30 second time out
 

During a 30 second time out, bench personnel are allowed to stand and participate, correct? The 5 players and the head coach are not the only ones allowed to be in this time out huddle, correct?:confused:

The players must indeed remain standing. I don't believe there's any rule that says bench personnel must remain seated.

Yes

I was told that since rule 5-11-3 states that "players" must remain standing and that bench personnel are not players then bench personnel are not allowed to stand in the time out huddle on a 30. They and all assistant coaches must remain seated and not participate in the time out. Has anyone else ever heard this or enforce it this way?

What you were told is incorrect. There was an NFHS clarification a few years ago which addressed this point and stated that all team members and coaches could stand and participate in the time-out as instruction and information relevant to all of them is being provided during this time.
Also, the rule requiring bench personnel to be seated during the game is not in force during time-outs and intermissions.

That is what I told the official. He was adamant about the fact that he was right. I asked him if he was right then why was no one doing it that way and why had the state or federation not made it a POE to do it his way. Thanks for letting me know I am not losing my mind

In general, if a rule doesn't make something illegal, it is legal.

Since this rule is silent with respect to bench personnel, it has no impact on what they may or may not do. Bench personnel are then only limited to what they are permitted to do in any timeout (30 or 60). And that means they may stand and be in the huddle.

The point about the rule in question is to keep the players ready to return to the court more quickly. That's it.

Agreed. I stated the idea of that unless something is specifically stated as illegal then it was legal. How do you get someone that is so adamant about being right to see the light?

You need to have someone who this individual respects as a rules guru to tell him

We had got an interpretation from the Head Clinician for our state and showed it to him and he said that he was wrong. He is going to contact the state and federation headquarters and tell them they are wrong.:eek:

Show him the rule book? If that doesnt work, ask him to write his own.

Let's Go To The Videotape ...
 

Mythbusters ...
 

This myth was making its way around my little corner of Connecticut several years ago. Our interpreter put the kibosh on it right away.

He was shown the rule book. He was shown the interpretation from our State association. He refuses to believe he is wrong. He believes that all of the rest of us are in the wrong. I am done trying to explain it to him. What is even scarier is that he works small college games.:(

Todd,

What part of the country are you in......

Here is the NFHS clarification on this.
Actually published way back in the 2001-02 Comments on the Rules Revisions. It was longer ago than I thought. That was the year that the NFHS added the requirement that players must remain standing during a 30-second time-out.


REQUIREMENT TO STAND DURING 30-SECOND TIME-OUT (5-12-5):
To clarify and ensure consistent interpretation, during a 30-second time-out, players shall remain standing and on the floor in the vicinity of their team bench. Additional discussion reflected concerns about some states not enforcing the 'no cheerleaders' on the floor during a 30-second time-out and whether or not substitutes should be permitted to join the conference with the coach(es) and players. Because of instructions that may be given, the interpretation has been that team substitutes should be able to participate in the time-out meeting.
A reminder that teams must be prepared and leave the huddle when the 10-second warning signal is sounded.

*Note the warning signal was changed to 15 seconds prior to the end of the time-out period in the 2007-08 season.

You can print the above passage from the NFHS.
You can strive to find an old NFHS Rules Book from 2001-02 and show it to him.
You can let him continue to do as he wishes and just ignore him.
Some might even ask the assignor not to put him with them in the future because this guy just won't listen to reason.

Illinois

Thank you NevedaRef. Hopefully this will do the trick.

#ThereWasAnAttempt