneously, you need to make sure you've planned for the most critical part of these events — the championship match and victory celebration. Creating a special field for championship events that includes extra seating and high-quality features gives the players a special place to play that highlights the significance of the game. Adding an amphitheater or stage area for award ceremonies, special announcements and other showcasing moments enhances every event that your complex hosts. Maximizing Space and Versatility Space and versatility — without these at your disposal, you either won't be able to accommodate the programs and sports you desire or you won't be able to accommodate those who want to engage in these activities. Imagine this — your complex is hosting a club volleyball tournament, a summer youth soccer league, postseason baseball practice and a competitive dance showcase all in one weekend. Proper planning means you'll have the space and versatile to seamlessly accommodate each event within your indoor facility. Poor planning, however, could lead to cancellations, rescheduling and unhappy guests. While massive facilities may have plenty of space at their disposal, complexes with limited space need to be creative in their design approach. Thankfully, there are tools that can modify any space to make it as versatile as possible. Removable netting and divider curtains are perfect resources that are easy to use and adjustable to your needs. Sports netting curtain systems are designed to enable sports complexes to separate their space into designated areas. They can fit any size and shape, making them ideal for spaces that need to accommodate room for different types of sports like volleyball and basketball. Imagine being able to rearrange a space from a tournament configuration back into regular operations with minimal effort. These divider curtains provide defined boundaries for players and spectators while also containing balls and increasing the safety of players and audience members. Maintaining a Smooth Flow How your guests use your space is just as important as what they use it for. Think about the layout of any high-traffic area such as a shopping mall, department store or amusement park. These areas create convenient pathways to the guest's intended destination. They're also enhanced by featuring specific amenities in appropriate areas to serve these individuals as best as possible. These spaces keep the flow of the facility moving smoothly. Your indoor sports complex design needs to maintain this smooth flow. A multipurpose sports facility flows correctly when it accomplishes three key goals: Its design is easy to navigate for people of all abilities There is adequate visibility throughout the facility and wayfinding devices posted to help individuals find their destination The facility is safe and secure in all areas to reduce chances of injury or theft and ensure visitors are properly supervised Your visitors will expect more from your facility than access to activities. They'll want to feel welcomed and comfortable in your space. Your layout should be influenced by how your guests will use the different areas of the complex. For instance, the locker room should be close to the front entrance to allow guests to change clothing quickly. A swimming pool should also be near this area to cut down on wet guests roaming the hallways. Indoor tracks should be located near weight rooms or exercise equipment. As your facility grows and offers more diverse services, the layout should help guests quickly get from one area to another. Also make sure restrooms, drinking fountains and maintenance closets are spread throughout the facility in convenient locations. You want all guests to have easy access to the bathroom, and your facility staff should have quick access to custodial supplies or tools should they need to tend to a problem in the area. Do you want to maximize your space, create versatile environments and enhance the overall flow of your multipurpose facility? Use dividing curtains and indoor fencing solutions from Grand Slam Safety. Available in Double Wall, Elecrafold, Form-Fold, Full Acoustic Double Wall and Walkdraw variants, our curtains and netting can cater to any space, even pitched or sloped ceilings. Most importantly, our products deliver the reliable safety your facility needs. Safety First in the Indoor Sports Facility Design Process All elements of player, spectator and vendor safety should be addressed throughout the facility design process. Unfortunately, some sports complex designers leave safety as an afterthought. They won't consider safety fences or netting until the end of the project. Many sports complexes find out too late the true cost of retrofitting a new construction with netting, curtains, and fencing. Change orders to accommodate last minute netting on the ceiling or fencing around a perimeter can add up to costs that will drive construction over budget. Remember — even though your ability to facilitate programming and sports for guests is your top priority, your efforts will fail if you don't prioritize safety as well. Keep a focus on safety throughout your layout design and prioritize safety and protection features into the facility during the early planning stages. Whether you're adding an indoor softball facility or renovating your indoor soccer facility design, this project is a significant investment that you need to rely on for years. Don't let safety neglect blow up your budget, extend your deadline and jeopardize the safety of your guests and staff. Integrate indoor safety solutions from Grand Slam Safety into your design from the start. Keep Your Indoor Sports Complex Safe With Help From Grand Slam Safety Grand Slam Safety can help you strategically plan for the safety of your sports complex from the outset of the design process. Our experts will sit down with you and map your vision, paying close attention to areas where you can maximize space, offer versatile activities and maintain a smooth flow throughout the facility. We offer a variety of indoor fencing, divider curtains and sports netting that can be customized to your exact needs. We can take any space and make it the perfect setting for any sport you desire. Our safety solutions are convenient tools that can be adjusted as needed. Grand Slam Safety has worked with facilities of all sizes that accommodate the full spectrum of sports. Our experienced team will integrate the safest fencing system on the market into your multipurpose facility. Maximize safety to maximize play. Keep players and spectators safe with indoor fencing, divider curtains, sports netting and other safety solutions from Grand Slam Safety. Call us today and let us help you develop a safe indoor sports complex design that knocks expectations out of the park!

