Assistant Coach to the Table

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

1) They don't. They lump the head coach in with his assistants and just call them "coaches". NFHS rule 4-34-2. The head coach is identified and differentiated in other rules.

2) Ask pre-game who the head coach is and then ask him to identify his assistant coaches.

I respectfully disagree with your approach...not because I don't believe your point has validity, but out of a combination of lack of clarity in role definitions and practicality.

1. It certainly doesn't define coaches in 4-34-2, it only states that "coaches" may exist. (We all obviously agree, though the roles are not always clearly defined on a team...a person may play multiple roles.)

2. I honestly don't care who the assistants are. As long as the HC isn't the one going to the table, I've got no problem. And if there are any 'issues' with the communication with the table, then it doesn't matter whether it's an AC or a manager or a statistician, it's going to be handled the same way.

I officiate many games where there are two adults on the bench. One is the HC, and the other is a combination AC/statistician/bookkeeper/defacto manager. If that guy/gal wants to go clarify how many timeouts he has, he can in my game.