coaches box

[phansen]

What do L and LJ do to keep coaches/players back on the sidelines other than the continuous warning? I guess I've never paid too much attention to where they are unless they get in my way, but with the chains being back 6 ft this year they are more obvious to me and a hinderance to the chain crew. I've always told them before the game that if I run into them or they are in my line of vision to the field its a flag. Any other suggestions?

[JRutledge]

When I was the Referee on my crew last year, I would in the coaches meetings tell the coaches that we enforced sideline decorum as instructed through the State Association. That was their first warning and then after that if we threw a sideline warning, they believed we were serious. Now it helped us because our state took a very low tolerance for coaches being on the field.

If you do not have that kind of support, tell the coach one or two times then start throwing yellow. Throwing yellow seems to work and send the right message.

Peace

[RonRef]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

When I was the Referee on my crew last year, I would in the coaches meetings tell the coaches that we enforced sideline decorum as instructed through the State Association. That was their first warning and then after that if we threw a sideline warning, they believed we were serious. Now it helped us because our state took a very low tolerance for coaches being on the field.

If you do not have that kind of support, tell the coach one or two times then start throwing yellow. Throwing yellow seems to work and send the right message.

Peace

JRut has the only thing that really works, coaches will abuse us on this until we hit them with a flag. "Get back" coaches are really good until the game starts; they are good for one or two "get backs." We need to enforce this before one of our wings officials gets hurt, not after they blow their knee out. When that flag goes up for the warning they think they are getting a yardage penalty and when they see it is only a warning they seem to be a bit thankful and now they are willing to cooperate with us.

[mcrowder]

I agree with Ron. You can usually rely on the "get back" coach once or twice at the beginning of the game. If he can't keep your sideline clean on his own after a couple of reminders, the Sideline Warning is your tool. Use it. I've RARELY had to actually penalize this problem - normally the SW is plenty.

[DJ_NV]

Here's what I do in NF (I've never had much of a problem in NCAA though the fields are marked much better). Anyhow, if I'm HL or LJ, I'll introduce myself to the head coach before the game and tell him that I'll be on his sideline and I'll communicate with him as much as I can and get as much information to him as I can. This way I start the relationship off on a cordial note and I set the tone that I'm not Type A or out to be overly-officious and just out to do my job.
Just before the first kickoff, I will ask the players very nicely (but loud enough for all of the coaching staff to hear) to please be behind the coaching box. This usually gets the coaches fired up at their players and they do the job for me. It also subconsciously conveys that I've given them a 'warning' or that I'm at least trying to work with them in a cordial manner. Throughout the first quarter--and it has to be the first quarter so that you're not calling something later in the game that you let go during the first half or so--I'll verbally ask coaches and players to get back, even when the ball is live if they're in my way (though anything egregious is enough for a sideline warning flag). However it's usually the assisstant coaches wearing headphones that I bump into when they're basically standing on the sideline. If it happens more than once, I'll start to change my tone and be more abrupt but still professional. At this point I'll ask the head coach for help (not the get-back coach--I don't even care who the get-back coach is. If the head coach is having to be bothered by me for something as trivial (in his mind) as sideline control, then usually he goes ballistic on his assistants which saves me the trouble.)
Now here's the fun part. If it's the head coach that's giving me the trouble, usually by being way out to call plays after I've told him to stay on the sideline, or the assistants still in my way, I'll wait for a big play that benefits them like an interception return if they're on defense or a long run that results in a TD or is close. Then if I even brush sleeves with a coach, I'll toss the flag when I run by. They'll usually know that it's something that has to do with the sideline because I threw it right when I bumped them. Then I let the coach have the pucker factor that it's all coming back because he got in my way. I'll also go out and talk to the Referee first to let him know that it's just a non-player sideline warning foul with no yardage. Then after what seems like an eternity on the sideline, I come back to the head coach and explain that the penalty is on him or one of his coaches, players, etc. and that while there will be no yardage assessed 'this time', there will be a yardage penalty if it happens again. I conviently leave out that all yardage will always be assessed as a non-player, succeeding spot and therefore the play will always stand (unless of course it's bad enough to be Illegal Part. but I have yet to see anything close to that). So therefore I'm the good guy, not the jerk and then his pent up adrenaline is subsequently released on his coaching staff for such a 'close call' and not me. works great....
And the bonus is that the off official gets to go to his coach and explain what's happening and to urge it not to happen over there. That coach is happy as all hell that 'the other guy' is getting in trouble and not him. It really is a great psychological tool.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

I agree with Ron. You can usually rely on the "get back" coach once or twice at the beginning of the game. If he can't keep your sideline clean on his own after a couple of reminders, the Sideline Warning is your tool. Use it. I've RARELY had to actually penalize this problem - normally the SW is plenty.

Get back coaches are useless. I stopped asking for these guys a few years ago to help me out. Now with the new rule about the chains, you can address this in the pre-game with the coaches. You would be surprised how many times coaches tried to resist or talk about what the crew did the week before, but for some reason that first flag stopped a lot of stuff.

