NFHS-2004
This year the head coach may call a time-out.

Question:
If the head coach is DQ'd, can an assistant coach call a time-out?

I say yes.

Anybody may request a timeout.

In Canadian football, timeouts are only granted if requested:

- during a dead ball period
- by a player on the field
- and that team has a timeout left

In the amateur rulebook, there are two timeouts per regulation-time half.

I'm interested in finding out at our annual rules interpretation meeting what the state says we should do. The rule is crystal clear. ONLY the HEAD coach may call a time out. (OK, players can but that's not what we're talking about) So, if the head coach decides to sit in the press box, coach from the roof of the gym, coach from a cherry-picker, or some other apparatus of his choice to give him elevation, he forfeits his right to take advantage of this rule. That's the way it has been spelled out in everything I've read to date, including the rule book.

In the case of a DQ'd coach, there isn't a new head coach so the rule remains the same.

But again, that's the rule. I'm interested to see how we'll enforce it locally.

I agree with you ljudge. If the head coach sits up in the box he won't beable to call timeout, nor any other sideline staff. If the head coach is DQed then the acting head coach will assume those abilities.

wrong
 

NFHS rule 3-5-2a states specifically that it must be the head coach. In addition the press release by NFHS covers the assistant coach scenario. (see url below)

http://www.nfhs.org/scriptcontent/va...on&head=FB.cfm

If the head coach is D'Qd - tough. He should learn to behave.

Re: wrong
 

Is this what you're referencing?

Because, if so, I don't think it expressely addresses the situation of a disqualified head coach (which is certainly different than a coach who is just up in the press box).

The interesting part of the rule is the statement that the Head Coach must be clearly seen by the official. On the wing prior to the snap I am going to be watching the LOS not the coach. I intend to clarify this point with the Head Coach in the pregame. If he wants to call a timeout just prior to the snap a player should be giving the signal.

Yes. A responsible adult must be found to act as the new head coach before the game resumes. This new head coach has the ability to call time outs. I found this in the front of the rulebook in the comments about the rules revisions.

eatin' crow
 

I was wrong. After looking in the 04 casebook, this specific instance is covered. Since the head coach is DQ'd, a "new" head coach shall be designated and thus satisfies the requirement of the rule. This is addressed in section 1, section 10.

I apologize for the bad information.

REPLY: To back up Mike's assessment, the answer to the original question (head coach DQ'ed--can an <u>assistant</u> call a TO) is technically "no." But...the Federation says that if the head coach is DQ'ed, the game cannot even continue until a responsible person is assigned as the "new" head coach. Once that occurs, the game can continue and this new guy can call TO since he's no longer an assistant but rather the head coach. See the 2004 Case Book pp. 5-6 Situation 10.

I again say yes.

Hmmm. That's what I get for what I THOUGHT was a no-brainer reply.