The seatbelt

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

The rule means that a coach's tuchus is supposed to be in contact with the bench. Squatting in front of the bench is not in compliance with the rule. When the "seat belt" rule was adopted back in 1970-71 (this was prior to adopting the "coaching box" rule) a well known H.S. coach in Western Pennsylvania loved to spend the entire game squatting in front of the bench, and he was told by the PIAA that the NBCUSC (National Basketball Committee of the United States and Canada, the forerunner of the NCAA and NFHS Rules Committees) interepreted the rule as to read that the coach must be seated not squatting in front of the bench.

I will remind him once, maybe twice but if I have to give him the second T I want to be in front of him and not do it from the end line or from across the court.

MTD, Sr.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

The rule means that a coach's tuchus is supposed to be in contact with the bench. Squatting in front of the bench is not in compliance with the rule. When the "seat belt" rule was adopted back in 1970-71 (this was prior to adopting the "coaching box" rule) a well known H.S. coach in Western Pennsylvania loved to spend the entire game squatting in front of the bench, and he was told by the PIAA that the NBCUSC (National Basketball Committee of the United States and Canada, the forerunner of the NCAA and NFHS Rules Committees) interepreted the rule as to read that the coach must be seated not squatting in front of the bench.

I will remind him once, maybe twice but if I have to give him the second T I want to be in front of him and not do it from the end line or from across the court.

MTD, Sr.

Pennsylvania? If some there had their way, there'd still be no coaching box. And 1971? Back then you were too busy working with a pea whistle, counting lack of action, and making sure to get in the Cadillac position. And I was 2 years old.

Much ado about nothing. Worrying about whether a coach's tuchis is touching the bench or not is about 13 on my top ten list of important things to do.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Counting lack of action, and making sure to get in the Cadillac position.

How do you even know about these?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

How do you even know about these?

Neither are really that old, especially the Cadillac.

[BillyMac]

Newbies please note. Even after being "seatbnelted", a coach may still stand in a few situations:

The head coach may stand within the coaching box to request a time-out or signal players to request a time-out, to confer with personnel at the scorer’s table to request a time-out for a correctable error, or a timing, scoring or alternating-possession mistake be prevented or rectified, to replace or remove a disqualified/injured player or player directed to leave the game, during a charged time-out, or the intermission between quarters and extra periods, to spontaneously react to an outstanding play by a team member or to acknowledge a replaced player, but must immediately return to his seat.

[Judtech]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Newbies please note. Even after being "seatbnelted", a coach may still stand in a few situations:

The head coach may stand within the coaching box to request a time-out
or signal players to request a time-out, to confer with personnel at the scorer’s table to request a time-out for a correctable error, or a timing, scoring or alternating-possession mistake be prevented or rectified, to replace or remove a disqualified/injured player or player directed to leave the game, during a charged time-out, or the intermission between quarters and extra periods, to spontaneously react to an outstanding play by a team member or to acknowledge a replaced player, but must immediately return to his seat.

Filed under the LETTER of the Law if not the SPIRIT of the Law:
Had a coach who had been seatbelted and warned. His player went in , drew the foul, made the bucket and the FT would have put them ahead. As the foul is being reported, the coach is jumping up while he was holding the seat against his butt!! I kid you not. He stayed "seated" and was spontaneously reacting to a good play. Probably a little much holding the seat at the same time. I tried it when I got home, have to be very limber!!

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Judtech

Filed under the LETTER of the Law if not the SPIRIT of the Law:
Had a coach who had been seatbelted and warned. His player went in , drew the foul, made the bucket and the FT would have put them ahead. As the foul is being reported, the coach is jumping up while he was holding the seat against his butt!! I kid you not. He stayed "seated" and was spontaneously reacting to a good play. Probably a little much holding the seat at the same time. I tried it when I got home, have to be very limber!!

That's even more funny because it wasn't necessary.

[shutupneff]

A little bit of a post-jack. This was back during my high school playing career, about 6 years ago. My coach received a technical and, after being informed of the seat-belt rule (he hadn't coached high school in decades), he spent the rest of the game moving up and down the bench on our, the players, laps. As a side note, no one enjoyed being pulled that game.

How would you guys handle that situation, a coach following the letter of the law (mostly) but not really the intent?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

How do you even know about these?

My first year was 1987. It was the first season of the 3-point line in my state at the time (Pennsylvania). We still had the lack of action, Cadillac mechanics (that survived till the early-to-mid 90s, I think), and Byron collar shirts as well as many officials in belted pants. We also did that funny little count where we flicked our wrists from the waist level instead of swinging our arms as we do now.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

My first year was 1987. It was the first season of the 3-point line in my state at the time (Pennsylvania). We still had the lack of action, Cadillac mechanics (that survived till the early-to-mid 90s, I think), and Byron collar shirts as well as many officials in belted pants. We also did that funny little count where we flicked our wrists from the waist level instead of swinging our arms as we do now.

Ah, sweet memories.

MTD, Sr.

[ref2coach]

What are "Cadillac mechanics"?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by ref2coach

What are "Cadillac mechanics"?

The trail and the lead were always on the "left" side of the court (from their perspective boxing in the play). If you had to "work opposite" because of a throw-in, you'd switch over sides of the court during live ball play at the first opportunity.

Truly baffling that we did that as if we couldn't work the court on the "right" side as well as the "left" side. But we did it for YEARS.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Ah, sweet memories.

MTD, Sr.

And I forgot the fist straight up to the sky with the requisite delayed bird-dog at the waist.

And also coming in as the trail to administer ALL free throws even though the lead had to come in to announce how many throws were left.

And also the early days of 3-person where the C was always opposite the table and the L would have to swing around if he came ballside (to the C's side).

I'm sure we could go on....

[ref2coach]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

Ah, sweet memories.

MTD, Sr.

Originally Posted by RichMSN

And I forgot the fist straight up to the sky with the requisite delayed bird-dog at the waist.

Our association still requires bird-dog on all but player control fouls.

[Anchor]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

And I forgot the fist straight up to the sky with the requisite delayed bird-dog at the waist.....

Here in NC we're still required to bird dog. Ugh!