Peace

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Get back coaches are useless. I stopped asking for these guys a few years ago to help me out. Now with the new rule about the chains, you can address this in the pre-game with the coaches. You would be surprised how many times coaches tried to resist or talk about what the crew did the week before, but for some reason that first flag stopped a lot of stuff.

Peace

Some are, some aren't. Sometimes, with a good one, all you need to do is look at him and say, "Coach!" and he'll take care of it. Other times, with a good one, you NEVER have to say anything, as they have the sideline clean all game.

But yeah, some are worthless until they get that SW, and then all of a sudden they are paying attention.

[Mick Jagger]

Hey guys...not sure if I'm understanding everyone. If the team is in the team box and the coaches are in the coaches box....and the wing official is working off the field, feet touching SL, are you going to issue a warning/flag for brushing/bumping into a coach who is in the coaches box?

[BktBallRef]

Ask the head coach for a "get back coach" during the pre-game conference. Use him when you get too many folks in the box.

[MJT]

Get back coaches are "the man" the head coach says is in charge of sideline management, so know him by name and have him help you. If he does not do his job, you could tell the HC he is going to get a flag if things are not cleaned up and you have talked to the GBCoach with no success. It will get cleaned up pretty quick I'd think.

[Suudy]

Our biggest issue with the sidelines has been a "statistician." We have one team that has an adult that keeps stats. Yet he often doubles as a coach. Frequently he yells out advice to his team. Every year this team tries that, and every year they get a sideline warning.

Their response? "He's just the statistician." We reply, "Then tell him to keep his coaching to himself."

The first flag and a SW usually puts an end to their ploy. Yet every year (I'm going into my 8th year) we have to deal with these guys.

[Daryl H. Long]

Just moved to LJ this year after 27 years of officiating. I have had no problems in my first 2 Varsity games this year. The "get back" coach did his job throughout the whole game. During the pregame meeting I stressed to the head coach that I do enforce the sideline rule and related that I work 2-3 feet off the sideline when the situation warrants. This gets them used to me being in the team box.

I agree with Rut that get back coaches are really unneecessary. Sideline control is my responsibility as an official. The key to me is the "get back" coaches will be as lenient as the L/LJ lets them be. The fact that teams have a designated get back coach is a reality and can be beneficial if you get a good one so we can concentrate more on action on the field. If they won't do their job then the sideline warning is due immediately, ie the first or second time they mess up.

As far as giving the warning in the pregame conference: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER. The sideline warning can occur only after the game has started AND a team has violated the rule to be given the warning.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Daryl H. Long

As far as giving the warning in the pregame conference: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER. The sideline warning can occur only after the game has started AND a team has violated the rule to be given the warning.

These were not “formal” warnings. These were letting coaches know that sideline decorum was an emphasis from our state. The Football Administrator who is also on the NF Football Committee wanted coaches off the sideline and he wanted this addressed directly with the coaches. Several officials came up with the philosophy to address it in the pre-game meeting (the official I got the idea from is a State Final Official and a State Clinician). It worked pretty much every time. We still used sideline warnings, but because our state made such a big deal out of coaches being on the field, I did what I felt was the best thing to do. I was just trying to let the coach know so he would not be surprised and try to make an issue while the game is going on. After a sideline warning (during the game) we did not have a debate. The coaches would believe we were serious.

This technique worked out very well. BTW, I received my very first HS playoff game (As in X officials for those Illinois Officials reading this post) largely because of the way I enforced the sidelines in a game I was being observed as a fill in to a State Final crew. I was convinced he was serious how the officials enforced this rule.

Peace

[OverAndBack]

I need to do that, be a hardass in my next sophomore game.

I just can't for the life of me figure out why these guys have such short attention spans that they can't get that they need to stay off the field.

[dumbref]

Originally Posted by Suudy

Our biggest issue with the sidelines has been a "statistician." We have one team that has an adult that keeps stats. Yet he often doubles as a coach. Frequently he yells out advice to his team. Every year this team tries that, and every year they get a sideline warning.

Their response? "He's just the statistician." We reply, "Then tell him to keep his coaching to himself."

The first flag and a SW usually puts an end to their ploy. Yet every year (I'm going into my 8th year) we have to deal with these guys.

Consider anyone in the box a coach. Doctor, ball boy, principal, minister – if they are in the box, they are a coach. And they can have 3 of their choosing.

Some random thoughts in general. Talking about it in pre-game conference certainly sets the tone and makes enforcement during the game easier. Don’t continue reminding them, remind them once and give a sideline warning the next time. Send the message early. This will make some old heads cringe but our state has our wingmen turn and face the sideline after they release their spot. This is not intended as confrontational, but you would be surprised at how a simple glance at the team box works while returning to your position. It sends a message without having to say anything.

Consistency – It starts with your crew and next crew and every crew, the first week through the last week. Someone mentioned their state administration emphasized it. Our state has sent letters to every coach and official association emphasizing it. They have follow up with fines to schools that are guilty and suspensions of officiating crews that do not enforce it. That certainly encourages consistency!