Assistant coach misunderstanding

[bainsey]

MS doubleheader today. One thing I like about these games is the opportunity to teach the kids and coaches a few things about the rules. The kids are still learning, and many of the MS coaches are new at coaching. Quite frankly, the middle schools are lucky to get who they can.

Third quarter, H-1 snares a defensive rebound (I'm the new T), but is struggling with the pressure from V-2 and V-3. From the other end, I can hear H AC (young guy, maybe age 25) screaming for a time-out. I ignore the request, and H-1 drops the ball, which rolls over the end line. H requests a time-out, anyway (from the HC).

Teaching moment. As my partner reports the time-out, I call over the AC.

Me: "The reason why I ignored your time-out request, is that only the head coach can call for that. Assistant coaches don't have that power."
AC: "But he (pointing at my partner, the R) said (in pre-game) we can help out the head coach with time outs!"
Me: "No, sorry, he was talking to your players. The players on the floor can request time outs."
AC: "No! He said..."
R (joining in): "I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. He (pointing to me) is right. I was talking to your players. That's the rule."

Seldom do I see ACs get into the pre-game meeting, and even more seldom do I work with anyone who brings up time-out requests in those meetings, but if you must get into that, make sure you make it clear who can actually make the requests.