Assistant coach standing
 

Had an interesting situation in my game last night. First trip down the floor the assistant coach is standing on one end of the bench, while the head coach is standing on the other, both barking instructions. After the first possession I blow it dead and notify the head coach that only he is allowed to use the coaches box, so his assistant can't stand. The assistant spent the rest of the night standing on the first row of the bleacher, which is right behind the bench. It was a blow out, and I didn't really want to have a fight, but surely he can't do that. What do you guys have? I meant to look this up last night and didn't get around to it.

Failure to occupy the assigned bench.

He is either an assistant coach or a spectator, but not both.
If he wants to be in the stands, then he can't participate in any of the team huddles during timeouts or intermissions. He has to make a choice to either be in the bench area or in the stands.

Bench personnel
 

What level was this?

If he started the game on the bench, he's bench personnel, as far as I'm concerned. He's trying to manipulate a rule--this is unsporting.

In my game, he can sit on the bench or he can sit in the stands...no other option.

Technical foul for being a smartass.

Yep, I'm assuming he decided to join in to huddles. If so, after the first TO or intermission when he went back to the stands, it's a T.

Depends on your sense of humour I guess.

My immediate inclination is to inform game management that a spectator is coming out of the stands to bench area. When they try to get him to stay or remove him he'll tell them he's bench personelle. THey'll tell me. I'll T the head coach.

It was middle school boys. Like I said, I wasn't too concerned since even though he was standing behind the bench he stopped yelling, so it wasn't a huge deal.

Well if it was a middle school game and it was not a big deal, why post it as an issue here? The rule is clear what and who is bench personnel and what they can or cannot do. I agree that often we do not want to make "enemies" by what we do in a middle school game, but if someone cannot control themselves, they should be dealt with accordingly.

Peace

For future reference for when it IS a big deal. And I said the guy did control himself, he just moved back to the bleachers.

Curious, did he stay there, or did he join the kids in the huddle?

+10

MTD, Sr.

I agree with JRut- if we take care of business at the middle school level, that type of behavior will not appear in our high school games

I am just saying what is wrong with just applying the rules that are appropriate? Problem solved if you ask me.

Peace

Yes he did. He was an assistant coach. If he had continued to yell instructions while he was standing there I would have done something further. He apparently just likes to stand. Thanks for the responses.

If he wants to move to the stands and be a dad, I'd let him. One less headache in the bench.