I make up my own game cards and on the back I have the names of our crew to introduce and I have my list of questions to ask the coach. I have no problem doing this. The object is to get it right. And when I have it out, it's just a continuation of the front of the card where I write down the captains' numbers as the coach gives them to me. I also have a business size card with our association, crew names and contact info so coaches can give us feedback.

Our association has just the R and U meet the coaches as well. The other three officials all have other things to be doing, and ideally by the time the R and U are done with the coaches, we're done with our duties, and we all get together to get the game information we need.

Interesting. Don't you think it is beneficial for the wing on the coaches sideline to be part of the meeting? And, why have the umpire along. Doesn't he have other things to do as well?

You must be kidding, right?

Do other position people really feel that being the WH is an *easy* job? I had two guys on the crew like that -- I solved that perception by putting them in the R position during JV games and watching them struggle from a wing or the BJ position.

While I'm primarily a WH these days, I pride myself in being able to competently work any of the 5-man positions at any time. And I have at the varsity level.

Well, then maybe we should meet with all the coaches, not just the head coach? :rolleyes:

The umpire needs to hear if he needs to check any players' equipment. And the R needs *someone* along as a second set of ears.

The back judge can meet with the timer and the wings can check the chains and meet with their ball boys.

This has nothing to do with the white hat wanting to hog the spotlight or keeping the rest of the crew out. It's using the time as best as possible and keeping the meeting with the head coach short and sweet.

I think Buckeye was just busting onions.

In my opinion the most important relationship (for lack of a better term) is that between the wing and the coach on his sideline. The way they interact can make you or break you. My question was whether the two talk prior to the game if not in the pre game conference?

In my association, we introduce ourselves to the coaches before we bring the captains out for the coin toss (ideally), or while we're clearing the sidelines for the kickoff (less so).

Our wings talk to their coaches before the game starts.

My crew has been together a long time and our varsity schedule is typicially 11 games from the same 15 schools. We know all the head coaches and most of the assistant coaches, and very often we know the visitors too. Some coaches some of us know professionally or socially as well. So all six of us come on the field about 45 minutes before the game and say hello. If we don't know a head coach, all of us will introduce ourselves. Sometimes it's just the U and I who have the meeting with the head coach, sometimes one or more of the other officials will be there. It depends whom they're talking to at the time. The meeting with the coach covers all the important stuff, but it's pretty informal.

PENALTY ENFORCEMENT
NFHS:
The all-but-one principle applies. All fouls are penalized from the basic spot, except a foul by the offense behind the spot. Loose-ball plays include the snap, kicks, legal passes or fumbles in or behind the neutral zone and includes the run(s) which precede such legal or illegal kick, legal forward pass, backward pass or fumble. The basic spot for loose-ball plays is the previous spot. The basic spot for running plays is the end of the run.
Only roughing the passer, snapper, or kicker /holder plus defensive pass interference include an automatic first down.
The following fouls have special enforcement provisions and options for the offended team: free kick out-of-bounds; kick-catching interference); unfair acts; roughing the passer; and fouls on scoring plays.
When unsportsmanlike or dead-ball personal fouls by both teams are reported to the referee, they are enforced in the order of their occurrence. If the order cannot be determined, the fouls cancel.
Live-ball fouls on touchdown or successful field goal plays may be enforced on the try or succeeding kickoff provided they occur after any change of possession. Live-ball fouls enforced as dead-ball fouls and dead-ball fouls must be enforced on the try.
NCAA:

Normally, the R & U are the only officials who meet with the Head Coach to address the pre-game questions. During that discussion the respective wing officials will be pointed out to the HC and identified, and the Referee may (usually does) specify that the identified wing officials will relay information regarding penalties to the HC, suggesting that depending where the penalty was and who made the call, getting the details may take a moment, or even a play or two.

Each wing official, prior to the opening kickoff will subsequently directly introduce himself to the HC, and verify the Referee's indication that he will report penalty information, as soon as practical, and verify if the HC wants that detail delivered to him, or a member of his staff.

The general idea is to have the initial contact between the HC and wing official a positive one, offering assistance during the game. Of course, how effectively the wing official delivers on that offer goes a long way in keeping the relationship positive.

Well said...and that's how my wings handle it, as well.

So...we don't want to bother the head coach 45 minutes before the game, but we will stop him on the eve of the kickoff while he has ten thousand things going on and try to have a conversation with him. This is my criticism with just the U and R meeting w the HC. But, if it works for you.....

As someone working his first WH assignments this year, would anyone be kind enough to post a copy of their cheatsheet I can work off of for NFHS rules?

Pregame?
 

I ask my LJ and HL to meet with me when I meet their sidelines respective coach.

They have the first 15-30 seconds, introduce theirself, let coach know they'll be working that sideline, they talk about sideline control, ball boys, and time-outs, then they get on their merry way and we can continue our pregame with the other things I like to cover.