authorized conference

[cbrunnjo]

During an injury T.O. are the teams allowed to go to the sidelines and talk to the coaches?

I say yes.....   

[Tom.OH]

In Ohio that is what we do. If the injured player is in front of the team box we will move the players away from the injured player.

[JKinGA29]

We used to tell them that they could go to the sideline if all 11 players stayed on the field and the coaches stayed off.  Then a couple years ago NFHS amended the rules to allow an "outside the nine-yard marks" conference during an injury timeout at the discretion of the Referee (3-5-8a3).  Makes things a little easier.

[HLinNC]

Not only can they, it is the only authorized conference allowed for an official time-out for injury.

[Ralph Damren]

It always seemed like the common sense thing to do in sending the teams to the sidelines during a long injury delay and, over the past few years, has been the rule. If coach(es) want to come out on the field with the injured player, I would encourage that as the coach knows the kid and could assist in calming the player much better than we could. Maybe it's just a Maine thing, but often the opposing coach will come out to the injured player and offer his support.

[TampaSteve]

As someone said, NF specifically spelled it out a few yrs ago. 
Strange, once they did, everyone went to sidelines for injury.

[VALJ]

It always seemed like the common sense thing to do in sending the teams to the sidelines during a long injury delay and, over the past few years, has been the rule. If coach(es) want to come out on the field with the injured player, I would encourage that as the coach knows the kid and could assist in calming the player much better than we could. Maybe it's just a Maine thing, but often the opposing coach will come out to the injured player and offer his support.

Not always a Maine thing, Ralph - we've got a few coaches down here who do the same, especially if the player is down for more than a minute or two.

I've also made an occasional exception for Mom and Dad, if the kid has been down for a few minutes and the EMT's get called out - if they ask.    I'm not going looking for them to invite them on the field, but if the coach or AD tells me Mama's asking to come be with him, there's no way I'm telling Mama Bear that she can't come out when the paramedics are working on Bubba.

[AlUpstateNY]

There's not a rule, anywhere on earth, that will keep a "Mama Bear" who wants to tend to a "Baby Bear" in an emergency away from her cub.  The only "safe" way to deal with the Mama Bear,. is to be as accomodating and gentle as possible

[Rulesman]

There's not a rule, anywhere on earth, that will keep a "Mama Bear" who wants to tend to a "Baby Bear" in an emergency away from her cub.  The only "safe" way to deal with the Mama Bear,. is to be as accomodating and gentle as possible

...except when Mama Bear wants to berate you because her baby got hurt.

[TampaSteve]

technically, if mama bear came on the field to tend to baby bear, would she now become a 'team personnel'? - and have to behave accordingly?

[Rulesman]

technically, if mama bear came on the field to tend to baby bear, would she now become a 'team personnel'? - and have to behave accordingly?

Playing devil's advocate... are you going to penalize the team for the actions of a fan? I don't think so. But the fact that she is allowed to come on the field does not give her the right to act up, either.

[VALJ]

Playing devil's advocate... are you going to penalize the team for the actions of a fan? I don't think so. But the fact that she is allowed to come on the field does not give her the right to act up, either.

Which is why I stayed as far away from the paramedics as I could justify.  It was actually a perfectly legal play, according to my B that night - he was the one who heard the player complaining right after the play of a headache and dizziness.  But I don't know a darn thing about first aid, or concussion treatment, and the best thing I could do was stay out of the way, get the players away from him, and let the professionals do their thing. 

[TampaSteve]

Playing devil's advocate... are you going to penalize the team for the actions of a fan? I don't think so. But the fact that she is allowed to come on the field does not give her the right to act up, either.

that is sort of what i was getting at.
someone on the field to tend to someone is fine, but instead of tending they are misbehaving at me? (nice priorities)

[Ralph Damren]

