Alright, let’s talk about the baseball coach’s bucket. Sounds simple, right? It’s just a bucket. But man, if you’ve ever coached, you know this thing becomes like an extension of your arm, your mobile office, your everything.
My Old Bucket Saga
For years, I just used whatever old thing I could find. Usually some paint bucket that was lying around. And it was fine, mostly. But then you start thinking, “There’s gotta be a better way.” My back would hurt from lugging it, balls would spill, clipboard would get soaked if it rained. You know the drill.
So, I decided I needed an upgrade. Or at least, a system. I went online, saw all these fancy padded seat buckets, ones with a million pockets. Looked great. Pricey, though. And I’m thinking, “It’s still just a bucket to hold baseballs, mostly.”
The Grand Experiment Phase
First, I tried to pimp my old bucket. I got some foam padding from a craft store, tried to glue it to the lid for a seat. Looked awful, and the glue gave out after like, two practices in the sun. Total fail.
Then I thought about dividers. “I’ll keep my first aid kit separate! My drill sheets dry!” I tried cutting up some cardboard. That lasted until the first bit of moisture hit it. Then I tried some plastic inserts. They just rattled around and made it harder to get the balls out fast during drills.
- Attempt 1: Fancy padded seat. Result: Uncomfortable, fell apart.
- Attempt 2: Internal organizers. Result: More hassle than they were worth.
Getting Real with the Bucket
What I quickly learned, or re-learned, was that practice is messy. You’re grabbing balls, you’re throwing them, they’re getting muddy, kids are kicking the bucket over. All those neat little organization ideas? They just don’t survive contact with actual baseball practice, especially with younger kids.
I needed something tough, simple, and something I wouldn’t cry over if it got another dent or covered in mud. The fancy ones suddenly seemed less appealing. Too much to worry about, you know?
What I Actually Do Now
So, here’s my “practice record” of what finally stuck. I got a sturdy, standard six-gallon bucket. The kind you can get at any hardware store. The key was the lid. I made sure to get one with a good, snap-on lid that I could actually sit on without it caving in immediately. Some are better than others, you just gotta check ’em.
For “organization”? I have a separate, small waterproof pouch that I toss in there with my phone, keys, and a pen. That’s it. Everything else – balls, a few spare cones, maybe a rag – just gets dumped in. If I need a clipboard, I carry it separately or tuck it under my arm. It’s just easier.
The biggest “hack” I found was just having two of these simple buckets. One for game balls or specific drill balls, and one for the general batting practice beaters. And I make the kids help carry them. Shocking, I know.
It’s not revolutionary. It’s not going to win any design awards. But it works. It’s cheap to replace. And I spend less time messing with my bucket and more time actually coaching. Sometimes the simplest way really is the best, even if it takes a few silly experiments to get back to it. That’s my bucket story, anyway.
