Wheelchair coaching

[Roger Greene]

I don't have my books with me tonight, but I'm pretty sure Joel is correct. I don't recall any difference between baseball and softball on this.

Roger Greene

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I know that anyone of us end up in a wheelchair for life because of any number of reasons and I know what the law of the land says concerning that matter that we have been discussing as well as what the NFHS Baseball and Softball Rules says about it too. BUT, logic (which I prefer over common sense), tells us that to let anybody in a wheelchair in the playing area is just about the stupidist thing an umpire could do.

This is a situation, where the men and women who really understand the situation on a baseball or softball diamond (and not some clueless legislator or judge) have to do the correct thing from the beginning of the game and not allow anybody in a wheelchair in an area where a player can be injured.

[whiskers_ump]

I am still searching for some rule covering wheelchairs
and/or crutches...Our association did not receive any aye or nay
on the subject. Someone on this string of inquires said it
was in rule book, but cannot find it. Has anyone else. I
don't believe it would be the smart thing to do, allowing a
wheelchair in a coaches box. Crutches, hmmmmm..maybe if
s/he only using one, but think about what happens if s/he
drops it while scramping out of the way and player gets hung
up in it. Could be nasty...JMO

glen

[Roger Greene]

I found the rule. Fed Baseball, 2002 rule boook states:

3-2-1 "...Coaches may wear prostheses and use mobility devices." (New addition for 2002)

10-1-7 "...Umpires may wear prostheses and use mobility devices." (new addition for 2002)

Mobility devices are not addressed in the Softball book...yet.

Players may use prostheses and padded casts, splints, and braces. (2002 softball rule book 1-1-9.) Coaches only need to wear proper clothing. (3-2-1) Umpires may wear casts, splints, and braces if padded. (10-1-7)

Stay tuned for next year's changes.

Roger Greene

[Dakota]

Originally posted by Roger Greene
10-1-7 "...Umpires may wear prostheses and use mobility devices." (new addition for 2002)

Hey, something to look forward to. When my knees finally go, I can still work HS ball from behind the plate in my wheelchair!

This is getting goofier and goofier.

[Roger Greene]

They make a walker with a nice set of wheels (with handbrakes) on two of the legs, and a fold down seat for calling pitches. Would be nice on those tournament days when the relief doesn't show up for their rotation.

Roger Greene

[bluezebra]

Did anyone else read this on the FED site?

10-1-7 (New) Add to the end of the rule: Umpires may wear prostheses and use mobility devices.
Rationale: To make the rule consistent for the officials, as well as the coaches.

Can you envision a PU in a wheelchair? Or on crutches? WHOOPEE!!!

Bob

[greymule]

Coach wheels himself into the third-base box. You tell him he can't be there, you're in the papers the next day for your brutal, callous treatment of a handicapped person. You let him stay, and you're the fool who was oblivious to a clear and present danger and caused that poor third-baseman to cut his eye. Either way, your next ten years are spent in court. And that's even if you remember not to use the old slang for the 3-0 count.

Happens to me, I will voice deep concern for the coach's right to 100% participation in a wheelchair and deep concern for the safety of the players. I will then announce that I have inquired of the Fed, and that the game will start as soon as I receive their official direction in writing.

[Andy]

Can you envision a PU in a wheelchair? Or on crutches? WHOOPEE!!!

I recall a news article not too long ago about a person confined to a wheelchair that was umpiring slowpitch softball. I beleive it was somewhere in the Northwest part of the country.

There was a court case involving the safety of the players and the possibility of injury in colliding with a wheelchair bound umpire. I don't remember the specifics, but I beleive the league/organization won the court decision and this person was no longer allowed to umpire. I am going to try to research it..if anyone else remembers this, let us know. It seems that I read about it in Referee Magazine.

[Edited by Andy on May 6th, 2002 at 04:27 PM]

[SamNVa]

The Segway

[whiskers_ump]

I looked all through that NFHS 2002 book and like you only
found that coaches had to be properly attaired..but if BB
has it, then WOW, we are next.....like most of you I can
hardly wait. Lets see, 64 presently, 65 before end of year.
Not long and I just might qualify. My AARP magazine is also
trying to get me to purchase a mobile wheel chair, with cup
holder...this may not be so bad after all. [grin]

glen

[whiskers_ump]

Originally posted by Gulf Coast Blue
As a late participant in this thread........and one who did not call HS ball this year........

I cannot find my notes from last year.........but from my recollection........"I think" we were told to allow coaches on crutches or mobility devices....i.e. - wheelchairs......

I will be calling with some of my HS buddies this week......and will see what their recolection is.........

Joel

Joel,

You sure that wasn't mobile device ...i.e Cellphone.
Nautrally I am just a picking on you.
How did Lauren and her team do in the tournament? I had a
small 14/16U thing, but not many teams...Good thing too, it
was to hot anyway...I ended up doing three straight plates
at the end of the thing...

glen

[Elaine "Lady Blue"]

I think that probably the best course of action concerning the coach in the wheelchair is have your assocation president or booking agent call the head honcho over NFHS in your state. If he deems it okay, then he is responsible for any liabitity, not the blues.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally posted by Elaine "Lady Blue"
I think that probably the best course of action concerning the coach in the wheelchair is have your assocation president or booking agent call the head honcho over NFHS in your state. If he deems it okay, then he is responsible for any liabitity, not the blues.

I am not a lawyer, BUT I practice a profession that has many similarities: structural engineering (I design buildings). In my profession we have model codes for concrete, steel, timber, masonry, and seismic design. These model codes are many times adopted in total by various government entities as their design codes. When I design a building my first priority is safety, even if it means not always giving my client what he wants. It also means that I cannot not rely just on meeting the minimum design requirements required by code. I must use good enigneering judgement and assess the unique design requirements of the project.

As umpires in the field we have a unique perspective on the situation. The legislators, who write these laws, and the judges, who must interprete these laws, do not have this unique perspective, even though one would think that a judge would, considering that officiating is a lot like making interpretations of laws. When a player gets hurt because of a coach, in a wheelchair, is in the way, I can assure you that, the only persons who will be held accountable for that player's injuries will be the umpires on the field. Even though U.S. law says that the umpires must let that coach, in the wheelchair, the courts will no doubt also rule that the umpires know the hazards better than anybody of having a wheelchair bound coach on the field, and will hold the umpires and only the umpires accountable for that player's injuries.

While I do not ever want to be sued, I would rather be sued by a wheelchair bound coach because I would not let him on the field rather than be sued by the parents of a player injured by wheelchair bound coach. The lawsuit by the coach will be easier to defend, though difficult, than a lawsuit by the player's parents.

[Roger Greene]

Originally posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

When a player gets hurt because of a coach, in a wheelchair, is in the way, I can assure you that, the only persons who will be held accountable for that player's injuries will be the umpires on the field. Even though U.S. law says that the umpires must let that coach, in the wheelchair, the courts will no doubt also rule that the umpires know the hazards better than anybody of having a wheelchair bound coach on the field, and will hold the umpires and only the umpires accountable for that player's injuries.

[/B]

Mark,
I beg to disagree. Following the law and the applicable rules is generally pretty good protection in any type suit. (The main reason I never allow a batter to warm up in the opposing team's on deck circle.)

I am a Judicial Official. I am called upon to rule on tort cases as part of that profession.

Roger Greene