Seeking advice on crew management

[Texas Aggie]

You can't let him come on the field. If the doctor restricts him from driving, it is for a good reason. The same reason would apply to officiating.

He needs a clean and clear bill of health before my association would let him continue. Perhaps your association needs a policy stating as much. You might even consider having him see another doctor at the association's expense to get a second opinion.

It sucks for the guy, but to me, this isn't anywhere near a difficult decision. It may be difficult for him to accept, but not for the association (or you) to administer. He doesn't need to be working anyway. His health should be paramount.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

You can't let him come on the field. If the doctor restricts him from driving, it is for a good reason. The same reason would apply to officiating.

He needs a clean and clear bill of health before my association would let him continue. Perhaps your association needs a policy stating as much. You might even consider having him see another doctor at the association's expense to get a second opinion.

He's cleared for officiating, according to him.

[BoomerSooner]

Couple of points on the medical aspects:
1. A doctor's decision to restrict someone from driving is almost always made in the interest of public safety. Losing consciousness while operating a 2-ton hunk of metal presents a danger to the public. Losing consciousness on a football field probably creates a danger only to the person losing consciousness. Furthermore, some states require a doctor to notify the appropriate state agency (DMV, DHS, DPS, etc) when making a certain or prescribing certain medications. Having restrictions imposed because of such a diagnosis or prescription doesn't indicate a person isn't fit to do anything else.

2. The history you gave doesn't say much about the officials actual medical issue. The diagnosis of a concussion after he "blacked out" is a stretch unless he also has some history of head trauma. I'm not saying he does or does not have a history of head trauma, but it is entirely possible the concussion was the result of the fall after "blacking out". Ultimately my point is that it doesn't sound like anyone knows the cause of his "blacking out" (except hopefully the guy's doctor).

3. The issue may not be neurological in nature. He could be Hypotensive and forgot to take his medication on the days of the incidents in question. Diabetes is another possibility. Narcolepsy could be the issue, albeit some would classify this as a neurological condition. In any of these cases, a doctor might recommend driving (public safety) and/or work restrictions (not working alone due to concern of what could happen if nobody is around to help if he forgets his Ned's or falls and hits his head), yet give clearance to officiate because those same concerns don't apply to officiating.

From an officiating standpoint, I don't think it is unreasonable to ask him to be open with those of you on the crew about the details of his condition. For one, you can't help him if he has another episode. Secondly, if the episodes are preventable, the accountability created may motivate him to be compliant with his medications. Ultimately if he doesn't want to elaborate, you have to be clear with him about your concerns for his safety/health as well as the performance of the group. If he's still unwilling to help you understand his situation, I think you are justified in not wanting to have him on your crew.

[CT1]

Don't know about your area, but around here, we would likely give him an opportunity to work a clock until he's fully healthy.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by CT1

Don't know about your area, but around here, we would likely give him an opportunity to work a clock until he's fully healthy.

Compromise is always a good idea. Concern for his health is the primary issue, and there are few circumstances worse than Umpiring a football game, if avoiding potential collisions is an ever present threat.

If "timing" a game is either not an available possibility, you might suggest using the Umpire to evaluate your crew from the press box (if allowable) or the sidelines, to keep him involved with the crew.

Not to sound childish, but suggesting his getting a "note from his doctor" addressing the risk of exposing himself to the potential of collisions (major & minor) inherent to the Umpire's environment, may be helpful (to both of you).

[Robert Goodman]

I'm reading this with interest because let's say it does turn out that the cause of all these "blackouts" was indeed a concussion, or intracranial trauma that accompanied concussion. It shows that the return-to-activity protocols are unreliable. I've never been shown evidence for the protocol that's gotten wide acceptance now; seems it was just arrived at by committee out of nothing, just for the sake of having a standard answer to cover asses.

[SE Minnestoa Re]

As a long time white hat, I have had to deal with an aging official's medical shortcomings.

The first time I was 35 and had an umpire in his mid-50's. We didn't see each other much during the off-season. First game of the year, he is on the ground 4 or 5 times. He was never like that. The next morning, really early, I get a call from his daughter. She asked if he worked the night before. When affirmed, she informed me that he had a stroke during the summer and was banned from officiating. She guessed he didn't tell me. I found myself a new umpire within an hour.

The last time was 15-years ago and I had an official who was fighting dementia. We let him work one last year but it was bad. I had to tell him we were going a different direction the next year.

I respected both of these guys greatly. To say it was difficult to cut them loose is an understatement. However, we have a responsibility to protect kids. We also need to protect the officials. I think being the boss prepared me for the talk. Both left with no hard feelings. The first guy even thanked me for making the decision for him.

Tough calls to make.

[Texas Aggie]

He's cleared for officiating, according to him.

That's a question for your association, not him.

Boomer makes a REALLY GOOD case for someone to be EMPLOYABLE for most things. Sitting at the desk, answering the phone, perhaps even sales or light warehouse work. It doesn't, to me, make a case that its OK for someone to be on the field. He couldn't be a Secret Service agent, for example. He has a history of blacking out on the field -- not everywhere BUT the field where the condition on presents itself in theory. He could black out at a moment he needs to move out of the way, get hit and suffer a very serious injury.