Wheel Chair, Crutches, etc.

[therefump]

Ok, I just found out some totally disturbing news based on a game yesterday and I was wondering if anyone else has encountered this. Before reading any further, please let me emphasize that I believe anyone with a handicap is still entitled to participate in baseball and I encourage it. My issue is one of liability. We had a Lawyer talk about umpire liability issues back in 2002 for an hour and a half before the state sponsor stopped him due to time limits. There are things out there we're responsible for that blew my mind.....but I digress.

Anyway......

We have a Team Manager for one of the middle school teams (9th grader team) who is bound to an electric wheel chair (reason why doesn't matter). As plate umpire I politely asked the head coach of the home team (team manager was home team) if that was permissible under PA Federation rules. He said absolutely yes. I then instructed him to have a player with a glove in front of him at all times during the game (fearing liability for myself if said coach was not telling the truth) AND not wanting the young man to get hurt.

The only problem I had with the situation is that the young adult would not be able to get out of the way of a hot line drive, etc. Otherwise, I'm totally for his participation in the game and commend him for his drive. I spoke to him briefly several times during the game about lineups. Nice kid. I would also note that a similar situation occured in American Legion Regional playoffs back in 2000. A young man who was supposed to play that season was paralyzed in a car accident in the spring. The team was absolutely determined to have the young man in the dugout. The umpires won the battle on liability issues.

My questions are these:

1) has anyone encountered this situation. If so, how did you handle it.

2) has anyone encountered a 3rd/1st base coach either in a wheelchair or crutches and how was that handled?

3) Is this a National rules issue (Federation) or Pennsylvania?

My chapter president said that due to the ADA (American with Disabilities Act) we cannot discriminate against handicapped coaches, players, etc. Therefore, they can be in the dougout or a coach of the bases on offense. My president said that the only way to "cover oneself" is to remand the coach/player to the bench for the remainder of the game if he's coaching a base....at the conclusion of the inning. We're within our rights allegedly. I can see lawyers having a field day with that one.

Help!

[noumpere]

3) Is this a National rules issue (Federation) or Pennsylvania?

See the cases in 3.2.1

You overstepped your authority by requiring a player to be there.

[MCLEOD36]

If he goes on the field to be a basecoach, I would make sure he had a helmet on, and if you thought necessary to have a player with him, make sure he has a helmet too. The issue is safety and the next mobility. I look at it this way, on my watch, I strive not to have a player get hurt. Dugout is fine, field handle it as you see appropriate and it looks like you handled correctly.

[therefump]

If he goes on the field to be a basecoach, I would make sure he had a helmet on, and if you thought necessary to have a player with him, make sure he has a helmet too. The issue is safety and the next mobility. I look at it this way, on my watch, I strive not to have a player get hurt. Dugout is fine, field handle it as you see appropriate and it looks like you handled correctly.

I wholeheartedly agree about "nobody getting hurt on my watch". That's my first directive when walking on a field. I don't want anybody's career ruined. The game is hard enough. That's why I asked to coach to put a player in front of the team manager.

Interestingly, I am more worried about the other players if someone as I've described takes the field as a coach. It's not about getting hit by a ball but rather like having someone in a lawn chair watching the game in foul territory (in this case).

I'm also puzzled that only 2 umpires have posted on this issue. I'm not trying to discriminate against this kid. I want what's best for everyone involved and have tried to explain that. I'm looking for guidance.

[treedog24]

I'm also puzzled that only 2 umpires have posted on this issue. I'm not trying to discriminate against this kid. I want what's best for everyone involved and have tried to explain that. I'm looking for guidance.

I don't think many umpires have run into a situtation like this. I've had games where players have had injuries (broken foot) and were in a soft cast wanting to play but I've never had a wheel-chair bound coach. I know that Fed rules do cover this stich but I would have to look them up to double check the rule.

[therefump]

Actually, that's the kind of response I'm looking for. Those who've actually experienced the issue and how they handled it. I know the rule.

[blindumpire99]

I've only had a few casts on players and a hinged knee splint which they refused to cover the metal on so I parked Little Johnny before the game even started, handled by the FED rules, so no problem..

I can only imagine the problem you had with the wheelchair issue. I don't blame you one bit for putting a spotter in front of him with a glove but I agree with Mcleod, in that, I would also required him and the spotter to be in helmets and remind the spotter about watching out for overthrows and INT as well. I would even recommed again that this coach wear a helmet with a full face cage on it, ala softball helmet or a HSM....

If you will look in the FED book, which I don't have in front of me here right now and am too lazy to pull up, there is a "catch-all" (my word for it) rule in rule 10 that says that the UIC has the authority to rule on any situation not specifically covered in the book. While the rules do address mobility devices I think any umpire who was faced with this sitch should cover his own @$$ in any reasonable way that he sees fit and I think you could do it while still complying with the spirit of the ADA and the FED rules.

[mstaylor]

The Fed book does say that a coach may use mobility devices but it leaves it to us to determine if they will be safe or if they pose problems for the participants. I think if you think he needs a spotter then it's highly likely that he needs not be out there. I think you would be OK using a spotter but I would get your state office to rule on it and go with what they say.

In the past whenever there was an odd case with a player, that was the final solution. An example was the football player with no legs that the officials disallowed to play. The coach appealed to the state and they allowed it. So if in doubt call the state. If they allow it, have the coach carry the letter. If they disallow it, email it to all of the group.

[therefump]

The Fed book does say that a coach may use mobility devices but it leaves it to us to determine if they will be safe or if they pose problems for the participants. I think if you think he needs a spotter then it's highly likely that he needs not be out there. I think you would be OK using a spotter but I would get your state office to rule on it and go with what they say.

In the past whenever there was an odd case with a player, that was the final solution. An example was the football player with no legs that the officials disallowed to play. The coach appealed to the state and they allowed it. So if in doubt call the state. If they allow it, have the coach carry the letter. If they disallow it, email it to all of the group.

Excellent points. I know I'm beating a dead horse/mule but the ADA created all kinds of work for lawyers and our job that much more difficult. We're put in the position of being the bad guys. :smachhead:

[mstaylor]

We had a similar problem with the law a few years ago but it involved a police officer. He was the coach and insisted on coaching the team in a baseball uniform but carried his service pistol and badge.

His position was he was allowed by law to carry and that he was responsible for his weapon. We allowed that was true but we were responsible for the safety of all the participants and we were allowed to refuse him on the field or dugout. He finally quit.

But it was the balance between what the law allowed and what is good for the game as a whole.

[therefump]

We had a similar problem with the law a few years ago but it involved a police officer. He was the coach and insisted on coaching the team in a baseball uniform but carried his service pistol and badge.

His position was he was allowed by law to carry and that he was responsible for his weapon. We allowed that was true but we were responsible for the safety of all the participants and we were allowed to refuse him on the field or dugout. He finally quit.

But it was the balance between what the law allowed and what is good for the game as a whole.

There's comedy in there somewhere. I keep thinking of Naked Gun and him shooting the opposing team's outfielder trying to catch his son's hit baseball.

In all seriousness, however, that was stupid on his part. Sigh.......I'm sure as a police officer he's seen his share of stupidity as well.

[mstaylor]

Luckily the principal intervened and took care of the situation. I was being put on his next game to take care of the problem but the principal told him to stow the gun or don't coach. He opted to not coach.