HC won't come to captains/coaches meeting
 

Any of you guys ever have a varsity head coach refuse to come to the captains/coaches meeting? Obviously had a bug up his butt about something, but not doing many of his games, I didn't know the story. He sent his assistant.

A few years ago, we had that issue with a few head coaches in our area. Our organization contacted the powers that be for the school system (those responsible for the coaches). They directed the head coaches to attend or else ...

Frankly if I were a coach I wouldn't want to hear the same old thing every night, either.

So locally, we meet with the captains at around 6:00, then go over to the benches at around 2:00 for a handshake and a few words with the coaches. Works well when we go to their "turf". We make sure to be done by 1:00 so we don't interfere with their final instructions to the team before the intros/anthem/tip.

I understand in some states a formal meeting is required, sometimes even with a required sportsmanship speech read off a card. If so, c'est la vie.

We do a similar thing here. I really like doing it separately, I think it gives a little bit of ownership to the captains

What state are you in? OhioHSAA and MichiganHSAA has no such requirement.

MTD, Sr.


P.S. I wouldn't want the coaches to hear what I tell the Captains in the Captains' Meeting: "That the Captains are the ones in charge of the their respective teams including Bench Personnel." Meaning I will be coming to them first, where practical, to take care of problems. From a historical perspective Coaches were and after thought in the Rules and Captains, many times, are a bigger help at solving problems than Coaches, especially when ending Timeouts.

Head coach is required at the coaches'/captains' meetings. I don't know of any consequence if a coach refuses, except maybe for, "Coach, this game won't start until you join us."

Bainsey:

Is the presence required in the State of Maine?

MTD, Sr.

We walk to the benches at some point around or after the 2:00 mark before the game. If there are not there, oh well. Our captain's meeting is held at center court, usually around the 12:00 mark.

Years ago, when I got my first game as a BV crew chief, the home team coach hung out at the far end of the bench when we approached. He didn't come up to meet us so I started my "coach's box, full or 30 time-out" spiel to the assistants. He came up quickly and stated emphatically that he was the HC. I responded by saying "you weren't here, so I spoke to who was available". To this day he still is on my list of coaches I really don't like b/c he is always an a-hole to newer guys working his games.

It's been a few years since we were told this, but if I recall correctly, our instructions stated the head coach is required at those pre-game meetings.

It is required in our state for IHSA contests the HC must attend. If they do not attend they can be written up by an official with a Special Report.

This happen to me and my partners years ago, the coach got a phone call from the IHSA Basketball Administrator the very next school day. Our state takes this seriously.

Peace

Mark, I am in Alabama. It seems to me one of the main reasons for the meeting is to identify the head coaches. I can understand getting tired of the same old spiel, but it sets the tone of sportsmanship and professionality for the game and can only be construed as disrespectful to the officials and the opposing HC.

Historically, we're not working in 1955. Now, the coaches are in charge.

This.

We get the captains at 12:00. By 11:30, I'm on my way to the table.

We start walking over to the visiting coach about 1:45. No formal coaches meeting here other than asking if their players are legally attired/equipped.

Kansas:
PRE-GAME CONFERENCE WITH COACHES, PLAYERS & OFFICIALS
Prior to each game starting the officials, coaches and captains are to meet for a pre-game conference. ... The KSHSAA recommends using a single conference pre-game. At approximately the 10:00 mark the other officials will go across the floor to join the referee and greet the coaches. The referee goes to the area in front of the score table and the U1 and U2 get the respective coaches and captains. After introductions the referee will conduct a pre-game conference discussing legal equipment, sporting behavior and addressing other questions.

Missouri:
H. Pre-Game Conference: Officials shall conduct a pre-game conference before each contest at center court
which the head coach of both teams (not a representative of the head coach), each team’s captains, and all the
officials much attend to discuss sportsmanship, game procedures, etc.

I have pretty much discontinued this. If they are illegally equipped, such as a weird color undershirt or whatever, then there is not penalty for the head coach, even if he says yes, and regardless of their answer I'm sending the player out of the game to fix the problem.

This is pretty much how it works in WA State as well. Head Coach is required to verify that players are legally equipped. In a recent GV game with a coach who is known to be anti social (he goes to the far end of the bench when we come over) I told one of the captains that we need him to answer a question for us and asked her to go get him for us. There is no way we are walking down to the far end of the court to get his response.

Actually, there is. It is direct technical foul to the head coach. Rule 10-5-4.

That rule has to do with illegal uniforms, not undeshirts/tights/leg or arm sleeves.

All Of Connecticut, Not Just My Little Corner ...
 

Coaches and captains meeting at 5:00:
Players properly equipped,
Players wearing uniforms properly,
Practice good sportsmanship.

Captains-Head Coaches-Officials pre-game meeting should occur prior to start of game. If the head coach
refuses to attend the meeting, notify Board Commissioner, who will notify the school athletic
director and CIAC (state interscholastic sports governing body).

State mandated coaches & captains meeting at 12:00. If the HC sends an assistant, we interpret THAT person to be the HC for the game and that individual is the only one allowed to use the coaching box. Every couple years we come across a coach that tries to be cute and send an assistant. Once (s)he is reminded of the rule, they get cooperative quickly.

Players only
 

Glad we don't do this. Captains only at about the 8:00 minute mark. Sometimes I wish we would get rid of that too. They seldom listen, coaches usually choose random kids, and I know they don't go back and tell their coaches or team mates what we said so its probably not worth the trouble.

Read this today, had it happen tonight. Guy coached GV and BV so not a snub but we did need to decide how to proceed since there is no rule book directive other than head coach must be at meeting...

This is how we do it in central Ohio (slight differences from here, but mainly the same)...

1. Get the captains together at 18:00
-I usually say something along the lines of... "Who is the captain? You're the one that we'll go to if we need to relay information to your team, and vice versa. Now... nobody came to see us (the officials). You're representing yourselves, your team mates, coaches, school, and parents. So go out there and play hard, show good sportsmanship, and have a great game." Sometimes I'll point out all the kids in the gym and let the players know that those kids look up to them, so set a good example. Pump 'em up a little bit while reminding them to show good sportsmanship and play hard.

2. Check the book at 12:00
-introduce myself to scorers and timer, check that rosters and starters have been presented to the head scorekeeper, sign book (I'll initial the book after the last player written, so I can tell if somebody's been added), check equipment, and go over any special instructions (two horns for a TO, pre-game ceremonies, etc).

3. Meet with coaches at 2:30
-I skip the whole "is everybody legally and properly equipped", as it doesn't matter if they say "yes" or "no". I go over the coach's box, let me know about a 30 or full TO (or if you're in a hurry have an assistant let me know the type of TO you want), and any special instructions (last night they had an issue in the JV game where players would check-in at the corner of the table instead of going to the head scorekeeper, so I had to make sure the coach told his players to go to the scorekeeper... the one wearing the striped shirt).

Can someone explain to me why they would ever check the book before 10:00?

So that any issue can be remedied before the clock gets to 10:00.

For the same reason we count the number of players after a time out.