Often a parent (mama and/or papa bear) will ask to come out if the injury appears severe. The player's coach is usually already out there with a authorization form if he needs to be removed by ambulance and I'll ask him if he thinks it is a good idea. He'll usually respond that it is, especially if he is to be taken to the hospital as having a parent at his side during the travel may be calming. Now the parent becomes the coach's responsibility. Twice I had a "situation" result : I - (1) Big ole' Bubba leveled Junior with a clean hit; (2) Junior is down in pain; (3) Coach followed closely by Senior come out to Junior; (4) Senior - who smelled of antifreeze good for 40 below- waived his fist at Bubba , yelling ," I'm gonna' deck you for hurting my kid " ; (5)  Embarrassed coach quickly escorted Senior back to the sidelines.  II- (1) Junior goes down with what appears to be a broken leg; (2) His sister, a cheerleader, comes out; (3)  Standing over Junior she cries, "You've did it now, Junior, you've totally @#%*ed yourself up !"; (4) The  :-[embarrassed cheerleader coach quickly removed sis' from the scene "  MORAL OF STORY: Yes, Mama and/or Papa Bear could come out, as that coach's responsibility. No ,Baby Bear's cub sister should not.

[Rulesman]

To me, Mama Bear, Papa Bear and Cub Sister (as in your example) all fall into the "non-player" category of Rule 9-8. As such, the head coach is responsible for their conduct should they venture on to the field.

[Ralph Damren]

To me, Mama Bear, Papa Bear and Cub Sister (as in your example) all fall into the "non-player" category of Rule 9-8. As such, the head coach is responsible for their conduct should they venture on to the field.

I agree totally. I would could cut the family some slack as this may be a tragic situation for them, but quietly remind the coach that they are his responsibility. I would also try to keep my crew at a safe distance, to insure they don't get grilled as to what happened. If the delay was a lengthy one, I would allow the teams three minutes to loosen up before continuing. If the injured player's teammates harbor hard feelings toward the opponents, I would address the captains and ask them to shake hands before continuing. If the lobster hadn't entered the lobster trap he wouldn't be my supper...

[VALJ]

As an aside, Bubba's teammates started to get upset with me that I told them to step away from him and let the paramedics work.  One of them (call him Sparky) said "That's my teammate - I wanna show him my love!"  I told Sparky that I'd give them time to give Bubba some love after the paramedics got him stable before he got loaded onto the ambulance.  I also told the coach that I'd give them a bit of warmup time, since it was about 20 minutes or so by the time the EMTs got done.

[HLinNC]

"Sparky gonna be shown' his luv' from the bus if he don't go over with the rest of the Sparkies"

[AlUpstateNY]

The single most important element we are expected to bring to the game is, calm during a storm.  That "calm" comes in many forms and is unique to each situation in which it's needed. There is no blueprint, no guideline, no guaranteed example, and it is often that which separates us from everyone else.

[TampaSteve]

I guess an interesting topic I dont think has been brought up is from a mechanics perspective: we still have things to do during 'injury timeout' - just like any other timeout.
That said, unless there are unusual circumstances, there really is no reason to stand by/near the injured player as he is tended to.
To go full circle, if someone is berating me during an injury timeout, they are going out of their way to do so.  Subsequently, I will "calmly" (as suggested) ensure their actions are appropriately dealt with.

[VALJ]

That said, unless there are unusual circumstances, there really is no reason to stand by/near the injured player as he is tended to.

Definitely.  I'm sure I'm not the only one who's thought of this, but I've gone so far as to drop a beanbag where the ball will be, then have my umpire pick up the ball and move a few yards away.  That way, we make sure we're giving the EMTs all the room they need, and also removing ourselves from the potential for a coach to start blasting us.  If he wants to give us his input, he's going to have to go way out of his way to find me, and in that case, he's made it painfully obvious to everyone that he needs to be dealt with.

[Tom.OH]

Definitely.  I'm sure I'm not the only one who's thought of this, but I've gone so far as to drop a beanbag where the ball will be, then have my umpire pick up the ball and move a few yards away.  That way, we make sure we're giving the EMTs all the room they need, and also removing ourselves from the potential for a coach to start blasting us.  If he wants to give us his input, he's going to have to go way out of his way to find me, and in that case, he's made it painfully obvious to everyone that he needs to be dealt with.

I also bean bag the spot and note on my card the down, distance and clock if I feel it may be a long TO. Thankfully we have not had to do this many times.

[NorCalMike]

I use a bean bag like this also if he ball should be near where the player is lying. One thing though don't go to far. The Fire Dept. picked up my bean bag one day and said "Is this anyones?"