Big Mistake.

Any coach can attend a rules meeting. All that is required is a representative is supposed to attend a rules meeting every year or suffer some consequences by either being put on probations or possibly suspended from post season (I do not know the process, I just know there are consequences). Technically there does not have to be a coach that attends the rules meetings. It could be an AD. Usually the schools send the Freshman B coach that has never coached a day in his life and reports (supposed to) to the school what they heard. Many times they never say anything to the varsity coaches because when either my partners or I make a call based on a new rule it is not unusual for the coach to say, "I did not hear of that."

Peace

Where in Virginia do you officiate???

Wow...I coach on the JV level and make a whopping 5% of my salary....ends up being about 2000. I had open gym this season from early October to November 14, 2 days a week. Then season goes from Nov.14 to Feb. 8. Thats a lot of work for $2000. I definetly do it for the love of the kids and the game.

Thanks JRut for filling my gaps in. Around here, most of the varsity coaches are in attendence. But, I highly doubt they pay that much attention, they are just there to be there and fill out their attendence form.

A lot of the good varsity coaches attend the rules meetings in my area. There are just more varsity coaches that do not. I would think all coaches would want to attend those meetings, but I wish I had a penny for every time a coach said, "I never heard of that rule," even when the rule is was the main thing talked about at these meetings.

I thought coaches would be clueless about the team control foul and the coaching box, but the word must have gotten out better this year.

Peace

I tend to agree that the better coaches do have a pretty good grasp of the rules. I know it makes me more effective as a coach. Although knowledge of the rules doesn't cure "coaching eyesight." Most of my questions now revolve around what was seen.

My good friend who officiates some college level games as well as a lot of High School games has now elevated me to the status of "Pain in the a$$", which is a big promotion from "Ignorant pain in the a$$." ;) Actually, I've gotten very polite in the last ten or so years since I decided to get a good grip on the rules.

Oddly enough, if you ask the officials 'round here which games they want to work, almost all will steer clear of games in which the coaches are also known officials. Why is that?

Because NOW they have the best vantage point to see all the calls that should or should not be made.

According to an individual from the VHSL office, the only requirement is for "someone" from the school to attend the clinic. It isn't required that each and every coach attend and actually doesn't have to be the coach. I think this usually falls to the most junior coach.

That's because the "Senior" coaches ALREADY know the rules. ;)

http://bestsmileys.com/lol/1.gif Good one!