substitutes Continually Pulled Back From Table
 

Boys V game last night. Coach would have substitutes ready at the table but at the next clock stopped dead ball he would pull them back to the bench. This went on until my partner warned him the next time would be a T. He did not do it after the warning. I don't think by rule we could have issued a T for this. Thoughts/comments?

I would just issue a delay of game warning here.

For what? You can't just make stuff up on this.
There's nothing you can do.

depends - if the horn is continually sounding at the D ball - and then he pulls them back - and this keeps reoccurring - then you might construe it as making a travesty of the game in which case you could T. Notice I didn't say "should" before attacking this. If the table is not sounding the horn and players are pulled back quietly and game continues at normal pace - I got nothin.

If it was a continuous nuisance, it fits the unsportsmanlike behavior model, IMO; but it would have to be frequent before I'd do anything. If you do anything, do as the OP's partner did; warn first. Just don't think it's a D.O.G. warning because it's not.

It would take more than just frequent to get me to address this sitch. If a coach wants to over-coach, that is his business. As Snaq indicated concerning the DOG, there is no rules basis to address this other than unsportsmanlike behavior. A coach would have to do more than change his mind frequently for me to consider it unsportsmanlike.

I would let it happen only about 3 times in a row, then give a warning for making a travesty of the game. The warning makes it clear that although we don't know what is in his mind, and therefore can't prove intent, we are clarifying what our interpretation is of the actions that he's committing.

There's no rules basis for one of those regular delays of game here.

When I say frequent, I mean virtually every dead ball. My guess is he's trying to get his defense set up this way.

I would just be an a$$ and when the coach really wanted a sub to come in I would put the ball in play really fast.

I agree with this -- this has never been an issue and I cannot imagine it happening more than a handful of times in a game ever. But why cant you call a delay of game because he is preventing you from putting the ball in play in a timely manner.

Because DOG warnings are expressly laid out in the rule book and require a T upon the 2nd infraction.

I believe it is because the DOG rule specifically lists the actions that must be done to issue the DOG. The OP situation isn't one of them.

That is true. I guess I will not go with the delay. I will just put the ball in play quickly when he might have an actual sub and hopefully he will get the message.

Do you not think a quick and friendly conversation is more worthwhile?

If that's your call, you go straight to the T. You can't issue a D.O.G. warning, though, because there are only 4 situations that call for that by rule. And if you issue a coach a D.O.G. warning for this, then turn around and call his team for a T the first time they reach across the plane late in the game; he's gonna rightly wonder why. Good luck explaining that one.

If one reads the NFHS Basketball Handbook, which has been published for over fifty (50) years, there is an obscure passage has this play situation (and I am paraphrasing here):

PLAY: A1 has reported to the Scorer. At the next the opportunity for a substitute to enter the covering official beckons A1 into the game; A1 ignores the offical and does not leave his position in front of the Scorer's/Timer's Table. RULING: This is a technical foul charge to A1 delay of game.

I do not agree with this ruling because I do not believe it fits the definition in Rule 10 for a delay of game by a player. I believe the best way to handle this situation is to ask beckon once and then put the ball into play and make A1 wait until the next opportunity to substitute.

How does this play and its questionable ruling apply to this situation? I am not sure, but I feel that if the coach pulls the substitute back, put the ball into play and get the game going.

MTD, Sr.

Usually yes but sometimes no.

That sounds fine to me.

I remewber this happening when I was in high school during a JV game prior to our (varsity) game. The visitn gcoach would send a sub to the table, and then pull him back.

I seme to recall that the official said if we buzzed the horn for himprior to the coach telling him to come back, the sub had to enter. Of course, I'm not sure if that's actually supported under NFHS rules. ;)

I don't like that one case play either. If you had an OOO, he or she could call a T on just about every substitute in the lower levels since many subs in youth-level ball need a "friendly nudge" to get them to enter after being beckoned. :D

I tend to like this method other than what the ensuing conversation might be like.

"hey i had a sub there!"
"oh i'm sorry coach, I thought u were going to pull him back as well, we'll get him next time!"

hopefully he'll get the point.

If the coach has pulled them back, then they aren't officially at the table, and thus not allowed to enter....If they enter from the bench, without reporting, then you have a T situation.....Right?