Quick Q...5 Players?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I'm leaning towards the theory of "If the coach says he isn't available, he isn't available."

Good theory. Nowadays, anybody can sue anybody for just about any reason, and even if you're in the right, you still have to hire a lawyer.

Coach: "He's unavailable".
Official: "You need five out here".
Several seconds later:
Player: "Ouch, I broke my ankle"
Several days later:
County Sheriff: "You've been served".

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Good theory. Nowadays, anybody can sue anybody for just about any reason, and even if you're in the right, you still have to hire a lawyer.

Coach: "He's unavailable".
Official: "You need five out here".
Several seconds later:
Player: "Ouch, I broke my ankle"
Several days later:
County Sheriff: "You've been served".

Although you can be sued for anything, a lawsuit against an official who enforced the rules within reason ain't going anywhere.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Although you can be sued for anything, a lawsuit against an official who enforced the rules within reason ain't going anywhere.

I agree. If the coach doesn't say the player is hurt, you're not responsible.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I agree. If the coach doesn't say the player is hurt, you're not responsible.

Common sense would tell me the same thing. But will the same conclusion be drawn by a parent out for a big payday, a parent's attorney who's out for a big fee, or a school's attorney trying to avoid liability.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I'm leaning towards the theory of "If the coach says he isn't available, he isn't available."

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I agree. If the coach doesn't say the player is hurt, you're not responsible.

Then why your theory?

[BillyMac]

Similar situation:

For whatever reason, illness, injuries, disqualifications, ejections, very late, in a close game, a team is down to four players, however, there is one player, way down on the end of the bench, in uniform, who's, for whatever reason, name, and number were not in the book at the beginning of the game, unnoticed by the officials, and unknown to the coach, until he sends him to the table to sub in as the fifth player, when the scorekeeper announces to the coaches, and officials, "He's not in the book". The coach, whose team has the ball for the next throwin, considers the advantage of having a fifth player, versus, the disadvantage of adding a name, and number, to the book, earning a technical foul, losing the ball, the opponent getting two free throws, and the ball back. Can the coach refuse to sub him in for the reasons above? If not, can the coach just say, as in previous posts, "He's not available."?

[eyezen]

Calm down Chicken Little's! No one is going to get sued here, but if the helos are sueing anybody it would be the coach for not letting Johnny play when he is eligible to play, is not hurt, and by rule has to. Not to mention the lost scholarship at a D-1 University.

[refnrev]

Originally Posted by eyezen

Calm down Chicken Little's! No one is going to get sued here, but if the helos are sueing anybody it would be the coach for not letting Johnny play when he is eligible to play, is not hurt, and by rule has to. Not to mention the lost scholarship at a D-1 University.

_________
You left out the multi-million dollar signing bonus when he goes to the NBA.

[Oz Referee]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Similar situation:

For whatever reason, illness, injuries, disqualifications, ejections, very late, in a close game, a team is down to four players, however, there is one player, way down on the end of the bench, in uniform, who's, for whatever reason, name, and number were not in the book at the beginning of the game, unnoticed by the officials, and unknown to the coach, until he sends him to the table to sub in as the fifth player, when the scorekeeper announces to the coaches, and officials, "He's not in the book". The coach, whose team has the ball for the next throwin, considers the advantage of having a fifth player, versus, the disadvantage of adding a name, and number, to the book, earning a technical foul, losing the ball, the opponent getting two free throws, and the ball back. Can the coach refuse to sub him in for the reasons above? If not, can the coach just say, as in previous posts, "He's not available."?

IMHO - If he's not in the book, then he's not a player, therefore the coach can choose not to sub him in (and thus prevent earning a technical foul).

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by Oz Referee

IMHO - If he's not in the book, then he's not a player, therefore the coach can choose not to sub him in (and thus prevent earning a technical foul).

Coach can add anyone to the book at any time for the cost of a technical foul.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Oz Referee

IMHO - If he's not in the book, then he's not a player, therefore the coach can choose not to sub him in (and thus prevent earning a technical foul).

Correct, he's not a player, but:

4-34-4: A team member is a member of bench personnel who is in uniform
and is eligible to become a player

Not to argue, just want to make you go hmmm...

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

there is one player, way down on the end of the bench, in uniform, who's, for whatever reason, name, and number were not in the book at the beginning of the game, unnoticed by the officials, and unknown to the coach, until he sends him to the table to sub in as the fifth player, when the scorekeeper announces to the coaches, and officials, "He's not in the book". The coach, whose team has the ball for the next throwin, considers the advantage of having a fifth player, versus, the disadvantage of adding a name, and number, to the book, earning a technical foul, losing the ball, the opponent getting two free throws, and the ball back. Can the coach refuse to sub him in for the reasons above? If not, can the coach just say, as in previous posts, "He's not available."?

He can sit there on the bench and it's ok with me. "He's our mascot," or whatever. But once he gets to the table, it's too late to say he's not available.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Then why your theory?

It has nothing to do with legality and lawsuits and everything to do with wanting to stay out of the drama.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Although you can be sued for anything, a lawsuit against an official who enforced the rules within reason ain't going anywhere.

Correct. But you still have to hire a lawyer. Hopefully the insurance that your local, or state, board carries, includes liability, and attorney fee coverage. In fact, once a parent finds out you have liability coverage, that may increase the chance that you'll get sued, possibly offering a bigger payday.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Correct. But you still have to hire a lawyer. Hopefully the insurance that your local, or state, board carries, includes liability, and attorney fee coverage. In fact, once a parent finds out you have liability coverage, that may increase the chance that you'll get sued, possibly offering a bigger payday.

Just tell the parent that if their kid ever wants to get a call again, they'd better just drop it.