cell phones in the dugout

I have very few absolute rules because there can always be that grey area where you can see bending a rule in a very extreme case. Overall I don't bend rules but I phrase all my rules in a way that I make the final decision and what I say goes. I've painted myself into many corners and have finally learned to give myself that wigggle room.

In your example I think it depends on what is going on that the parent has to reach their son. There are several questions I would ask...

1) What's going on?
2) Will you have to leave the game to attend something?
3) If they have to leave will someone be there to take them?
4) If someone has to take them why can't they just get the text and walk over to the dugout and discreetely tell the coach so don't have to break the rule?
5) Is this something you need to miss a game for?

There are family emergencies where a family member is sick, hurt or whatever. In that case the player needs to be with the family more than they need to be at baseball. But what exactly is an emergency to justify this and who determines how serious it is? Obvious situations where a parent / sibling / grandparent is having serious surgery is a no brainer but what if it's their second cousin who they only see once a year over the summer? This is where you need to have good communication with the player and family to make this decision. Some families are super close with extended family and some aren't. This is where that wiggle room comes in because in one case you can allow a bend in the rules but in the other I can't see it.

But either way you need to make a decision and stick with it.

Hope this helps.

freddy,

We had something like that happen 2 years ago. Our coach had the boy call whoever it was he was expecting the call from, and tell them who I was and that I’d be answering the phone and would pass on any message immediately, then gave me the phone. End of problem.