Thrown ball hits coach's bucket

[Fritz]

Originally Posted by danreeves1973

Know you weren't calling but was the bucket being on the field covered as part of ground rules? I've called tournaments at that age level under Dixie League where a bucket at the entrance to the dugout was allowed (district director and tournament director had declared it to be so), a box was drawn, bucket inside it, and it was declared dead ball territory.

Seems to be a particular problem in the 11 - 14 age, at the point that the pitchers actually might have two or more pitches (fastball and anything else as a change of pace). I cover this in my pregame by stating that "if you are a coach who likes to park your rear on a bucket outside of the dugout, then the bucket better be glued to that rear if you hop up to get out of the way of a live ball. If the ball hits the bucket and you're standing somewhere else, I will call time and your team will be penalized for leaving equipment in the field of play" Got tired of stopping play to tell coaches to get back in the dugout, better things to do. Haven't had anyone complain since I added that to my pregame.