Coach on the court

[CMHCoachNRef]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

The coach is always considered beckoned when a player is injured. Period.

Rich,
I think that I understand the point of this comment. I am assuming that you mean ONCE PLAY IS STOPPED, the coach is always considered to be beckoned. At the same time, in a varsity boys game, if I have a player who "may" be injured -- no head injury, let's say a finger injury -- the coach better NOT come running on the floor getting hit in the head with a pass as the other team is fastbreaking down the floor.

The lower the level of the game, the quicker I am hitting my whistle. In all cases, IF the coach wishes to come out, he/she has been beckoned. If there is an injury where a player is screaming in pain, almost certainly stop immediately -- coach considered beckoned. I say almost because if it is the third or fourth time in a game (this happens more frequently in soccer), I may not stop immediately.

If a player has a ball bounce off of their finger, comes down somewhat awkwardly, or bumps into another player not resulting in a foul, I am not going to stop the play immediately -- and the coach better stay "home."

35 point, JV girls game, I am sounding my whistle immediately and beckoning just as quick. Technical foul? Not a chance.....UNLESS of course, the coach comes out to tend to the official instead of his/her player.

[grunewar]

I was told once by a senior official (trainer) that a good technique (for someone who has not obviously snapped a bone or is bleeding) was to go over to them and quietly ask them, "Can you play? Can you continue?"

If no, beckon the coach, if yes and they get up, limp off, etc, let play continue - of course that IS if the coach hasn't come on already.

I used this technique in a GV game this past Tues, and it worked pretty well.

Thoughts on this technique?

[CMHCoachNRef]

Originally Posted by grunewar

I was told once by a senior official (trainer) that a good technique (for someone who has not obviously snapped a bone or is bleeding) was to go over to them and quietly ask them, "Can you play? Can you continue?"

If no, beckon the coach, if yes and they get up, limp off, etc, let play continue - of course that IS if the coach hasn't come on already.

I used this technique in a GV game this past Tues, and it worked pretty well.

Thoughts on this technique?

This depends on the age and level of the players. For the younger kids games (more often in soccer, but occasionally in basketball), I actually go with a more positive statement. After analyzing what happened, if I don't think that there is an injury, but more of a player either hearing the parents' reaction or perhaps acting momentarily startled, I will make a simple statement. "You sure are tough, you look like you can still play. Do you want to stay in?" Nine times out of ten, the answer is either a nod or a soft "yes." Asking the real youngins usually leads to tears and being replaced.

On the other hand, in high school-aged games, I will typically wave the coach OFF the court/field until I have had a chance to ask the very question that you posed, grunewar. This gives the player a chance to be able to stay in the game.

If the coach insists on coming out, I insist on player removal per the rules. Once again, in the younger age groups I strongly encourage the coaches to wait for my signal -- in the event of a possible "real" injury, I am stopping the play quickly and beckoning the coach.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

This depends on the age and level of the players. For the younger kids games (more often in soccer, but occasionally in basketball), I actually go with a more positive statement. After analyzing what happened, if I don't think that there is an injury, but more of a player either hearing the parents' reaction or perhaps acting momentarily startled, I will make a simple statement. "You sure are tough, you look like you can still play. Do you want to stay in?" Nine times out of ten, the answer is either a nod or a soft "yes." Asking the real youngins usually leads to tears and being replaced.

On the other hand, in high school-aged games, I will typically wave the coach OFF the court/field until I have had a chance to ask the very question that you posed, grunewar. This gives the player a chance to be able to stay in the game.

If the coach insists on coming out, I insist on player removal per the rules. Once again, in the younger age groups I strongly encourage the coaches to wait for my signal -- in the event of a possible "real" injury, I am stopping the play quickly and beckoning the coach.

My association has instructed us to immediately beckon the coach anytime we think there might be an injury. We are specifically instructed not to approach the player and ask if they can play.

I think it's a bit of an extreme position but when in Rome.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

My association has instructed us to immediately beckon the coach anytime we think there might be an injury. We are specifically instructed not to approach the player and ask if they can play.

I think it's a bit of an extreme position but when in Rome.

Really? Wow. I almost always ask the question before beckoning the coach.

Is that your association's response to the new concussed player rule?

I would think you'd have some upset coaches if this happens towards the end of some close games.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Really? Wow. I almost always ask the question before beckoning the coach.

Is that your association's response to the new concussed player rule?

I would think you'd have some upset coaches if this happens towards the end of some close games.

It's my first year with this association so I'm not sure if it's new or they've always done it that way. It does make it difficult to notice apparent signs of a concussion though and I've felt a bit of a "see no evil" mindset on the issue.