Detroit Free Press article of interest...

[Rich]

Originally Posted by just another ref

I am not unsympathetic to the lady coach, but we have some sidelines around here that simply will not accommodate a wheelchair. It's a matter of physics.

As for the main issue, why does anybody have to "utilize the box?"
I can't see having both of them in it. She asked how many timeouts she had left and they gave the answer to her husband. This is a big problem?

Sounds like much ado about very little to me.

I'd just answer the assistant coach if an assistant asked. So obviously these officials were trying to make a point, which seems a bit disgusting to me.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I'd just answer the assistant coach if an assistant asked.

I would probably do the same. It could have been worse. If they were truly treating her as an assistant, some officials probably would not acknowledge her question at all.

[deecee]

Originally Posted by just another ref

I would probably do the same. It could have been worse. If they were truly treating her as an assistant, some officials probably would not acknowledge her question at all.

This always gets me. I try and treat everyone in a game that I officiate how I want to be treated. Its how they act that determines how I will be towards them. I will treat all coaches and players with the same respect that most officials only reserve for the HC and captains. Why does it have to be that way? If an assistant is acting cordial why just glance them over like they do not exist. That type of thinking only sets us back. Why should we punish others over past bad experiences with different people. SImple holding an assistant coach position does not make them useless, no matter how much we might joke about it.

[just another ref]

What could the husband do standing in the box that she couldn't do from the wheelchair?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by deecee

This always gets me. I try and treat everyone in a game that I officiate how I want to be treated. Its how they act that determines how I will be towards them. I will treat all coaches and players with the same respect that most officials only reserve for the HC and captains. Why does it have to be that way? If an assistant is acting cordial why just glance them over like they do not exist. That type of thinking only sets us back. Why should we punish others over past bad experiences with different people. SImple holding an assistant coach position does not make them useless, no matter how much we might joke about it.

I think this is an over-simplification of how many officials treat assistants. If assistants are clearly being helpful to their team I do not see many officials not talking to them. What often happens is that assistants want to argue situations or calls and that is not acceptable in my opinion. Or the assistant wants to talk when the head coach is talking directly to the officials. I do not know about you, but I am not going to have a two on one conversation when the head coach is the only person responsible for that information. I am not sure any of this took place here, but I do not know many officials simply dismissing assistants without some level of provocation.

Peace

[Adam]

There's a JV boys coach here in a wheel chair. His assistant does not stand, but the HC does not have a booming voice so timeout requests tend to get augmented in heated moments during the game. The only time I saw the assistant stand was when the HC was requesting a TO, AC stood up to mirror.

[Nevadaref]

I don't see why she can't be the HC. She can move about in front of the bench in her wheelchair as she pleases and request a time-out from it without any problem. There is absolutely no rule requiring a HC to be standing while requesting a time-out. While it may help an official observe the request because the person is more visible, that task can certainly be done from the a sitting position. One could claim that she would be at a small disadvantage in this situation, but then so would any HC who is short. Do we think that tall coaches have a significant advantage when they are standing up? I seriously doubt it.

Therefore, I have no problem with her being the HC. However, I would not allow her husband to also utilize the coaching box and request time-outs. One or the other gets those rights, and I don't care which, but not both.

Lastly, there is NO rule which states that an assistant coach cannot address the officials or ask questions during the game. I would answer any question that she posed.

[JLMatthew]

We have a local coach in a wheelchair. His assistants do not stand up...ever. He rolls around in his bench area. The times that he earns a technical, he goes to the end of the bench and sets his brake. When he wants a time-out, his assistants call for one with him- while seated- and he has his players trained to ask for one if we don't see him. We have never had a problem with this. All it takes is a little common sense.