| If you have a son or daughter playing baseball or | | | | coaches. |
| softball then you probably have noticed the chaos | | | | If players are taught how to keep the dugout |
| that ensues in the team's dugout. Most ball field | | | | organized then the end result is that their |
| complexes consist mainly of fences and benches. | | | | equipment will be treated better. Players will |
| The few types of dugout organizers that exist | | | | respect one another's equipment if it is placed in |
| are easily damaged or just hold one equipment | | | | the same spot all the time in the dugout. An |
| item such as bats. So there often is no place for | | | | organized dugout enables the players to help each |
| the players to put their equipment. A lot of young | | | | other at the end of an inning by finding the |
| players carry very simple bat bags to their | | | | player's hat and glove to bring out to him or her |
| games and hang them on the fence but once the | | | | on the field - otherwise referred to as "picking |
| players take their stuff out of their bags it | | | | him/her up." |
| doesn't go back in until the end of the game. In | | | | The third benefit of an organized dugout is that it |
| these instances, players typically just toss their | | | | minimizes risk. The risk of injury is minimized by |
| gloves and hats about the dugout and they often | | | | fewer things being thrown around on the ground |
| end up on the ground where they can get | | | | where a player can easily trip on something like a |
| stepped on. As well, bats are leaned up against | | | | bat. The risk of a player losing equipment is also |
| the fence and regularly also end up on the ground | | | | reduced because if a team is taught how to keep |
| where they get kicked and stepped on. | | | | their dugout organized then they are more likely |
| When a dugout is unorganized, the players spend | | | | to know where each other's things are located. |
| a lot of time trying to find their things. In the | | | | It is challenging to teach young boys and girls how |
| absence of any type of dugout organizer | | | | to take care of their baseball or softball |
| equipment, a coach should take the time to teach | | | | equipment. Their mindset is that they are there to |
| his players how to keep their team's dugout | | | | play a game and have fun. Unfortunately this |
| organized. Coaches should explain to the players | | | | results in a dugout that is not organized and the |
| that they should put their gloves, hats and | | | | wasting of a lot of time by players looking for |
| helmets in the same place all the time. If players | | | | their hat, gloves and helmets. To help make their |
| do this then they will know where their things are | | | | team run smoothly, baseball and softball coaches |
| and can then focus more on the game and the | | | | should spend some practice time teaching their |
| coaching and strategy being provided by the | | | | players about keeping their dugout organized. |