complaint/question from my Friday game

[DownTownTonyBrown]

I would NOT interpret the purpose of this rule as "the coach is forced to replace a player if he enters the court."

Letter of the law yes, but you know as well as I do that the coach spends 3/4 of the game on the court anyway - so when is he entering or not entering.

The intent of the rule is to get a new player into the game if the original player is injured such that they cannot continue. Cannot continue to me would be that as a player I am obviously injured or I am so concerned about my condition that I want the coach and trainer to examine me right where I lay - they must enter the court. It's not the concern of the coaches - it is the concern, or obvious injury, of the player that drives this.

In the original case of this thread the player after some delay got up and was ready to continue. Even if I jumped the gun and beckoned the coach and then the player immediately got up before there was any physical or verbal contact between the two (coach and player), I personally would disregard and let the player stay. My mistake to have beckoned.

If the whole thing can be cleaned up in 10 seconds or less - let's play some ball. If the player just lies on the floor waiting for assistance beckon the coach and we need a sub. This isn't a new way of getting an uncharged time out - player lies on the floor for 30 seconds and the coach won't enter when beckoned. No way! We need a sub, coach. You guys are messing with me and you will need a sub to continue.

I guess I personally would ask the player "Can you continue?" Give them about 5 seconds to either answer "No" or get up. If they can get up, give them another 5 seconds to really finalize their decision to continue. If the player is still hobbling around ask "Are you ready to go?" If the answer is "Yes." then hand in the ball. If "No." then get a sub.

An official's decision to call the coach has got to be a valid/worthy one because it also includes that now we need a substitue. If the coach obviously makes that decision for you and is on the floor examining (physically) his player then he has forced the issue and we need a substitute or a time out.

JMHO

[ChuckElias]

Originally posted by DownTownTonyBrown
I would NOT interpret the purpose of this rule as "the coach is forced to replace a player if he enters the court."

Then, in my humble opinion, you would be wrong, Tony. That is, in fact, the purpose of the rule. If you can stop the coach from coming on the floor, fine. But if the coach comes on the floor, the player subs out. Again, just my opinion, but I don't see how you can get around the plain meaning of the rule.

Chuck

[CYO Butch]

Tony, I think the level of play makes a huge difference in the situtation as you see it. Below HS, the coaches I have seen feel very parental about their players. If they think a player might be hurt, or just needs comforting, their (very appropriate) response is to want to get to them as quickly as possible. Maybe there are some who will manipulate this situation, even to the point of having a kid fake an injury, but I have not seen it. I agree they should play by the rules - take the player out, or burn a time-out, but don't penalize them because they care about their kids. Now HS and up, that's a different story.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally posted by Kelvin green
Mark, I agree with most of what you said,
However I would not give them thirty seconds to replace the injured player. They get to the sideline and I would tell them to bring the substitution. Get the player in the game and get it moving.

If the team does not want to buy the injured player back into the game by taking a team timeout. Then the rules stipulate that the thirty seconds does not start until the injured player has left the court.