We've discussed WHAT we say to captains and coaches, now the next question is WHEN? I think the Officials' Manual says to talk to coaches at 2 minutes or 1 minute and a half. I can't think of a worse time. I've been the R for a couple of games now, and I try to get coaches right after I check the book. Then captains right after that. Then back to sideline position until the players are heading for the bench.

What do others do?

I do coaches before captains.

I do coaches at about 8 minutes, after I've checked the books, I go over any concerns they might have then invite them to the captains conference which takes place at 5:30.

I don't like feeling rushed, and I think getting this stuff over with earlier allows you to deal with any problems that might come up.

Wow, I'll have to read up on this.
We've been instructed to do the coaches and captains together.What's the purpose of doing them seperately? I'm with Juulie though for timing, I grab them (all) right after I check the score book.
Different strokes!

My Officials Manual says to have the Captains/Coaches meeting at the 10 minute mark just after the R checks the book. In my area, we usually do captains by the 5 minute mark. Also, we have captains only at the center circle. Then the crew goes to V coach first, quick shake hands/good luck/players properly equipped?, same with H coach. Stand respectfully for intros, National Anthem, go to spots for Jump Ball.

A few years ago we started having the coaches at the captains meeting, but I guess it got redundant and didn't stick. Captains meetings are pretty redundant, anyway (at least by the time they make Varsity).

Maybe the 2 minute thing is local. I'll have to ask around.

We normally meet captains at 6 minutes and coaches at 2 minutes.

In Wisconsin:

We do the captains at 12:00 and then the R goes to the book. We greet the coaches, V first, at 1:30 and ask the required questions (equipment/sportsmanship).

We do not meet with the captains at the same time as the coaches.

We do it a little differently
 

We meet with the administrator and the coaches for a mandatory meeting before the kids are able to take the floor for warm-ups. This takes about 2 -3 minutes.

Then the R checks the books and we do captains about 3 minutes to go before gametime.

Thanks
David

We meet with the captains and coaches together at the 12:00 mark. Just one more reason to keep the captains meeting short. Need to leave time to check the book *before* 10:00 so we can get stuff fixed if it's not right.

An additional challenge around here -- and maybe this happens everywhere -- is that teams will often go back to the dressing room at some unpredictable point during warmup. So we often have to adjust the meeting time to whenever we can catch everybody on the floor at the same time.

Re: We do it a little differently
 

Has this rule always been around in your area or was it the result of some incident???

12:30--Go to the table and check the book.

12:00-10:00--Captains and coaches meeting (Sportsmanship talk) immediately after checking the book.

In Illinois we have to have the meeting with the coaches and players together. This is not an option. This is what our state wants us to do. And he Head Coaches have to be involved, not the assistants. If the Head Coaches are not present, we can write them up.

Peace

R goes for book at 11 minutes, to head off any problems.

Captains at 6 minutes.

Coaches at 2 minutes, which is the best time because they want to get back to their teams prior to the introductions. Getting coaches too soon can lead to the old," This happened last night, was that the right call," bit that they will pull.;)

we've been instructed to do this:
15:00 on floor
11:00 R check book, let coach know mtg @ 4 minute mark, greet table.
4:00 Capt/Head Coach Mtg, 1-2 min long

This works good because then U/U's have time to sign book, remove jacket, greet table, etc.

Coaches as soon as we entert the court.
Captains at 3:00 minutes.

Wow! Very interesting. I didn't realize there was so much variety.

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.