thrown ball hit coaches/bucket

Question
ASA:

A bucket that coaches sit near outside of the dugout.

Is a bucket not part of the field? Is the thrown ball hit the offensive
team bucket. Blocked ball?

What about if it hit the defensive team bucket?

What about If the thrown ball hit the coaches by the dugout. What is the ruling?


Answer
Hi Randy,

I've got to tell you this is a new one, I've never heard of or seen this before...sitting on a bucket????

Ok, I'm not going to allow this in my game.  No way any coach is going to sit anywhere in live ball territory on anything unless they are under ADA and then it's going to be a wheelchair or similar aide.

No way we're going to have a bucket of balls on the field either.

There is no reason for a defensive coach to be outside the dugout or team area unless they have "time" for a defensive conference or they want to talk to an umpire during time.

There is no reason for an offensive coach to be anywhere outside the dugout or team area except in the coaches box, and they better be standing up.  No buckets are allowed in the coaches box.

There is no reason for another offensive coach to be outside the dugout or team area unless they have "time" for a offensive conference or they want to talk to an umpire during time.

But we do have some rules to handle it

Thrown ball hitting the offensive bucket...we have either a blocked ball or could be interference depending on the situation.

Thrown ball hitting the defensive bucket...blocked ball

Thrown ball hitting a 1st or 3rd base coach in foul territory who is in or near the coaches box and they do not intentionally interfere...nothing

Thrown ball hitting a offensive coach whose's just hanging around outside the dugout...blocked ball in most cases but could also be interference depending on the scenario.

Thrown ball hitting a defensive coach whose's just hanging around outside the dugout....blocked ball.

Mark

ps...thanks for one of the most unusual questions I've ever received