- - - - - - - - - - - - - Hi Ryan, Here are some pointers about building a dugout: Make them at least 20 feet long, 30 is better if you have the room.
Make them 6 feet wide if you can.
Make the doorway 3 feet wide if you can.
Make them at least 8 feet high if you can. Many dugouts are smaller, but it gets way to crammy with 14 players, their equipment, the team equipment, and a couple coachesif the dugout is smaller. This what what I've seen work best. Use chain link fencing. Dugout seats are best if they have backs. Use a rotohammer to screw bolts into the concrete floor. Re: sunken dugouts... there is a move away from building a dugout like this due to needs to comply with ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act. Many sunken dugouts at the high school and college level are being replaced with field level access. Costs to fix things like this run $40-90 thousand. So, I'd be sure about the sunken approach if you go that way. In addition, with the sunken dugout you need drainage also. Use smooth piping, not corrogated drain piping. Water stands in the corragated and will stink to high heaven until you replace it. Check these diagrams to see approximate specs when building a dugout. Hope this helps with your dugout plans. Glad to hear the website ideas are helpful for you.
Have a great spring season! Yours for better play more often, J. Reiner
Jim Reiner
Publisher, Editor, & Groundskeeper
The Ultimate Baseball Field Renovation Guide | 
