buckets
 

Do you allow coaches on buckets outside of the dugouts?

I don't want the technical answer about coaches outside the dugout... do you allow it, mind it, care... in the places you call.

Depends on the proximity to foul line, age of players, type of competition, etc.; but usually not.

In most of our non-championship play in the Seattle area, we have plenty of room at most all of our fields and usually prefer it to the norm because (in our cases...yours may very well vary) it usually speeds up the game.

However, if push comes to shove...if you are on a bucket outside the dugout and the ball hits the bucket, I will usually penalize the coach's team. If on defense, if there is any doubt, the runners might get an extra base. If on offense, we might kill it and leave the runners at the last base occupied. I know, it's a HTBT situation. If there is any doubt, the blocked ball rule is invoked.

I know some are very anal about the buckets...and I have no problem with that.

In championship play...no, no buckets. I don't want anything on the field that could have any influence on the play. No paraphernalia inside the fence...for players, coaches or umpires.

I've gotten tired of telling coaches about this, so I just wait for a blocked ball and make the call.

The "technical" answer is the only answer and it is NO!

If the coach wants to sit on a bucket outside the dugout, he better in DBT.

I do not go looking for the location of a coach. The only time I need to know where a coach is is when I have a lineup change from the other team. I'll always give the change to the head coach.
Now, if I see a coach on a bucket in live ball territory, I'll tell them to get into DBT once. After that, I'm probably not going to notice where the coach is - so if there is a blocked ball, I'll just enforce the penalty.

and have been known to add to the penalty when a warning has already been issued. :)

No. Period. No reason for that coach to be in live ball territory, and certainly no reason to allow it.

If he claims no advantage, then there is no disadvantage to get back where he belongs. If he acknowledges an advantage, then it is obviously inappropriate. If he wants to give his catcher pitching signals, no problem; he may go closer to home plate OUTSIDE the fence to do that.

Beyond that, this is the hot button of many UIC's. Why allow it?

In non-championship play, we allow one defensive coach outside of the dugout. S/he has to be mobile...no buckets allowed on the field.

In ASA championship play, we follow the book, no defensive coaches on the field.

you're making my point
 

Steve,
The same Federation rule that keeps coaches out of live ball territory insists that players and coaches remain in the dugout.
If followed, we cannot allow a potty break without a team warning. We sure can't suggest the coach leave the dugout.

I don't mean disrespect in my comment... I just find this a rule that doesn't need to be enforced.

Mike,
As I see it, the difference is that I am likely to see the coach in live ball territory, I am not likely to notice where a coach is who is not in live ball territory. As I am working a game, I am concentrating on what happens on the field. So, as I said, I am not likely to see where the coach is - but as always, if I see a violation, I deal with it.:cool:

No

Speaking as an NSA FP ump, we do not allow any bucket in live ball territory. We do in Indiana allow a coach to sit outside the fence between the dugout and the bleachers to give signals to the catcher. And this depends on the field layout; how far away the dugout is from home plate. but they never are allowed in the playing field.

I don't care!

If I am going to pick a fight it will be one that is important to me.

Besides, two offensive coaches are on the field legally; doubtfull if we see a third coach on a bucket. It is the defensive coach that parks on a bucket, and if he is dumb enough to risk giving up two extra bases on a bad throw by one of his players, why should I care?

WMB