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Youth Baseball Field Lighting Standards and Requirements

 

In our previous post we discussed the importance and benefits of sports lighting. In this post we will be discussing the lighting system standards and other design considerations for the sport fields of a popular youth sport that is enjoyed by millions of children and adults around the world: Youth League Baseball.

Unlike other sports, baseball is one of the few sports that involves a smaller and faster-moving object. This means that a baseball field will generally require higher levels of light than any other sport to ensure great visibility for both the players as well as the audience. Comparatively a youth league baseball game will not require as much lighting as a major league baseball game, such as the World Series.

 

Baseball Field Lighting Design

The typical Youth League Baseball field covers a total area of 40,000 sq ft. This is three times smaller than a typical MLB or college stadium, which can measure to an average of 120,000 sq ft. A smaller field does mean fewer lighting fixtures, but it is important to follow the standard foot candle requirements to avoid insufficient lighting.

 

Youth Baseball League Foot Candle Standards:

Even for smaller recreational-level baseball fields, the lighting regulations and standards must be taken into account. 

A Foot-Candle (Link blog to foot-candles here) is the international standard for measurement for light intensity and for any sport fields the average foot-candle should be well-maintained throughout the playing area.  There are four classifications of play in baseball, with the higher levels of play having higher lighting requirements.

Baseball Lighting: Classification of Play

There are (4) Classes of Play for Sports Venues based on level of play and spectator capacity.

  • Class 1

  • Class 2

  • Class 3

  • Class 4

The IESNA Recommendation for Foot-Candle Levels for Baseball and Softball are listed below.

 

Class 1 (150 foot-candle average in Infield. 100 foot-candle average in Outfield.) - Professional Sports, College Sports, Semi-Professional, and Sports Clubs

Class 1 (150 foot-candle average in Infield. 100 foot-candle average in Outfield.)

 

Class 2 (100 foot-candle average in Infield. 70 foot-candle average in Outfield.) - College Sports, Semi-Professional, Sports Clubs, Amateur Leagues, and High School

Class 2 (100 foot-candle average in Infield. 70 foot-candle average in Outfield.)

 

Class 3 (50 foot-candle average in Infield. 30 foot-candle average in Outfield.) - Sports Clubs, Amateur Leagues, High School, and Training Facilities

Class 3 (50 foot-candle average in Infield. 30 foot-candle average in Outfield.)

Class 4 (30 foot-candle average in Infield. 20 foot-candle average in Outfield.) -  Amateur Leagues, High School, Training Facilities, and Elementary School

Class 4 (30 foot-candle average in Infield. 20 foot-candle average in Outfield.)

 

Sports Facility

Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

Class 4

Illuminance (Infield/Outfield)

150 fc. / 100 fc.

100 fc. / 70 fc.

50 fc. / 30 fc.

30 fc. / 20 fc.

Professional Sports

x

      

College Sports

x

x

    

Semi-Professional

x

x

    

Sports Clubs

x

x

x

  

Amateur Leagues

  

x

x

x

High School

  

x

x

x

Training Facilities

    

x

x

Elementary School

      

x

 

Tournament Youth League Baseball would fall between Classes 2 and 3 with the fields typically targeting 50 foot-candles in the infield and 30 foot-candles in the outfield. 

The infield foot-candle levels must always be greater than outfield foot-candle levels. The reason being that most of the gameplay of baseball takes place between the batter and the pitcher, therefore, the visibility must be greater within that area. 

 

Youth Baseball Field Design Considerations:

As safety is a top concern within Youth Leagues, ensuring the field is adequately and evenly lit is absolutely essential. That is why there is such great importance in the sports field lighting design. It is important to stick to the recommended foot-candles, but also consider three design elements:

  1. Uniformity Ratio
  2. Light Poles Positioning
  3. Color Temperature

Uniformity Ratio - Light uniformity refers to the uniformity of lighting in an environment. It is vital to maintain the uniformity of light in order to make sure that everything is perfectly visible. The ratio between the maximum and minimum average lighting levels of under 3 is typically regarded as uniform illumination. Any ratio exceeding 3 might create patchy regions of light. In Little League Baseball lighting, the max/min ratio should be 2:1 for the infield and 2.5:1 for the outfield. Also, for every stretch of 10 feet on the field the level of luminosity should not change by more than 10%.

Light Poles Positioning - The positioning of the light poles and fixtures of a baseball field is dependent on the size of the field. Typically, in a Youth League Baseball field measurements the distance between home plate and the nearest fence or stand on the left and right outfield lines is at least 275 ft, with the infield diamond measuring 70 ft on all sides, as depicted below.

Youth League Baseball Field Dimensions

These dimensions of a Little League Baseball field only require four light poles. Two light poles on each side of home plate, and then two more light poles behind the right and left-center fields as depicted in the diagram below.

Foot-candles for a little league field

The poles should be spaced evenly around the perimeter of the field. The spacing between the poles should be based on the type and size of the fixtures being used. The poles should be spaced such that the illumination patterns overlap to create a seamless transition between poles, with no bright spots or shadows. To avoid glare, the lighting fixtures should not be placed horizontally at an angle of fewer than 25 degrees. This angle will protect the players from glare and allow them to see the field.

Color Temperature - To provide a more natural-looking light that is easy on the eyes and helps to reduce the risk of player fatigue the color temperature of the lighting fixtures is important. The recommended color temperature for Youth League Baseball field lighting fixtures should be within the range of 4000-5500K. If the game is being broadcasted, the lighting should  emit a color temperature of 5700 K. 

In both professional and amateur stadiums and fields, baseball field lighting is a critical factor in players and audience safety in conjunction with illuminating the field. Lighting your Youth League Baseball field can be an incredibly complex endeavor. That is why we here at Stouch Lighting are here to guide you through the designing process and ensure your Youth League Baseball field meets all the standards and requirements. Learn about some key tips on selecting the perfect sports field lighting for your baseball field.