Coin Toss Options

[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.