Dugout Occupants

[Blueump]

FED rules:

1.  You show up to find (or discover during a contest) that one of the coaches has a child, or young children in their care in the dugout. Is this covered in the rules or casebook?

2. You show up to a game where one of the umpires has a child and wants to keep them in the dugout. (My wife is a HS softball coach and this has happened to her TWICE this year!)

What would you do in both of these situations?

 

[noumpere]

1) Nothing

2) Contact the assigner

[maineump]

It only makes a difference in Maine for the playoffs - for the number in the dugout.

Umps leaving kids? That's just wrong

[jkumpire]

1. Get the kid out of the dugout immediately. You do know a HS FR JV player in a dugout was hit in the head and killed by a badly thrown infield warmup ball between innings of a game in Georgia this year?

2. Tell your partner you will do the game by yourself and they will care for their child. That is an accident waiting to happen when small kid sees Mommy or Daddy on the field and runs out to say hi. Not on my field or on my conscience. Remember the WS three years ago when a 4 year old kid of a SF Giants player or coach ran out on the field to pick up a bat during a play at the plate, and the on-deck hitter had to catch him before he got run over? 

Umpiring is not more important than children.

[blue23ll]

We have no jurisdiction over who can be in the dugout/bench. That is the Head Coach's territory. As far as the umpire leaving a child in the dugout, that is not appropriate. 

[maven]

We have no jurisdiction over who can be in the dugout/bench. That is the Head Coach's territory. As far as the umpire leaving a child in the dugout, that is not appropriate. 

True by rule. Many states, however, impose restrictions that umpires must enforce (mine does).

[SJA]

When situations such as these arise, and are not covered under specific rules, COMMON SENSE for safety should apply. Here's a chance to use the "never rule" . . .  9.01c.

 

SJA

[Rich Ives]

OBR has it covered:

3.17 Players and substitutes of both teams shall confine themselves to their team’s benches unless actually participating in the play or preparing to enter the game, or coaching at first or third base. No one except players, substitutes, managers, coaches, trainers and bat boys shall occupy a bench during a game.

Little League has it covered:

2.00 BENCH OR DUGOUT is the seating facilities reserved for players, substitutes, one manager and not more than two coaches when they are not actively engaged on the playing field. Batboys and/or batgirls are not permitted.

3.17 -- Players and substitutes shall sit on their team’s bench or in the dugout unless participating in the game or preparing to enter the game. No one except eligible players in uniform, manager and not more than two coaches shall occupy the bench or dugout.

[zm1283]

I wouldn't go looking for trouble on the first one. If they're not causing an issue with the game, leave it alone. 

The second one is completely insane. 

[ZebraStripes]

Twice last summer I had to bring my children with me to a slow pitch softball game I was umpiring.  I had them sit on the bleachers and play of their electronic devices.  I haven't had to take them to anything other than rec basketball games besides that.  I would not consider putting them in the dugout.  My first option was not to have them with me for the games, but the basketball games they had asked to come with me to watch.  The softball games all of the possible people to watch them were out of town so they watched dad call some adult coed softball games.  Slowpitch was much more relaxed (boring from an umpire stand point) so I was able to keep an eye on them with those eyes in the back of my head.

[MooseLoop]

Remember the WS three years ago when a 4 year old kid of a SF Giants player or coach ran out on the field to pick up a bat during a play at the plate, and the on-deck hitter had to catch him before he got run over? 

​'Twas the 2002 World Series, game five.  Giants manager Dusty Baker's 3-year-old son Darren was an overeager batboy when J.T. Snow scored just ahead of trailing runner David Bell.  Darren could have been in the middle of a play at the plate had J.T. not snagged him while crossing the plate.  

 

 

[jkumpire]

​'Twas the 2002 World Series, game five.  Giants manager Dusty Baker's 3-year-old son Darren was an overeager batboy when J.T. Snow scored just ahead of trailing runner David Bell.  Darren could have been in the middle of a play at the plate had J.T. not snagged him while crossing the plate.  

 

 

​Thanks Moose, my bad. It didn't seem that long ago