When I work in Illinois, I still do the meeting first. I cover the required questions with the coaches (equipment and sportsmanship) and then they are free to go if they want to. The rest of the meeting takes 30 seconds anyway, so they usually stay. Then I go to the book. Yesterday we were working a tournament and teams warmed up on another court and there was only 10 minutes put on the clock, so I grabbed the book first THEN did the captains meeting at about 6:00.

I'm pretty flexible about it, but I don't think I'd ever throw out an administrative technical on the book unless someone was being a jerk about not getting the book done. It would simply be an incredibly bad way to start a game.

Book at 11, captains at 6, coaches at 2.

So do others find doing coaches at 2 awkward? Around here, by then they are looking to get their players into the huddle, rounding up last minute necessities, such as water cups or missing jerseys, talking to assistants about specific plays or whatever. It seems much smoother to do it at 9 or 10.

I do not really have a problem with book Ts (unless they just totally screw up a number or the starters). When I go to the table I just make sure everything has been submitted, not necessarily in the book. I might not sign it until everything is put in the book, which happens after the meeting anyway. I just make sure they have the proper number of players and the 5 starters.

Peace

I do not know of anyone that does that anymore. We have the one meeting and we are done.

Peace

That's the entire point of doing it at 2, no time for needless chit-chat.;)

I'm surprised nobody has quoted the NFHS Officials Manual yet.

NFHS OM Pg. 89

OFFICIALS' PREGAME PROTOCOL

Guidelines for Two Conferences
0:15:00
Officials enter court area and go directly to positions

0:12:00
At Center Court area...introductions of team captains.

0:10:00
Referee go to score table and check books.

0:01:30
Officials go to area of score table and greet head coaches.

The guidelines go into more detail than I listed...but, that's basically it.
And, that's basically what we do around here. (Eastern WA)

BTW, these are "guidelines"...so do what your association or area officials agree on if you don't like these guidelines.

Also, for those of you who want just a single conference...
that is listed on pg. 90 NFHS Officials Manual
0:15:00...enter court
0:12:00...check books
0:10:00...Greet coaches and captains

[Edited by RookieDude on Dec 24th, 2004 at 09:10 PM]

EXACTLY! Here, we grab the captains at 3 or 2+1/2, say a few things about sportsmanship and having fun, which they don't care to listen to anyway, then go over to greet the coaches. When the horn sounds at one minute all of their players come running over to the bench and they have better things to do than ask us silly questions.

My experience has been that below three minutes, coaches aren't even available at all. We're supposed to be getting both coaches together on the X at 2 minutes. It just doesn't work. I'm not interested in needless chit-chat, either. But I'm not even getting in the required "chit" because that timing doesnt work.

Washington,

On floor at 15:00
Captians at 12:00
To book right after Captians meeting
coaches at 1:45 - 2:00

We sign the book at the 10:00 mark.

Many games the coaches are already together. If not we go to the visiting coach first rating card with stamp, attire, sportsmanship, box, good luck. Same with home coach. Takes about 30 seconds total. I rarely have a problem. We start over at about 2:10.

In Ohio here is what I've seen......

Capts at 12:00
R - Book right after
Coaches at 2:00 (Greet, not much discussed as far as sportsmanship etc)

Our Capt meetings are usually limited to...

Questions? No?
Speaking Capts? (If necessary)
Partner you have anything? No? (he better not)
Everyone have a great game.

They arent listening anyway.