Walking the field

[Mountaineer]

I walk the field before the first game at every level I do - LL through college. Actually in HS in WV, it is required. There's too much of a liability factor. Even if I had been at the field yesterday - I'll walk it today. Imagine someone cutting grass outside the field and tossing a board over the fence - meaning to get it before he leaves and forgets . . . and now imagine a HS kid stepping on that board. I like my house and want to keep it!

If there's something that needs to be done - something moved - I make the home team do it. Not sure where it happened, but last year two umpires took a piece of plywood that was leaning against the fence (inside) and tossed it over the fense. During the game the wind picked up and actually blew the board into a spectator and they got sued. It's all about liability for me.

[Skahtboi]

My routine, for college and high school ball is this. After my partner(s) and I are dressed, we will walk to the field about 20 minutes before game time. We will check the equipment in the home dugout first, then leave there via a walk around the outfield, checking for potential trouble spots, then arrive at the visitors dugout where we will check their equipment. It is also a chance to cover any mechanics issues with a partner when I have never worked with them before.