Detroit Free Press article of interest...

[zebra44]

From Mick and I's neck of the woods........
St. Ignace coach wins box battle | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

[deecee]

Sorry to read that it went down that way but I do side with the coach and it was unfortunate it came to what it did.

Before any of you cite the rules, let me be blunt. In this instance I will go by the spirit any day over the letter.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by deecee

Sorry to read that it went down that way but I do side with the coach and it was unfortunate it came to what it did.

Before any of you cite the rules, let me be blunt. In this instance I will go by the spirit any day over the letter.

Me too, but to be honest, the comment in the article about the occasional official or player tripping over the wheelchair makes me cringe.

[LDUB]

I don't like it. I don't like the idea of someone other than the head coach being allowed to stand. Dealing with timeout requests from coaches are hard enough; having an assistant standing with the head coach requesting timeouts while sitting would only make it harder.

If this lady wants someone else to stand then that is fine with me, but the other guy who stands gets all the other duties of the head coach as well including requesting timeouts, verifying that his players are properly equipped, being responsible for bench personal, and very importantly dealing with the officials.... If the school wants to hire the lady as the head coach and list her as the head coach on the team roster they can do that as being the head coach does not require the use of the coaching box.

[GoodwillRef]

Originally Posted by LDUB

I don't like it. I don't like the idea of someone other than the head coach being allowed to stand. Dealing with timeout requests from coaches are hard enough; having an assistant standing with the head coach requesting timeouts while sitting would only make it harder.

If this lady wants someone else to stand then that is fine with me, but the other guy who stands gets all the other duties of the head coach as well including requesting timeouts, verifying that his players are properly equipped, being responsible for bench personal, and very importantly dealing with the officials.... If the school wants to hire the lady as the head coach and list her as the head coach on the team roster they can do that as being the head coach does not require the use of the coaching box.

Wow! Do you have a heart? This is such a minor issue and you go on a rant like someone shot your dog.

[26 Year Gap]

I have had the occasion to officiate for a JV coach in a wheelchair on numerous occasions. He also has coach AAU. Had problems with the AC in one game on the other team. Told that he would need to stay seated, he started whining about back problems. I glanced over to the other bench, and he shut up. He later got a T, though.

Obviously the concern of the officials may have been "What about the other team's AC?" To that I would probably address that in the pre-game and get the opponents on the same page. "The AC will stand in order to request timeouts. Do you have an issue with that?" All other coaching duties can remain with the HC in the wheelchair. That is what 2-3 is for. Nowhere in the rules is there something that deals with a HC confined to a wheelchair. Too bad it had to come to a ruling issued by the state when common sense could have prevailed.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by LDUB

.... If the school wants to hire the lady as the head coach and list her as the head coach on the team roster they can do that as being the head coach does not require the use of the coaching box.

She was the HC before becoming paralyzed. She retained her job after the surgical accident as she rightfully should have been allowed to do. Being a HC doesn't require the use of legs. The Michigan High School Athletic Association has provided the necessary guidance to handle the situation.

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

I agree with everything that Nevada said. There is no reason for the MichiganHSAA to make the stupid ruling that it did in otherwords logic was not used when finding a solution or a ruling.

What's so stupid about the ruling? The AC gets to stand to coach the kids. He gets no other HC privileges.

I just had a game in which the HC was in the wheelchair. The coaches in her conference and district have gotten used to it, and they were of no opposition when she requested that her AC would stand and request the timeout when they wanted to request one. We three officials had no problem with it either. Of course, I had no problems with making whatever accomodations because I am a person covered under the ADA as well, and I don't think my partners wanted to mess around on that topic (because they know very well that lecturing about the rights and privileges covered under the ADA is part of my day job!).

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

She was the HC before becoming paralyzed. She retained her job after the surgical accident as she rightfully should have been allowed to do. Being a HC doesn't require the use of legs. The Michigan High School Athletic Association has provided the necessary guidance to handle the situation.



What's so stupid about the ruling? The AC gets to stand to coach the kids. He gets no other HC privileges.

Read my post completely and some of the others who have posted who, like me, have officiated games where one of the teams was coached by a HC in a wheel chair. The HC in the wheel chair was able to do his job without any special considerations. I am going to catch a hell of a lot a heat for my next comment and that is this: Of all of the HC's in wheel chairs, it was only HC of the female persuasion that complained she couldn't do her job and needed an AC to stand. I am not condoning the unprofessional conduct of the officials in her game, but if other HC's in wheel chairs can do their job without special considerations, so can she.

MTD, Sr.

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

What's so stupid about the ruling? The AC gets to stand to coach the kids. He gets no other HC privileges.

Assistants do not get to stand. The head coach can use the box if he wishes. If this lady who can't walk wants someone else to stand then that person must be the official head coach. The lady can still be listed as the head coach on the roster and she can still make all the decisions and stuff.

This is all caused by some wheelchair using lady wanting to complain. She can be in the box in her wheelchair. She can sit on the bench and never use the box. Both of those are fine options for her. If she wants someone else to use the box then that guy is the head coach.

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Me too, but to be honest, the comment in the article about the occasional official or player tripping over the wheelchair makes me cringe.

At the pro summer league I did stats for in 2006 & 2007, one of the coaches now has to use a wheelchair and nobody gave him any trouble over it. And the sidleines in that gym have veryt tight clearance. Of course, the fact that the local official assignor also runs this league might also have a role in how the officials handle this, too

[zebra44]

There's a very good chance that I will work for this coach in the Regional Final that I have been assigned. I am anxious to read the thoughts on this matter.

[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.

[mick]

Originally Posted by zebra44

There's a very good chance that I will work for this coach in the Regional Final that I have been assigned. I am anxious to read the thoughts on this matter.

zebra44,
Looks simple enough to follow Uyl's rules.
Congratulations on the Regional final.
Have fun with it.

[Amesman]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Me too, but to be honest, the comment in the article about the occasional official or player tripping over the wheelchair makes me cringe.

I'm with Rich here. Having had a father in a wheelchair for many years, there is no way I'd want that thing too close to a sideline, especially if it juts out from a standard bleacher seat or chair line. This could be a heckuvan injury waiting to happen (player, official and coach herself alike).

The "Who gets to call timeout?/Who's in the box?" questions are no-brainers. You have somebody with a severe physical handicap and you make reasonable accommodations for it (hello, Americans with Disabilities Act).

But back to the wheelchair. The coach's chair should be mandated to be flush with any other chair/seating line (including wooden bleacher seats). If necessary, she can sit on said bleacher. Collapse the wheelchair into the space next to or behind her. It shouldn't be a major problem to pop it out for any "traveling" needs (i.e. to the locker room, restroom, etc.). Her players can come to her during the game. That would be sensible accommodation on her part (especially after she's been given due consideration, as mentioned in the previous paragraph).