Rules Proposal:
"Coaching"
rev A, 2008-11-17, by Rules Officer Hans Mullamaa
Original proposer: Rod Bedard (Canadian rep)
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Revision History:
rev A, 2008-11-17: First version.
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1) Original Wording of Proposal (e-mail from Rod 2008-11-14)
In the racketlon rules there is nothing covering coaching between sports and in the intervals.
Here is the status of coaching rules for each individual sport:
 
Table tennis:  1min break between games-coaching allowed
                      30 sec time out (1 per match) -coaching allowed
 
Badminton:  2min between games- coaching allowed
                    60 sec break at eleven- coaching allowed in some competitions but some national events do forbid it.
 
Squash: 90 sec between games-coaching allowed
 
Tennis: no coaching at all except in David cup where the team captain/coach sits on the bench and do coach at each interval.
 
So what will it be for Racketlon?
 
Our proposal is that coaching be allowed in racketlon between each sport and during the break at eleven.
 
Reasons behind the proposal:
 
It would be very difficult to prevent coaching in the transition between sport and players ought to be allowed to speak to other people in the transition.
 
For the break at eleven, we find that it's the only time when sport specific advice may be given.
 
Of course during the course of a game (except at eleven) no coaching shall be permitted at any time.


2) Amendment by Rules Officer

2.1) Existing Rule
Currently there is no rule on coaching in the Rules of Racketlon document.

2.2) Wording Proposed by Rules Officer (if proposal is accepted)
No coaching during play.
Coaching of players is permitted only during the breaks between sets and at the half time break within each set. Coaching does not include brief comments of encouragement between rallies that clearly have no effect on the continuity of play. The Referee shall decide whether comments are permissible encouragement or improper coaching. The use of external communication aids is prohibited. The Referee may penalise coaching in any form during play by applying the misconduct rule to the player being coached.

(Wording inspired from a guideline attached to the Rules of Squash.)

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Attachment:
Comments by Rules Officer
rev B, 2009-01-01, by acting Rules Officer Hans Mullamaa
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Revision History:
rev A, 2008-11-17: First version.
rev B, 2009-01-01: Added a record of the final AGM decision.
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1) Aspects

1.1) Need
Presently there is no clear rule regarding coaching within Racketlon. Which has caused unnecessary discussion during at least one tournament. The rules within each individual sport are not consistent with each other (to avoid confusion we should have the same rule for all sports within Racketlon) and not straightforwardly translatable to Racketlon. Therefore, there is a clear need to regulate coaching in our Racketlon rules (although it might be questioned whether these rules should be on "sport" level or "tournament regulation" level, see below).

1.2) Consistency
According to the proposer (Rod) our four individual sports - all except tennis - generally allow coaching during breaks. This translates straightforwardly to allow it between the Racketlon sets.

It is not quite as clear, though, whether we should allow coaching during the 60 second break at half time, especially since this is not always the case for the corresponding half time 60 second break in badminton. However, as Rod points out the half time break is the only opportunity in Racketlon for "sport specific feedback coaching". By "sport specific feedback coaching" I mean advice based on what the coach has seen in a particular sport that is delivered to the player before that sport is over, while the player still has the opportunity to implement the advice. Before the set it will be too early for this kind of coaching since no points have yet been played in the specific sport. And after the set it will be too late since no further points will be played.

Furthermore, "sport specific feedback coaching" is arguably the most important kind of coaching that can take place during a match. So, if we want to be consistent with the idea of allowing coaching during breaks we should reall allow the most important kind and the only opportunity for this is the 60 sec break at half time.

One might ask though, why tennis have chosen to stand out as the only sport to disallow coaching and whether their reasons might apply to Racketlon...

1.3) Right Level?
Does this rule belong on "sport" level (i.e. in The Rules of Racketlon) or is it perhaps better positioned on "tournament regulation" level (i.e. in our Tour Requirements Spec for tournaments sanctioned by the FIR)? In other words: should we allow this regulation to vary between matches depending on context (e.g. world ranking event vs. small local tournament or separate match). What choice have our four individual sports done in this regard?

2) Proposed Voting Procedure
Simple "Yes" or "No" vote.

3) Recommendation by Rules Officer
Yes. Rules on coaching are well needed and if we want to follow the general spirit within our four individual sports, Rod's suggestion seems to be the only natural choice.

4) AGM Decision (According to Lennart Eklundh, acting Rules Officer at the AGM)
Proposal APPROVED.


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