Pre-Game talk

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally posted by Mark Dexter

I don't want to open this can of worms, but . . .

3-1 states that the captains are the representatives of their teams. How, from that, do you get your expanded responsibilities above - of being in charge of other players, subs, coaches???

You are absolutely correct that the captians are their teams representatives.

Historically, the captian is the responsible person for the team. Prior to the early 1950's the teams huddled on the court game during timeouts and the intermission between the first and second, and third and fourth quarters. During these stoppages of play, the only way a coach could communicate with his players was to send in a substitute. The only time that a coach could communicate directly with his team was at halftime.

Coaches are mentioned in the rules only in relation to requesting team timeouts, requesting timeouts for correctable errors, choosing who shoots technical free throws, being responsible for bench personnel, and properly equiped player, and all of these are relatively new (within the last forty years or so) additions to the rules.

MTD, Sr.