Who should call the timeout.

[so cal lurker]

Originally Posted by Dad

This isn't a reason to change a pivotal role coaches play in coaching their team. If a crew messes this up, which I've seen to be extremely rare, it's not a basis for completely changing the game.

Coaches were quite able to coach when I played and they had to tell us to call the TO. Indeed, it even meant they had to teach us when we would want time outs, when we should call them on our own, etc. IMO, granting the coaches the right to request time outs during play was one of the dumbest "innovations" ever added to the game (I'd add the possession arrow, too, except for middle school and below . . .) and increases the view that the game is about the coaches. The coach requesting the TO directly isn't about coaching, its about the coach wanting to be involved in play. Really, really stupid. Coaches should be coaching -- that is TEACHING -- the players what to do, not doing it for them.

I didn't say the scenario presented is the reason coaches shouldn't be allowed to request time outs, but it is an example of distracting referees by making them divert attention off the court to accommodate the coach. Eliminating the stupid rule change is not "completely changing the game," it is returning the game to where it belongs.

YMMV.