"It's Rule 7-1-1, Coach!"

[rainmaker]

I have found this "ploy" of quoting rule numbers very, very effective in shutting coaches up. I have about four numbers that I use for most occasions, and when in doubt, I quote rule 4-point-something. I suppose an attentive coach such as Hawks Coach would not be silenced by this, since he probably knows the book better than I do. But most of the coaches I deal with don't have a clue and are useing the rules that were in effect as they understood them when they played, with whatever modifications they think they have seen on TV. Quoting a rule puts them at their weakest!

I did have one coach who stood up to me briefly. About two plays after I had given him a rule number he shouted sarcastically, "I suppose that play is covered in rule 17!" I said, "No, actually, travelling is rule 4.32." I was off by a couple, but I didn't hear one more word out of him for the rest of the game.

I wonder if this will work at higher levels? What level were you working?