Coin Toss Options

[glyphrunner]

Let's put it this way, we've had things like this happen before where a kid was told a very specific thing by his coach and he got confused. His options were explained clearly and then he made a different choice. His coach then blew up saying we had convinced his captain otherwise.

Our policy is to not influence the players' decisions. We are not there to decide what happens in the game.

[RonRef]

Originally Posted by glyphrunner

Let's put it this way, we've had things like this happen before where a kid was told a very specific thing by his coach and he got confused. His options were explained clearly and then he made a different choice. His coach then blew up saying we had convinced his captain otherwise.

Our policy is to not influence the players' decisions. We are not there to decide what happens in the game.

It is obvious from this statement from the original post: Home Captain: "We'll defer and defend that goal" (indicating the west goal). That the captain was a bit confused.

[TXMike]

Originally Posted by glyphrunner

Let's put it this way, we've had things like this happen before where a kid was told a very specific thing by his coach and he got confused. His options were explained clearly and then he made a different choice. His coach then blew up saying we had convinced his captain otherwise.

Our policy is to not influence the players' decisions. We are not there to decide what happens in the game.

You are there as part of the educational process. And by letting him do something that you know is stupid without taking a minimal amount of effort on your part to be sure he really wants to be stupid, seems almost like dereliction of duty to me. And if you had done as some suggest (i.e. confer with the coach before the toss) you would know what he intended anyway.

[Ref inSoCA]

Originally Posted by glyphrunner

Let's put it this way, we've had things like this happen before where a kid was told a very specific thing by his coach and he got confused. His options were explained clearly and then he made a different choice. His coach then blew up saying we had convinced his captain otherwise.

Our policy is to not influence the players' decisions. We are not there to decide what happens in the game.

It is the coaches' job to coach their players and our job to be impartial.

I started officiating before we became the self-esteem police. In a Varsity game I don't ask the coach what he wants. That's the Captains' job as he has instructed them. If a 17 yr old kid can't make the right decision, it's not my fault.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Ref inSoCA

It is the coaches' job to coach their players and our job to be impartial.

I started officiating before we became the self-esteem police. In a Varsity game I don't ask the coach what he wants. That's the Captains' job as he has instructed them. If a 17 yr old kid can't make the right decision, it's not my fault.

Then it's time to adjust to 21st century officiating, isn't it?

[RoyGardner]

It's interesting that when we have trouble with a rule we complain about conflicting rules, too many rules, and obtuse language, yet there seems to be some of us that want a 17 year old player to sort out the mumbo jumbo of the coin toss wording in the rule book.

The actual process requires two distinct choices:

1. Use option (choose now for 1st half or defer to the 2nd half)

then after that decision is made the 2nd option:

2. Decide receive, kick, or defend a goal with opponent probably still getting to choose end to defend

I see absolutely no reason to let this get screwed up simply because we know how this works and we're not going to make sure that everyone else does. IMO this is one case where getting it right (according to the rules) is not enough. Don't let a team make a mistake here, and before accepting what looks like a "confused choice" make sure that team understands that they may end up not getting ball in either half.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by glyphrunner

Let's put it this way, we've had things like this happen before where a kid was told a very specific thing by his coach and he got confused. His options were explained clearly and then he made a different choice. His coach then blew up saying we had convinced his captain otherwise.

Our policy is to not influence the players' decisions. We are not there to decide what happens in the game.

No, you're not there to influence their decisions. You're there to insure that the game is fair for both teams. Make all the excuses you want, you didn't do that.

The young man said that he wanted to defer. He's not stupid so he knows the other team will elect to receive. So it went ahead and told you that they would defend the west goal. But no, your white hat had to show everyone how smart he is.

That's just plain over officious officiating. Glad I'm not on that crew.

[waltjp]

BktBallRef is correct. This is just trying to prove how smart you are. If a captain tells me that he is electing to kick to start the game I try to explain that they probably won't get the ball to start the second half either.

If you allow a team to mistakenly elect to kick you're just setting yourself up for a sh*tstorm to start the second half.