Coach has a "bad back"

[mbyron]

I don't like solutions to this issue that involve threatening the coach that he'll "be done." I'm going to enforce the rule regarding losing the coaching box, and not make any threats.

[Rich]

Maybe I'm a hard a$$, but I fail to see how this is my problem. Like someone up above said, I'm guessing he sat to ride/drive to the game.

He doesn't get the T, he doesn't have this problem. Sit or leave.

[doubleringer]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Maybe I'm a hard a$$, but I fail to see how this is my problem. Like someone up above said, I'm guessing he sat to ride/drive to the game.

He doesn't get the T, he doesn't have this problem. Sit or leave.

I agree.

[BillyMac]

I wonder how he's getting home?

[RobbyinTN]

I have been giving this more though since my first reply to this thread. It is my place as an official to enforce the rules. The rules state that he must sit. Nowhere in the rules does it say that I can make exceptions to that based on something he tells me that may or may not be true. If I give in on this one, do I make exceptions in other areas?

So I have re-thought my original position. Now, either the coach sits or he gets another T and he leaves.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I wonder how he's getting home?

I wonder if he has any chairs in his living room.

[chymechowder]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I wonder how he's getting home?

[jTheUmp]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

I admit that this one really bothered me, for a couple of reasons:
1) My first reaction was that the coach was not being truthful, and that he was going to continue to stand as a way of disrespecting me.
2) He initially continued to walk back and forth in the coaching box area. During the next team timeout, I had a chat with my partner about it, with my position being "Ok, he can stand up, but he better be standing right on the end of his bench (actually a set of folding chairs) the entire time". My partner agreed.
3) Upon my partner insisting that he stay at one end of his bench, the coach started asking questions like "If I was sitting, I can sit anywhere on my bench, right?" Sure, I guess, but if you and the rest of the bench personnel are SITTING on the bench the entire time, as you're supposed to by rule, you're not going to be able to make your way back and forth unless you and your players are a LOT more comfortable then I would be.

My partner and I both talked to the coach at halftime, explained to him the rule, and that we were being VERY lenient with him. He stood for the rest of the second half, directly behind one of the chairs at the end of the bench.

The second game went much more smoothly despite the fact that it was a closely-contested game (2 point margin) and the drama of the first. The coach actually continued to stand behind the bench as before. For a moment, I considered telling him he could have his coaching box back, but I decided I liked it better when he thought he didn't have it.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

The second game went much more smoothly despite the fact that it was a closely-contested game (2 point margin) and the drama of the first. The coach actually continued to stand behind the bench as before. For a moment, I considered telling him he could have his coaching box back, but I decided I liked it better when he thought he didn't have it.

Tough situation, you seem to have made the most out of it and learned. Can't ask for more.

[BillyMac]

The one, and only, way that I would allow the coach to stand would be if he had some type of documentation from the state interscholastic sports governing body, otherwise, in the words of the great Arthur Fonzerelli, “Just sit on it.”

[Mark Padgett]

"Not a problem coach. I have some really strong painkillers in my bag. Just roll up your sleeve and I'll take care of it."

[chymechowder]

the "dream rod" belongs in the porn thread imo.

[Judtech]

My significant other and I have both had back surgeries. She has a difficult time sitting but brings a "seat cushion" to games so it won't upset her back.
I'd make him sit. Heck he can turn sideways and put his feet up on the bench if he wants but I am not giving any lee way on it.

[constable]

How many of us have had back problems? Mine's been stiff for a week.

Don't get the T and you won't have to sit. I'd treat it different if my assignor told us too, but until then he's gotta sit.

If he doesn't want to sit, then he can stand all he wants- in the dressing room.

I agree with a previous poster, unless he drove a garbage truck, he most likely had to sit while driving.

It's not our problem.

[jTheUmp]

UPDATE:
I emailed my association's clinician and described the situation. His response:

"From the way you had described the situation, I think you handled it the best way that you could have.... Personally, I would have made him sit for the rest of the game."

So there we go.