GRAND SLAM SAFETY NEWS Milton, CT Milton Academy Milton Academy had a special need. A field was shared by soccer in the fall and baseball in the spring. The school already had a chain link fence for part of the outfield but knew that they needed something they could remove for the section of the field that was shared with soccer. Grand Slam Safety was able to help by customizing a section of SPECTO outfield fencing that could marry to the existing chain link section of fence. This provided Milton with a fully functioning outfield fence (of which the SPECTO section is exceptionally safe) as well as a way to open the field back up during soccer season. Customization is the key to getting the most out of your sports fields. Grand Slam Safety has a full time engineering staff to help you work through and execute a plan that will ensure you have the safest athletic fields. Milton Academy: 253' - SPECTO Outfield Fencing CONTACT US TODAY Houston, TX Minute Maid Park Child athletes in recreational sports are shown to have a greater risk of concussion than their counterparts who receive sports related injuries. Professor of community and family health, Karen Liller, PhD, at the University of South Florida College of Public Health has published a new study in PLOS ONE. This study focuses on children 5-11 years old who play recreational football, soccer and baseball/softball. Liller and her team followed over 1,500 athletes for two years at the Hillsborough County Rec League in, Hillsborough Florida. For baseline results they collected data using ImPACT Pediatric, an FDA-approved concussion assessment tool. The program assess athletes on various questions relating to word memory, sequencing/attention, visual memory and reaction time. Injury data was collected by Certified Athletic Trainers during the two-year study. Of the over 1500 participants, 26 were injured and 12 were diagnosed with a concussion. Boys’ and girls’ soccer accounted for 10 of the concussions while the other 2 were during softball games. The findings state that, “To date, research on sports injuries has largely been focused on high school and collegiate athletes. For child athletes, many sports/recreational activities are not organized for reporting injuries, so almost no data for this group have been collected. No effective prevention strategies can be properly developed without the knowledge of the mechanisms related to these injuries including concussions.” Liller and her team found that the leading cause of injuries were caused by colliding with another player or contact with playing surfaces. Grand Slam Safety is committed to helping reduce that amount and severity of sports related injuries in children. SPECTO® Outfield Fencing as well as Indoor Perimeter Fencing provides safe playing structures directly on the field of play. Concussions and injuries are nothing to take lightly. Help protect your children’s love of play by making sure they stay safe while doing it. CONTACT US TODAY #SPECTOIndoorContainmentSystem #Connecticut #concussion

GRAND SLAM SAFETY NEWS Salem, OH Salem Community Center Flying balls, diving players, multiple games at once - all this led Cory Wonner, director of the Salem Community Center, to look for a way to protect both athletes and spectators at the center's new indoor turf field. SPECTO was the answer. Salem Community Center: 550' - SPECTO Indoor Perimeter Fencing 2 - SPECTO Safe Soccer Goals 80'x25' - SPECTO Divider Curtain Mr. Wonner loves the the fact that his facility can now host indoor turf games like soccer, winter baseball or football in a safe and comfortable environment. Installing a divider curtain also helped him maximize his space. "The quality and design of the curtain are fantastic!" said Mr Wonner. "We are able to raise and lower the 25' curtain in less than a minute. It also allows us to expand our program offerings and rental time slots by giving us the option to have two separated events happening at the same time. The design team at Grand Slam designed the curtain to our exact specifications." With SPECTO products now in place facilities like Salem Community Center will be able to expand operations and host more events year round. Grand Slam Safety would love to talk to you about how your facility could benefit from our SPECTO line of safe fencing, goals, netting and much more. CONTACT US TODAY Houston, TX Minute Maid Park A young girl, sitting along the third base line at a Houston Astros game, was recently struck by a foul ball during the game. The concern is growing for spectator safety at ball parks and this is yet another sad example of a recent fan injury. This problem is not isolated to just professional sporting venues. College ball parks, high school baseball / softball fields and Little Leagues are all places where foul balls can cause injury to fans. A line drive foul ball can travel at speeds up to 80 miles per hour. Baseline fencing, dugout fencing, and spectator netting are ways to keep your fans safe and the game fun for everyone. Grand Slam Safety provides all of these options for your baseball or softball fields. We can customize to any space or requirements. Adding these options to a SPECTO Outfield Fencing System is a great compliment to your field, your players safety and the enjoyment of your fans. Contact us to today to discuss options for your ball field. #SPECTOIndoorContainmentSystem #DividerCurtains #SoftGoals #Salem #Ohio