Travesty or Travel...

[RookieDude]

...or something in between.

I will pose a question to the forum...and after some responses, I will tell you about a situation that happened to me and my crew in an 8th grade B game.

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

SITUATION:

Coach A tells official, prior to the game, that he has a player that has Down's Syndrome. Coach A states that he would like the officials to relax the travel call on said player. Coach A goes on to explain how another team "exhibited poor sportsmenship" by passing the ball to the player that the DS kid was guarding...thus, allowing the player with the ball to score "easily". (The DS boy did not have a clue how to guard an offensive player.)

Coach wants special privledges for this "special" player.

OK bigtimer...whatta ya do?

[APG]

What exactly would the coach of A want us to do about B taking advantage of their personnel on the floor? Team B is under no obligation to oblige for any player.

Nothing. 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.

[Camron Rust]

I've seen this happen a time or two in my career...not so much the coach asking for slack but where a team has put in a player that was clearly not a typical player. Recognizing that and the fact that the game wasn't close, and it being very obvious that the kid wasn't getting any advantage at all and wasn't going to change the outcome. I chose to be particularly lenient on the kid....3 steps, 4, even 5...keep playing. I think he shot the ball once or twice and it wan't anywhere near going in. Eventually, I'd have to call something if it went too far, but it didn't get that far. It was usually, just shuffling the feet around while he was trying to figure out what to do with the ball.

After not calling anything on the first situation in that game, I noticed the other coach nodding his approval with the situation and the kid's coach nodding a thank you. These were two very small Christian schools who were both interested in playing but were more interested in character and sportsmanship.

I'd have a similar thing happen a few other times too. In every case, once I realize the player isn't doing anything that will have any impact, I treat it the same. One a few occasions, I've had players on the other team initially object but a very quick and quiet word made them aware of what was really going on and their good character let the situation be.

[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.

[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.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by RookieDude

Team A had fought their way back into the game after being down by 12 points ...Around 2 minutes to go... Why ... did Coach A wait until the 4th quarter, of a tight game.

This (above) is what makes this situation so difficult. Even for me, and I've been involved with Special Olympics, as a volunteer, or with Unified Games, as a volunteer official, for over thirty years.

Early in this "regular (not Special Olympics, not Special Olympics Unified Games)" middle school game, or late in a lopsided "regular" middle school game, I've got no problem giving the kid several steps, several times, until I sound my whistle; assuming that the coaches, administrators, and my partner (and, possibly even the players, and the fans), are all on board.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by RookieDude

Coach A tells official, prior to the game, that he has a player that has Down's Syndrome. Coach A states that he would like the officials to relax the travel call on said player.
Coach wants special privledges for this "special" player.

"Okay, coach, I'll see what I can do. I assume you don't mean to use him in a situation where the outcome is still in doubt?"

,