Travesty or Travel...

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by AremRed

Our job is to enforce the rules. If a coach puts a player out there, we are to treat him like any other player. No exceptions for special cases.

2013-14 BASKETBALL EDITORIAL CHANGES

3-5-1 Note Each state association may, in keeping with applicable laws, authorize
exceptions to NFHS playing rules to provide reasonable accommodations to individual
participants with disabilities and/or special needs, as well as those individuals with
unique and extenuating circumstances. The accommodations should not fundamentally
alter the sport heighten risk to the athlete/others or place opponents at a disadvantage.

The NFHS recognizes the need to accommodate individual participants with disabilities, or special needs. Some may wait for their state association to make some type of ruling (per 3-5-1 Note), but others may allow the officials, coaches, and administrators, at the game site, to get together and make some reasonable accommodations that won't impact the game. Put me in the later group, but I would have no problem if anyone wants to be in the former group.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

reasonable accommodations

1. What does this mean? Does this mean provide accommodations so that these players may participate? Does it mean call the game easier on them? Both? My guess is the first.

2. My state association has not authorized any exceptions I know of

3. Regardless of if I am instructed to call the game easier on these players, I can do nothing to prevent an opposing coach from attacking that player. Not my prerogative. As above... "Team B is under no obligation to oblige for any player".

[BryanV21]

I would have mentioned it to the coach of the other team, that way when the inevitable travel or double-dribble occurs, there is no argument.

[Adam]

Honestly, I'll pick up on the disability on my own and adjust. I won't bother addressing it with the other coach unless he starts to whine.

As for hoping the other coach doesn't take advantage of the mismatch, that's not my job. The lesson he wants to teach his players is on him.

[Adam]

Dan, I probably would have done it the same way you did.

[johnny d]

I think I would call a travel earlier. The coach from team A needs to pick his spots to use this player better. In a game that is close towards the end I would have a hard time ignoring such blatant violations. As far as the other team running plays for the person that is being guarded by the player with the disability, that is on them. Nothing we can do to prevent that.

[BryanV21]

Originally Posted by johnny d

I think I would call a travel earlier. The coach from team A needs to pick his spots to use this player better. In a game that is close towards the end I would have a hard time ignoring such blatant violations. As far as the other team running plays for the person that is being guarded by the player with the disability, that is on them. Nothing we can do to prevent that.

It would have been different if the team had the lead when putting in the player with a disability. Because, in that case, they would gain a big advantage by having a player allowed to break the rules like that. But, the way I see it, the team was only hurting themselves while helping the other team, so why not accommodate them?

I can see this happening during the last game of the season, and the player with a disability being a senior. The coach wants to give him/her their moment. I wouldn't want to be the guy that ruins that, would you?

[APG]

In an 8th grade game, I can over looked a step or two...I can't see myself overlooking a player running with the ball for 8' once...much less 2 or more times.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by APG

I can't see myself overlooking a player running with the ball for 8' once...much less 2 or more times.

... then don't work any Special Olympics Unified Games in your area. Officials that work these games acquire proper judgment for various situations as the game progresses. You have players of all different levels of ability, or disability, on the court at the same time. It's actually quite easy when you have coaches, players, fans, and administrators, all on the same page.

[RookieDude]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

I would have mentioned it to the coach of the other team, that way when the inevitable travel or double-dribble occurs, there is no argument.

Bingo!!

You read my mind.

I was to lazy/complacent/busy training/blah blah blah...too do exactly that!

And that is my "CURE".

Get both coaches together PRIOR TO THE GAME...and discuss exactly what THEY want to do. Here is one instance where they are going to determine what "ACCOMODATIONS" we will "PROVIDE".

If one Coach does not want a player running all over the court, without even attempting to dribble...that is what we shall do....The Coach that says, "no way"... will now be the "bad guy"...because BOTH COACHES will have to agree... It is now up to them. They BOTH MAY alter the rules, kind of like THEIR rule of no "PRESSING IN THE BACK COURT".

I have talked all this over with my assigner...and he agrees...let the coaches decide together what THEY want to do. It's on them.

I will also be notifying our association, via email and at the next meeting, of what "procedure" to use.

[RookieDude]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

The accommodations should not fundamentally
alter the sport

Great find Billy.

