Home Dugout

Most times at most levels, the home team takes the third base dugout, even today, with the Yankees being a notable exception.

Years ago the home field would usually have the 3rd base dugout.

I believe the change is because people figured out there are certain slight advantages in having the 1st base dugout, especially in professional baseball.

A few examples:

3rd base coach does not have to turn around to get signs from the dugout.

A little easier for the catcher to get signs from the dugout.

A better view of seeing signs from opposing 3rd base coach.

On deck hitter in better position to help runner trying to score.

I prefer the 1b side because you see the front side of a right-handed batter, providing a little better view of the strike zone.

We make our choice depending on which one has the least amount of ice and snow in it....

quote:

Originally posted by Halfmoonslider:
We make our choice depending on which one has the least amount of ice and snow in it....

That would be funnier if it wasn't so true!

Are U guys playing in the spring league this year?

Yes we are, Big, Waukesha West is in what used to be Schweikert's League...We have a few kids in the PG League as well including mine. I'm taking West down near Knoxville at the end of the month for a tourney as well...Is Kris nearing a decision on a school or is he gonna wait? Whereever he lands if they need a slower, shorter, not-as-smart kid the next year I know where to find one!

This subject never fails to crack me up. Without fail, somebody will confidently claim that the home team "always" takes the third base side... or the first base side. If you try to convince them that there's actually no "rule" about which side which team takes, they look at you like you're crazy. So you point out a major league team which has the home dugout on the "wrong" side, and they puzzle over that for a while, and then tell you "It's different in the majors!" I've gotten more dirty looks over this one...

As a lifelong Yankee fan, I assumed that the first base dugout was for the home team as a kid. All of our youth ball fields were set up that way.... When we started traveling in HS and later college, I realized every park has their own way of doing it.

Now, if I have a preference... I prefer to be in the third base dugout. Since I usually coach third base, it keeps me close to the rest of the team for any information sharing that needs to be passed along...

It was always pretty obvious to me that the home team chooses which is the home dugout based on which one is in the shade in late afternoon.

The visitors get to cook in the oven.

that didn't matter much in the Kingdome

I've been told by a few cheerleader/parents that there is some "rule" that requires parents to sit on the side with their team.

I've yet to meet an official who knows about such a rule. I'm pretty antsy at most games and tend to move around, especially as weather dictates.

When I coached a 11-12 yr old AABC team I'd pick the the dugout by first base. The dugout next to third base was closer to the fans and wasn't such a walk for players. I was asked why I always picked the first base dugout rather than the third base one? Duh. I want to be as far away from parents as I can. Less distractions.

After an out at first take a short right.

I like the first place dugout. The other teams runner at first base is easier to decoy into the "Miami Play"

As "cong" has stated!

If the head coach also coaches third, as in most high schools, there is a slight advantage in being in the 3rd base dugout for communication purposes.

I took over for a coach who was dead set on having the dugout in the third base side....now I am a traditionalist, but for 3 years they faced directly into the wind (which is usually quite cold and biting) and were miserable.

My first official act was to move us to the first base side. Turned out to be a good thing.

Our dugout is the third base side because the walk is shorter to the coaching box. I can turn around and talk with other coaches or players etc. Im serious about the walk by the way. It gets old having to walk to across the field 6 or 7 times a game. Especially the 7th time I try not to have to do that real hard.

Our home dugout is the 3rd base dugout. It gets a bit confusing when we're hosting tournaments and we're actually the visitor. I was a few minutes late to a game one evening and as I was driving up, took a peek at the scoreboard and thought we were losing badly. Found out once I got there that we were actually visitor by the coin toss and we were winning!!