Coin Toss
 

I had a funny discussion with one of my crew members regarding my practice of letting the coin hit the ground during the toss. He told me the NFHS manual said the coin should be caught (indirectly, since it instructs the R to tell the captains that he will retoss if the coin isn't caught).

Now, I have no intention of changing my practice of letting the coin drop to the ground -- I think it's silly to have to worry about catching the coin and presenting it to the captains -- it speaks for itself on the ground. But I'd like to hear from referees on this list -- do you catch the coin or let it drop?

I am no longer the Referee on my crew so take this for what it is worth.

I let the coin hit the ground. I was aware of what the NF says, but it never made sense to me. I always watched the guys on TV do it that way, so that was always what I did. Most of my Referees that I worked with on other crews let the coin drop. I think it looks better and I think catching seems silly.

I also never heard anyone from my state or clinicians make a big deal out of this. I guess it comes back to what works for you and what you feel comfortable with.

Peace

I do tell the captains that if the coin rolls outside of the players I'll toss again. It's never happened.

I happen to be an R. I was a LJ when I signed up for this forumin '03. Yes, I let the coin hit the ground and my evaluators always criticize me for it. I used to catch the coin but there were a couple of times where I caught it at the "outside" of my palms and I didn't think that looked very good. And, once the wind took the coin and it hit the ground. That looked stupid and thank God that was a JV game. I'm adamant about letting it hit the ground and think that's the way to go. The only way I'd catch it if there was a lot of mud and the coin stood a chance of landing on it's side and "sticking" in that position.

We catch. No one locally that I know of let's it hit the ground.

It's no big deal. The state mandates that we do the toss with the coaches before the game. Drop it, nobody sees it except two coaches.

We toss it on the field and I let it drop. I have a HUGE coin, about 3 inches diameter. It is very easy to see what it is.

We caught it in SC and we catch it in Tennessee. I once had a referee in SC drop it and lose it in the grass. As umpire, I had a backup. The R also had a backup. Never did find that silver dollar in the grass.

I catch it. No need to worry about it standing on edge in deep grass, or rolling away on turf. Fortunately, I've never dropped it (probably just jinxed myself).

I usually let it drop. The only time I catch it is if it is really muddy or if the grass is really high.

We catch the coin. A lot of the fields have some tall grass so there were times that the coin wouldn't land flat but get stuck sticking up. Is it heads or tails? Looks like both side are showing. There were also the times where the coin would get lost in the grass. We'd end up doing more re-tosses due to those reasons than we do currently by catching the coin.

I always catch it unless the game is on fake grass, then I let it drop to the ground. You never want a situation where you have to toss it twice, looks unprofessional.

Hey Rich, got a problem catching????LOL

I catch it. Also use it to break the ice with the captains a bit by saying "If I drop it, I'll flip it again. And I've never dropped it." If I happen to drop it (has happened twice on windy days), the players get a kick out of it - and I will probably end up buying the first round for the crew that night. I once considered giving the coin to the calling captain if I dropped it - but it's a special flipping coin and not worth anything to a player.

Easy: Catch. If I drop it or miss it, redo it, and I say so before the toss.

I don't want to take a chance on it hitting someone's foot (or something similar) and then saying we will redo it in case that gives the impression that I didn't like the outcome of the toss and will do it again. Rarely do I worry about unreasonable complaints, especially potential complaints, but why mess around when its a hell of a lot easier to catch it (not to mention the fact that it takes less time) and there can be no argument or issue?

I catch it.

I used to let it drop, but on the newer fields, that fake-grass/crushed rubber stuff can catch the coin on edge, and did just that in one of my games. I've caught it ever since.

If you follow NFHS coin toss mechanics per the book, it says to catch it.

Actually it says it in the opposite way, is says "Inform captains if coin is not caught, you will toss again".

That's good enough for me.

My penny :eek: would get lost :o in the grass. :D

I don't toss a coin at all. I hold my fingers behind my back and ask the Visiting captain how many fingers I have behind my back.:D That way I don't have to worry about losing my shiny silver dollar that my gramps gave me.

That's funny right there. I don't care who you are.

Do you do the toss five minutes before kickoff, too?

Actually in most of the conferences in SE WI want the coin toss down around 20 minutes before the start of the game.

No, but we start bringing them out to the center of the field at that time. And yes, we do catch the toss.

Starting games on time has always been a sticky point especially for radio or TV games in my area. Every week there is a game-of-the-week broadcast by a local cable team.

I was just saying that the NFHS manual isn't the only way to do things. Where I live (Madison), the biggest conference dictates the coin toss 15 minutes before kickoff.

That's the problem with discussing mechanics on any of these forums.
Some do it the NFHS way, some do it their state way, some just do it their own way.
Even though I really feel we all should do it one way, I don't have problem with anyones way of doing any specific mechanic.

So, given WI either does the real coin toss at -15 or -20 minutes, is there then a "simulated" toss just before kickoff?

I let hit hit the ground 10 minutes before players are introduced, which is about 15 minutes before the kickoff. No simulated toss later.

I have the visiting captain tell me what he is calling BEFORE I toss it and I have my crew members echo the choice so everyone knows what he called.

No simulated toss. We do the toss at midfield 15-20 minutes before kickoff.

I do the toss with about four minutes to go in pre-game with captains and both head coaches present. Captains are introduced to one another as well as the coaches. I introduce myself and the umpire.

I then explain that so and so is the visiting team and they will call the toss. I then display the coin, ask the captain what he wants, heads or tells? I will then repeat it loud enough that the group at the toss hears it. I tell them if I drop it, I will re-flip. I have never dropped one, if I do tomorrow night, I will blast this thread!!!!:D

then of course give my choices to the winner.

I catch it. If I drop it, I will re-flip

Where do you live? Does your state require the head coaches to be at the coin flip?