Reporting in by proxy
 

Here's a new one, for me. JVG tonight. I'm the R. Home team is up after one quarter.

I'm waiting at the division line, opposite table, and I see H-40 taking the court directly from the bench. It's very noticeable this is a girl with Down's Syndrome. Still, I glance at the table, wondering if she checked in before the warning horn. The table must have caught my vibe, because the timekeeper hits the horn, and the scorekeeper (wearing stripes, by the way), motions me over.

Says the scorekeeper, "The coach checked her in. She's fine."

I pause, giving a second for the game facilitator in me to overtake the Rulebook Charlie. I nod, approve, and we move on. She leaves a few minutes later, and comes back in for a bit during the second half. (Her team won, 46-22, in a game with 50+ fouls.)

So anyway, getting back to the book, I've never heard of a coach checking in a player on his/her behalf. Mind you, under the circumstances (sub-varsity game, etc.), I'd do what I did again, but by rule, is there anything permissible about a coach checking in a player on his/her behalf?

No, but in this case, play on. Kudos to the kid for being out there, and for the table for recognizing the circumstances. Sometimes you gotta look for what's best instead of sticking to the rules book, IMO.

Coaches do it all the time, usually at half time.

I believe you handled it perfectly given the level and circumstances And how great that the player is participating.

In this case, just let the girl play, no need to enforce the rule there. Maybe, just maybe, you could mention to the coach that she had to report in herself.