Injured player @ one end while play goes on at the other

[Mark Padgett]

Five years ago, I was training a HS kid to ref in our local kids rec league. We were working a 5B game. One of the players was running down court when he tripped and fell forward head first, banging his head on the court. It was an elementary school gym with one of those really hard composition floors. I immediately blew my whistle and ran over to him. His coach, who was also his dad, ran out on the court to take care of him.

The kid I was training came over to me and asked if we should give the coach a T because he came on the floor without one of us calling him out. I didn't know whether to give the kid a smack or give him a gold star for knowing the rule.

BTW - the league has a rule that we stop play immediately if we think a kid is injured regardless of the game situation. This is a rec league and the safety of the kids comes first.