What is a baseball dugout?

 Are you new to the game of baseball? As an amateur, you might feel confused with the long list of terminologies used. For instance, what is a baseball bench? Is it similar to a dugout? You can know that and more in the upcoming section. 

What does a dugout mean in baseball?

In the world of baseball, a dugout is simply a resting place for players and other authorized persons by the league. It is basically a bench where the baseball team players rest or wait when they are not playing on the field.

The baseball dugout is located between the third or the first base and the home plate. You will find it on the foul territory. Here, not only the players are granted access, others can sit too. However, these people have to be authorized by the league to gain access to the bench.

Players take shelter on the bench when the weather changes rapidly or doesn't permit the game to continue. When extreme thunder and lightning make it impossibly unsafe for the game to proceed, players use the bench to take some rest.

Moreover, it also acts as a storage area for the team. They can store any extra equipment pieces here. These include helmets, bats, gloves, catcher's gear, and more.

Apart from this, the dugout also plays another crucial role. From here, the coach and manager can use hand signals to communicate strategies to the players playing on the field. This gives players the opportunity to change tactics and win the game.

Are you wondering who is allowed to be on the bench when there is a match on the way? As per the major league baseball rule 3.17, managers, coaches, trainers, batboys, substitutes, and players have explicit permission to be on the bench when there is a game going on. 

Do the home team get any special advantage when choosing a dugout?

There are no specific rules in baseball that state the dugout position for the home team. Since no such regulations are published, it is decided between the two teams. However, the home team gets the advantage of choosing if they want to use the first base dugout or the third base one. 

The baseball dugout designs differ from stadium to stadium. Some have elongated wooden benches, while others come with a batting cage. However, there are cameras mounted around so that the crowd can have a view of what is happening in the dugout. 

Conclusion

In essence, the dugout is a bench where players can rest during the game. It can be composed of a wide variety of materials such as wood, aluminum alloy, etc. You can also opt for the one that offers protection against natural conditions. 

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