Yes.

No. :(

Generalization from a specific. :rolleyes:

If a coach reports a change which is not allowed, it is my responsibility to reject it. That is part of why changes are reported.

Actually, yes, it is.

There are rules regarding coaching errors, but if a coach tries to give me an illegal substitute, I'm going to head it off at the pass before it becomes a big fustercluck.

That's something you can and should prevent.

So then what would you do if given an illegal substitution?

If you're just going to sit back and watch the fustercluck begin, then you're just there to collect a paycheck.

So you're saying that you wouldn't inform the coach that what s/he's asking to do is not legal?

And yes, that is my perspective and my not-so-humble opinion. I won't go out of my way to save a coach from him/herself, but I also won't let this happen. That's a fustercluck that never ends well.

Actually, it hasn't happened to me, but thanks for asking.

Back to my question to you.

Yes or no: you're saying that you wouldn't inform the coach that what s/he is asking to do is illegal? If what you're saying is "no," then how do you handle it?

I have read everything you typed. You haven't said anything at all, and you're dodging the question.

Yes or no: would you inform the coach that what s/he is asking to do is illegal?

Because I don't watch just my games.

Your turn to answer my question with a yes or no answer.

This isn't answering the question, nor is it informing the coach that s/he's about to do something illegal. You're only confirming that they're sure that they want to enter that particular player into the game, nothing more. They MIGHT get the hint, but in all likelihood, they won't.

So in other words, your answer is "no." Just come out and say it. "No."

Don't know why you have to be so vague about it.

That's how you make it clear. You kept dodging the question.

I agree that we should not be in the business of coaching. We're not coaches, we're umpires.

However, I completely disagree that we should not inform the coach that what they are about to do is illegal. This falls into the category of "preventative umpiring," and there is absolutely nothing wrong with preventing a coach from willfully violating the rules of the game. This isn't coaching, this is umpiring.

"Baker has already re-entered the game once before, coach. You can't re-enter him a second time. Please give me someone else, coach."

And I think that by allowing this to take place, you are knowingly permitting said inequity.

What he did was knowingly let one team intentionally break the rules in the hope that the other team would catch the cheating, call them on it so he can dump players and probably a coach.

So, when the first coach is breaking the rules and the second coach is either too distracted or rule knowledge lacking, he will allow the first team to intentionally cheat.

None of that should have to happen.

Which, to me, is taking the path of least resistance. Rather than confront the coach who is (knowingly or unknowingly) attempting to cheat, they're hoping the opposing team won't catch the illegal re-entry.

Head it off at the pass, keep the integrity of the game. That's our job.

Have you perhaps run this one up the flagpole? I suspect your association / state / whatever doesn't want you failing to handle this easily defusable situation.

I don't believe this pertains to college, but at high school and above, across multiple sports and levels, the general protocol is to prevent a disqualifiable offense if possible - and the OP certainly not only applies, but is often the example used to illustrate this point.