How will be the best way to handle a pregame USC
that occurs? Example: A player runs to opponents warm-up
area and taunts members of other team. Do you actually
throw a flag or do you just notify both team's coaches
of the penalty ? This would affect the coin toss choices
if it occurs before the toss. Ideas ?????
And don't come on here and say this penalty should not
be called, "cuz we don't do it 'round these parts."

My first year officiating football (10 in basketball and 2 in baseball) but I'll give it a shot. Don't throw the flag, notify both head caoches immediatly, if they cannot be located notify the assitant.

I would throw a flag immediately upon seeing this play. Notifying both teams head coach as well.

Pre-Game USC & Kickoff
 

The interesting thing about this question is how such a penalty would effect the kickoff. We would have to be very careful to explain the choices and what ramifications the USC penalty would have.

How would you all handle that? Inform the coaches? Try to explain it to the captains?

Thoughts please?

Both coaches need to know this before the coin toss.

A question: What if there is a USC on one team between an early coin toss at 15 minutes until the game and the 3 minute mock toss? Would you then have another "official" coin toss at 3 minutes and ignore the earlier toss?

The official's manual wants us to have the toss at 3 minutes. If we got it earlier then have we put one team at a disadvantage?

Rule 3-2-1: ..."If the coin toss, OR SIMULATED COIN TOSS, is held on the playing field, it shall be held three minutes prioor to the scheduled game starting time,..."

Since the on field coin toss can be simulated (held prevoiusly as per 3-2-1) any USC fouls commited bewteen then and the simulated coin toss will be assesed accordingly. We didn't put any team at a disadvantage; they did it to themselves by commiting the USC.