Wheelchair coaching

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by Steve M
In Pennsylvania, a few years ago, there was a baseball coach who wanted to coach 1st or 3rd base and was not allowed because he was on crutches. HE WON HIS COURT CASE. And now PIAA - our scholastic sports body - tells us that we are to permit handicapped coaches to do the bases for baseball & softball. I do not think there are any umps who care for this decision, but them's the rules. I have not seen any base coaches with crutches or in a wheel chair, but I would not refuse their being there. I suspect that I'd be very liberal with any interference call on a pop foul near the coach's box - and when/if he argued, I'd probably toss him. This was a topic in several of our chapter meetings earlier in the year and we decided that this would be the right way to handle it. This way the legal requirements are met and we meet safety standards as soon as we possibly can.

Steve M

ASA covers this by affirming the ADA for slowpitch players only in rule 4.

Now, anyone in a wheel chair or on crutches doesn't have a specific right to be there unless they are covered by the ADA. This means that they must be permantly disabled, not someone who just happened to have a broken leg. Even though this rule applies to SP players, in a courtroom, anyone leaning on the ADA will get the sympathy of the court.

That being said, they only have the right to be there, but that doesn't mean they cannot be held to other safety standards. Anyone remember when knee braces were constructed of hard plastic and metal and to wear them, the player was required to cover the metal or any protruding parts of the piece for safety reasons?

Seems to my, many sets of crutches still have the wing nuts protruding. "Coach, you are permitted to be there with the crutches, but you are going to need to pad and wrap those wing nuts."

If you see a coach in a wheelchair, approach them prior to the beginning of the game. "Good morning, coach. Will you be working the bases today? You are, no problem coach. All I need you to do is pad and wrap any protruding metal parts of your equipment. Thanks."

Okay, before all you Johnny Cochrans note that any good lawyer can still take this to court. No kidding, and it doesn't even have to be a "good" lawyer. Any putz can file a lawsuit.

However, being able to prove that you discriminated against that coach because of their disability will be a bit more difficult. At no time did you deny this coach access to the field or the players, you simply made the same reasonable request that you make when you enforce the jewelry rule.

And I'm with Steve on the interference call. No special treatment and the first time a defender checks up while attempting to make a play, somebody is going to be called out.

Even better scenario is when you have the opposing coach who wants to protest your decision to allow the coach on crutches or a wheelchair. "Coach, I can appreciate your concern for your players safety, but law, my hands are tied on this issue. I understand, as a player, I'm not sure if I would want to play under these circumstances. Hell, I wouldn't blame you one bit if you just took your team off the field." Okay, so I'm being a little coy here, but this is all part of covering your tail every step of the way.

JMHO,

Mike

[Edited by IRISHMAFIA on May 4th, 2002 at 09:02 AM]