Injury Situation

[Nevadaref]

Clearly, I'm glad to hear the we are in agreement on the big stuff. There have been too many athletes dying in the past few years while competing. You've seen the same news stories.
However, you're right that I took a much smaller issue and extended it.

So, I'm going go back to some very specific comments in the original post and give my thoughts.

"player who is visibly hobbling on the court and clearly in a bit of pain (he's practically hopping on one leg up and down the court"

If he is hopping on one leg and can't run, I'm stopping the game within the provisions of 5-8-2 NOTE.
I'm going to have a quick word with him, but I am going to make the determination of whether not he is "injured." If he can jog or "run it off" after a few seconds, then I'm not going to direct him to leave.

"he [the player] said yes, but I wasn't convinced" If I'm not convinced, then the coach/trainer is getting beckoned onto the court. Now the kid is going to get some assistance and short break whether that comes from a substitution or a time-out.

"My question is basically, what more can I do in this situation?"
"the coach who willingly chose to play an injured player"

He now asked what else could he have done with this kid who in his words is "an injured player."
I'm advising him to stop the game and beckon the coach onto the floor. As I said above, that gets the kid a moment. Perhaps that is all he needs to convince you that he is not injured, but only has some minor temporary problem, but it sounds like you had a genuine concern. At the minimum, I believe you should stop the action.

If the coach isn't using good judgment in looking out for the safety of a kid, then I am of the opinion that as another adult and in my role as a game official, I should.
I'm not allowing an injured player to participate. Who decides if the kid is injured? My answer is the official, not the player, not the coach.
It is their job to aleviate my concerns for the kid.
As I wrote above player safety is the #1 issue.
That's just my opinion. Take from it what you wish.

[Edited by Nevadaref on Dec 16th, 2005 at 09:20 AM]