Injury come off platform?

[IHSAref]

When there is an injury where the player is down for a while, do you come down from the platform to judge if the player is unconscious of do you let the umpire handle it all?

[MCBear]

Let your Umpire/R2 handle it. As Referee/R1, you are an information collector so stay on the stand and let others do their jobs.

[Retrozetti]

Originally Posted by MCBear

Let your Umpire/R2 handle it. As Referee/R1, you are an information collector so stay on the stand and let others do their jobs.

NFHS Rule 5.3.3.18 Referee Responsibilities: "The referee shall determine if a player is unconscious or apparently unconscious."
NFHS Rule 5.4 Umpire Responsibilities has "no mention" of these duties, nor any guidance towards that duty.
NFHS Rule 5.4.3a: "The umpire shall assist the referee by ruling upon situations which are clearly out of the referee's view." But the injured player is NOT "clearly out of the referee's view."

By the book, I see this as a clearly defined Referee duty. MCBear, maybe you can help clarify your reasoning. Logic leads me to wanting it be an Umpire duty, but the rules say differently.

Additionally, I can't remember about IHSA (NFHS), but definitely USAV & PAVO made it crystal clear "Do NOT touch the injured player" and I have followed that guidance implicitly. The only exception would be for life-saving measures. Ironically, NFHS wants us to "determine if a player is unconscious"... wouldn't that require us to touch the injured player?

(I hear some needed NFHS Rulebook changes/clarifications on the horizon)

[MCBear]

As the referee, if there is a player unconscious or apparently unconscious, I am going to let medical personnel make the determination. I am NOT going to touch the player and I am not going to get off the stand unless the delay in resuming play is going to be an extended time-period. I do not need to physically involved to be able to make a determination. As I said previously, the Referee/R1 is an information gatherer. I will make a decision based on the information that I gather from knowledgeable sources.

[Retrozetti]

Originally Posted by MCBear

As the referee, if there is a player unconscious or apparently unconscious, I am going to let medical personnel make the determination...I do not need to physically involved to be able to make a determination...the Referee/R1 is an information gatherer. I will make a decision based on the information that I gather from knowledgeable sources.

MCBear, I agree with what you're saying, and I think it's the best action. I'm just trying to understand how putting your duty (determining consciousness) onto your Umpire parallels the NFHS Rulebook. Are you saying that you would: 1. Remain on the stand, 2. Instruct the U to search out medical personnel, 3. Allow the medical personnel to determine unconsciousness, 4. Inform the U so that the U can confer with that coach regarding continuation of match after injury (while making no effort towards encouraging the injured player off the court).
Am I close to what you're saying? Why do you involve the U if the NFHS Rules state, specifically, that the R determines unconsciousness? The U is not allowed to call overlap on the serving team, and it is a valid protest by the serving team's coach since it is clearly not a U's responsibility... why the disparity for duties related to unconsciousness?
I want to make as many decisions as predictably "by the book" as possible, and I'm having trouble understanding this one.

[TimTaylor]

Retrozetti,

Let me reemphasize what Jan said: The rule only says it is the Referee's duty to make the determination, not what information he/she has to use to make that decision or who they may involve in doing so.

Anytime a player goes down with an apparent injury the R1 should immediately blow the ball dead and summon the injured player's coach onto the court, who in turn can summon the trainer or request EMS if they think it's warranted. The R1 is in the best position to deal with the players still on the court - i.e, summon the floor captains to the stand & tell them where you want them to gather their teammates. Trust your U to deal with the folks on the bench and relay whatever information you might need.

Neither official should get directly involved in or do anything that might interrfere with the care of the injured player. Let the trained people taking care of the injured player do their job and stay out of their way. Get what you need after the fact if necessary.

I hope it never happens to you, but if it does, trust me - you won't need to get off the stand to make the determination.