Injury timeout

[Hawks Coach]

If a player is up and walking, it is pretty simple. You can ask the player if they are able to continue, or if they need a sub. If they can't go on, you tell the coach he needs a sub and send the player to the bench. Coach should not need to come on the floor except when a player is down, in which case you bring appropriate attention to them rather than moving them. This player is moving, so she can move over to the bench.

It seems that you feel you have an overly sensitive player who might be using this as a ruse to help her team? Can't tell, but the way you phrased things led me to believe that. I have played against teams that we hurt all the time, in games that are far less physical than most we play or see in AAU. I have one player who is always the first to get hurt herself, although she only gets "injured" once every 3 games instead of three times in one game. Some players just can't handle the contact, especially in girls ball (although most of my players give and take in the physical department). But they do get better through time, and 7th grade still has many girls who have not dealt with this and will be hyper sensitive.

As for the T, I know that injuries will set coaches, players, and fans off more than anything else. I have more problems with my parents when kids get hurt than any other time (and none of them know about incidental contact!). I even had a problem on an intra-club scrimmage with one of my parents because her child got fouled hard by an aggressive player, who was not playing dirty and did not intend to hurt her. Having said all that, I didn't see it, wouldn't judge your call. In general, if you are inclined to give any leeway, this is the time for it. But if he is right in your face yelling, T him. If he is voicing his displeasure strongly, but not overly demonstrably or right in your face, you may want to warn him. Let him know that there are no injury TOs in basketball, player has to leave for a play, need a sub now! But I would never say you were wrong not having seen or heard it.

[Edited by Hawks Coach on Apr 30th, 2001 at 03:35 PM]