New "Coach's Zone"

[millsisland]

From Bill Oliver's FOC Newsletter:

Sports Zone Changes - The New "Coach's Zone"

Beginning with the 2005 JO's the FOC, along with the Tournament Committee will begin designating a "coach's zone" within the larger sports zone.
This coach's zone will be a box 1.5 meters by 2 meters, positioned behind the end of the strip, and to the side. During the DE's, one coach per fencer will be allowed inside the sports zone, provided they remain within the coach's zone. As usual, no one but the fencers actually involved will be allowed inside the zone during the pools.

A coach may enter and leave the coach's zone through the curtain, at the back of the zone only. They may not enter the sports zone until the minute break. Only one person per fencer will be allowed inside the coach's zone.

Any infraction of the coach's zone must result in a red card. One foot out of the zone during the action, Red Card. This will be particularly difficult in saber events, where the coaches and other spectators have grown used to being able to wander through the sports zone at will.

[Craig]

Sounds like the coaching box in NCAA basketball. That was strictly enforced for about 3-4 seasons and pretty much ignored now unless the ref. takes issue with the coach.

[mrbiggs]

Is it going to be actually walled in? Like the coach is in a prison? If not, then what is the purpose of a curtain?

(I ask this out of a lack of knowledge; I'm not being sarcastic.)

[nahouw]

This is not new -- the FIE has had this rule in place for some time. I refereed in the San Juan WE World Cup in 2003, and had to remind the French coach to stay in his designated zone.

I guess that the USFA is just now deciding to codify it and enforce it.

Actually, it was probably also as far back as the winter of 2002 that in one of the District Championships in NJ that they instituted the "green line". What this was is an additional taping for the 2 meter warning line -- all coaches, fencers and spectators were warned that passing the green line would result in penalties.

[darius]

Coaches often approach the strip if a younger fencer needs help with a weapon. They occasionally encroach beyond the strip line to ask a referee for clarification, especially if the ref is soft-spoken, or not entirely clear with their hand signals.

Doesn't this put a softer-spoken coach at a disadvantage against their screamier colleagues?

I thought the previous "rule" (one coach in the sports zone, behind the end line of the strip) worked quite well. If the coach approached the strip with a justified reason, the ref let it go. If the coach was antagonistic, they'd get carded.

If this is due to the behavior of a specific coach (perhaps a sabre coach, since they're mentioned specifically in the point of emphasis), shouldn't those specific coaches be censured?

darius

[nahouw]

If this is due to the behavior of a specific coach (perhaps a sabre coach, since they're mentioned specifically in the point of emphasis), shouldn't those specific coaches be censured?

darius

I think that the USFA has been lax in enforcing the FIE rule, and that is why they are now publicizing it in order that it is communicated that it would be now strictly enforced and cards are given out.

In my instance refereeing at the San Juan World Cup, when I politely reminded the French coach of the rule, he apologized profusely to me and then went into the box. No card needed, because he knew the enforcement would be backed up.

[Inquartata]

Sounds expensive and space-consuming, unless it's only going to be on certain strips such as for finals. I look for entry fees to rise AGAIN, and space for bags to become still more scarce.

Was this a problem that really needed fixing? Or is it the latest measure-the-letters-on-lames rule martinets getting their jollies?

[whtouche]

Conspiracy theory much?
How exactly would telling the coaches where to and not to stand make anything more expensive?
I didn't know refs were charging by the utterance these days.

[veeco]

Not a conspiracy theory. If you read the original post that started the thread, it is mentionned that the coaches boxes will be actual structures (the coach will be allowed to exit and enter through the curtain).

These structures will have to be purchased and shipped to all the NACs, thus adding an expense.

They will have to be installed and removed by the LOC, thus making their job harder.

etc.

[Inquartata]

If you have to put up curtains for two "zones" at each strip, tape or cordon off two areas per strip---what do you do, snap your fingers and make the materials appear by magic? Or do you have to buy them? Store them? Transport them? Erect and dismantle them?


Where exactly is the "conspiracy"?

[oiuyt]

The curatins are already present.... the sport zones are delimited with rods and curtains at every NAC already. The Coaching zone will be marked with tape on the floor... okay, there's a slight marginal cost of some extra tape there.... I just don't see much additional expense and very little additional labor (laying and removal of the tape). In the document we've all read (some more closely than others) the curtain referred to is the back limit of the coaching zone only (or so I interpret what I read). Step across the tape line and you're in violation, exit back through the curtain and you're fine.

Or we could all wait 2 more days and see an actual implementation before complaining....

-B :)

[Inquartata]

Well, that doesn't sound like any fun.

[millsisland]

C,mon, guys. It's an imaginary box.

[millsisland]

Actually, the box could be divided with yet another curtain and the coach could conduct Confession during the minute breaks.

"Forgive me, Coach, for I did not keep my tip up..."

[haroldbuck]

C,mon, guys. It's an imaginary box.

I have a plethora of comments that I desperately want to make here, but I'm going to stay out of trouble and keep them to myself.

[mrbiggs]

C,mon, guys. It's an imaginary box.

Yeah, but for leaving it, you get an imaginary yellow card.

[veeco]

I was confused by the fact that they do use structures for team world cups. I thought that the newsletter was referring to the same type of equipment.

They are boxes with walls about 1 meter high, one end is left out so the fencers and coaches can get out (in between bouts only).

But if that's the case, then... There might be a conspiracy theory!

However, I might just add that if the USFA was following the FIE rules (no coaching during the bout, only during 1 minute breaks) they probably wouldn't need to resort to such ends.