What's your take on this?

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This article appeared front page of my local newspaper today, I may have mentioned this issue last year. I'm looking for the opinions of others on this.

No sidelines for the coach

Gary Yokoyama, the Hamilton Spectator
The Hamilton Football Officials Association says coach Matt Zwolak can't be on the sidelines.



Gary Yokoyama, the Hamilton Spectator
Cardinal Newman football coach Matt Zwolak holds a half-time conference with coaching staff.

Bench boss in wheelchair plans fight over refs' ruling
By Tony Fitzgerald
The Hamilton Spectator
(Oct 8, 2005)
A Cardinal Newman football coach has been banned from the sidelines of Ivor Wynne Stadium because he is in a wheelchair.

Matt Zwolak, a quadriplegic, has been deemed a safety hazard by the referees association. He was forced to coach yesterday's game between Cardinal Newman Cardinals and Cathedral Gaels from the Ivor Wynne Stadium press box, rather than from the sidelines where he would normally coach. The press box is located two storeys above the field.

A lawyer for the Ontario Human Rights Commission said the coach has a right to be on the sideline, but the Hamilton Football Officials Association say their ruling is designed to protect the high school players.

They say the coach wouldn't be able to get out of the way of an oncoming player, and that a player could get fingers or feet trapped in Zwolak's chair.

"We're dealing with it strictly as a safety issue," said Scott Hinks, acting association president.

According to the association, coaching from the sidelines is only a problem at Ivor Wynne where there is a slim gap of about four metres between the sidelines and stadium wall.

They ruled Zwolak must stay against the wall, in a padded wheelchair, or leave the grounds.

Zwolak said the Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board "is going to bat for me in this political issue."

The coach is known for his steely determination, and said he's prepared to go to the human rights commission to fight the decision.

Zwolak was a football star with the McMaster Marauders, where he was a hard-hitting linebacker.

A mountain biking accident in 1999 left him a quadriplegic. He spent a year in rehabilitation, struggled to get his life on track, and earned a teaching certificate from Brock University.

Francois Larsen, a lawyer with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, said a coach in a wheelchair has the right to be on the sidelines and treated as an able-bodied coach.

"The law states people can be accommodated to the point of undue hardship," Larsen said. "The debate would be: Are the limitations placed on him to do the job reasonable and made in good faith. You try to avoid the limitation and not make it impossible for people to do their job."

Zwolak's attempt at a level playing field failed when he wasn't able to get his wheelchair padded in time for yesterday's 28-16 game loss.

He is using a shop that specializes in prosthetics and equipment for wheelchairs.

"The padding issue is the first hurdle. The advice I've got is to get the padding looked after and satisfactory to everybody."

There could still be other issues such as mobility and location.

If the padding affects Zwolak's mobility or if he cannot see the play from his position away from sidelines, there could be a complaint.

The fight for turf is only one of the battles Zwolak has faced since being injured six years ago. The former Cardinal Newman athlete returned to his alma mater where he teaches physical education. He uses voice-recognition software on his computer and has the voice of a radio announcer.

"He's very articulate," said Antionette Krusto, a fellow teacher at Newman.

"He can't show kids how to do something, but he has this amazing way of explaining it."

Krusto said he and other staff deeply admire Zwolak's resolve.

"I never see him down," said Krusto. "I know he's in a lot of pain, but he doesn't let on. He only teaches a half-day because of it."

But Zwolak is not comfortable in the media spotlight.

"I'm not a guy who likes talking about myself or myself being exposed and my life opened up," Zwolak said.

"A lot of times it comes across as 'look at this great guy, he's doing this.' For me, I wouldn't be able to do this if it wasn't for my parents at home, who support me."

The Catholic league championship game will be played on Nov. 11, but, barring a number of upsets, it is unlikely the Cardinals will be there.

I'm not going to comment on this, but I'm just curious as to the experiences or thoughts the other guys that read this forum have.