Here is what happened:

The special needs player, from Team A, was substituted into the game with around 3 minutes left in the contest.

Team A had fought their way back into the game after being down by 12 points.

Around 2 minutes to go... the special needs player, A1, found himself now holding onto the ball in frontcourt. Player B1 looked like he wanted to take the ball but thought better of it and just stood there in a defensive position.

With the clock winding down...A1 decided to take off running (more like shuffling) toward the basket. A1 did not even attempt to dribble...he just shuffled toward the basket from the C's side (me). He went about 8' and stopped. Then he turned around and started "running" 8' back up to the top of the key on my side, C...yes we were doing 3-whistle training. A1 then stopped for a second time, and after a couple seconds, decided to "run" back toward the endline....this tiime about 10'. A1 stopped again...and for the 4th time started to "run" into the middle of the key. Before he could stop and do it all over again...I nailed him with the travel....good strong whistle, sharp mechanics, and away we went.

Coach A pulled A1 from the game...and his chance for glory was over. He looked very upset and agitated as he sat out the remainder of the game on the bench.
And, of course, I felt terrible for the boy.

Team A never completed their come back...and lost the game.

(Why in the He!! did Coach A wait untill the 4th quarter, of a tight game, to put the special needs player in, and THEN GIVE HIM THE BALL? I think he set him up to fail...but, that's just me. Why not let him play in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd quarters?)

...there is more, but I am interested to see your responses to the game action, before I go there.

P.S. I think I have a "cure" for this feeling I have...I'll tell you later what it is.

Originally Posted by RookieDude

I will also state to you how I plan on NOT being after the game AGAIN.

Originally Posted by RookieDude

P.S. I think I have a "cure" for this feeling I have...I'll tell you later what it is.

Dude, stop being cryptic...just spit it out.

[RookieDude]

Originally Posted by AremRed

Dude, stop being cryptic...just spit it out.

LOL....OK, OK,

1) I am at work...typing when I get a chance.

2) I wanted to hear from Adam and Camron before I "spit it out".

3) I wanted to tease you...be cryptic...or something like that.

After the game...I was getting my coat...getting the "nice job" stuff from the table and other coach...when Coach A started in on me...

"I hope you sleep well tonight...I can't believe it...calling travel on a Down's Syndrome kid...I hope you sleep well..."

He kept repeating that line about half a dozen times.

One of my partners came up and said, "let's just walk away"...but, I wouldn't...I felt bad and for some reason I was going to get this resolved.

I calmly told the coach that I misunderstood what he wanted. I thought that he DIDN'T WANT THE BOY TO WALK ALL OVER THE PLACE. I calmly apologized, told him I was sorry...told him again, that I misunderstood.

He ended up shaking my hand, accepted my apology, and that was it.

I felt I was in a NO WIN SITUATION. If you knew me...you would know that I don't usually take ANY garbage from a M.S. coach...I even surprised myself...but, it didn't hurt me to eat some crow...and in a way, I agree with the coach. (As long as the other coach is on board)

Thus, our new procedure.

Get both Coaches to agree on what they want in these SPECIAL situations.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by RookieDude

"I hope you sleep well tonight...I can't believe it...calling travel on a Down's Syndrome kid...I hope you sleep well..."

I'll sleep just fine. What you were asking for in that situation was not reasonable. GOOD NIGHT."

Get both Coaches to agree on what they want in these SPECIAL situations.

Both coaches will never agree to this.

"Okay, Coach B, Coach A has a player who is handicapped, and he wants us not to call any violation on him, even if he is about to score the winning basket. That okay with you?"

[BryanV21]

Originally Posted by just another ref

I'll sleep just fine. What you were asking for in that situation was not reasonable. GOOD NIGHT."





Both coaches will never agree to this.

"Okay, Coach B, Coach A has a player who is handicapped, and he wants us not to call any violation on him, even if he is about to score the winning basket. That okay with you?"

Sure, when you take the situation there then it's unreasonable, and it's silly to expect both coaches to be okay with it. But that's not what we're talking about. Anybody can take something to the extreme to "win" an argument, but how about we stick with the situation as described?

And what part of the country do you live in where empathy doesn't exist? We're talking about a kid with downs syndrome that wants to play basketball, not some war where one side is telling the other not to use real bullets.

Sucks that sportsmanship doesn't exist in some places.