Hypothetical Question

[bigwhistle]

Larry,

The solution to your question that we give our young officials who run into this problem is to first see if there are any other adults associated with the team in question, be it parent or bus driver, who can sit on the bench and "supervise" the team.

If not, we approach the ejected coach and tell him/her that in order to not forfeit the game, the coach will be able to sit quietly in the bleachers and observe the conduct of the team, thereby "supervising" instead of coaching. The first time that the ejected coach interjects anything into the game, it is immediately ruled a forfeit.

Is this in any book? NO! However, especially at the lower levels, the kids need to play the game, and should not be penalized by the actions of the only adult with them.

I realize that many will not agree with this philosophy since the book says to remove the coach from the vicinity of the court, but then the kids are the losers.