2017-18 NFHS Interpretations, Pt.2

[Scratch85]

Originally Posted by Freddy

SITUATION 14: During a live ball, the assistant coach is off the bench and out of the coaching box giving instructions to a player on the court. RULING: The official should rule a technical on the assistant coach for being off the bench and out of the coaching box. (4-48)

Until I read this, I thought I had this in perspective. I have often addressed a HC about an AC's actions, including varying degrees of the above offense.

This interp makes it appear this is a Major offense of 10-5-2 and/or 10/5/4, since those are "warnable" offenses. Do you think it is the "out of the coaching box" that makes this a T?

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by Scratch85

Until I read this, I thought I had this in perspective. I have often addressed a HC about an AC's actions, including varying degrees of the above offense.

This interp makes it appear this is a Major offense of 10-5-2 and/or 10/5/4, since those are "warnable" offenses. Do you think it is the "out of the coaching box" that makes this a T?

Assistant coaches don't get warnings.

[Scratch85]

Originally Posted by Smitty

Assistant coaches don't get warnings.

According to 10-5-1a,b,d,e,f,2&4, officials shall warn the head coach unless the offense is judged to be major. Guess I need to step up my game.

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by Scratch85

According to 10-5-1a,b,d,e,f,2&4, officials shall warn the head coach unless the offense is judged to be major. Guess I need to step up my game.

The situation you referenced was specifically about what the assistant coach was doing, and the new rule specifically says that assistant coaches do not get the courtesy of a warning. So if the assistant coach is misbehaving, and you need to punish him for it, the new official warning is not an option.

[Scratch85]

Originally Posted by Smitty

the new rule specifically says that assistant coaches do not get the courtesy of a warning.

Is that derived from the interp or is it written somewhere that I missed?

[Smitty]

Originally Posted by Scratch85

Is that derived from the interp or is it written somewhere that I missed?

I stand corrected - apparently based on some of the situations from the handout they are also allowing warnings for bench personnel. That's cute. Here in Texas we only give official warnings to head coaches. Assistant coaches and other bench personnel don't get afforded that courtesy. Sorry for the confusion.

[IncorrectCall]

NFHS should go with NCAA on this one..


Book warnings are for "coaching" outside of the coaching box.

All other warnings (quiet word, public hand, etc) should not come in the form of game stoppages or book warnings.

If it's not bad, diffuse it - if it's bad, whack.