Mind your own business?

[just another ref]

I think the coaches would all be upset if their right to make the timeout request was taken away, but, as in this case, the rule sometimes blows up in their faces. Some players now do not seem to even know that they can request the timeout, or at least they have never had a reason to do so.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Some players now do not seem to even know that they can request the timeout, or at least they have never had a reason to do so.

Concur. At the levels I coach/ref, I believe a player who actually calls a timeout when in trouble (scrum on floor, trapped in the corner) is more schooled and understands the game a bit more than his peers - maybe it's just me.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by just another ref

I think the coaches would all be upset if their right to make the timeout request was taken away, but, as in this case, the rule sometimes blows up in their faces. Some players now do not seem to even know that they can request the timeout, or at least they have never had a reason to do so.

I wonder if this isn't coached to some degree. Coach wants to maintain complete control of his timeouts.