Rules RE: Declined Penalties

[Forksref]

"Captain, if you take the result of the play, the other team gets a touchdown. If you accept the penalty for ______, then we will go back___yds. from this spot."

If the captain can't handle that explanation, then the coach needs to select another captain.

I will tell the captain, "You've got a tough choice, either take the result of the play which is the ball way up there OR you can accept the penalty for holding which will bring the ball back 10 yds from the flag and replay the down."

"We'll take them back."

"Good choice...you must be on the honor roll!" They always smile upon hearing that.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Forksref

"Captain, if you take the result of the play, the other team gets a touchdown. If you accept the penalty for ______, then we will go back___yds. from this spot."

I don't mean this in a negative way, but this sounds like a referee that likes to hear himself talk.

Me to the captain:

Me (to the U): We'll take this back 10 from the flag.

[Texas Aggie]

For those in the "stick 'em with the decision they made originally camp," you must first account for the possibility that you (or the R) did not adequately explain the options to the Captain or coach and that they were making a proper, informed decision. I would consider myself, based on my experience, a top tier communicator, but I would never consider myself perfect. Thus, I want to make sure that the captain or coach is making a properly informed decision and virtually all the time, that means they will not make what most would consider an incorrect choice. So if they make such a choice, I accept some fault as maybe I didn't communicate the options clearly.

You won't last long around where I work in the stick it to 'em camp.

[mikesears]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

For those in the "stick 'em with the decision they made originally camp," you must first account for the possibility that you (or the R) did not adequately explain the options to the Captain or coach and that they were making a proper, informed decision. I would consider myself, based on my experience, a top tier communicator, but I would never consider myself perfect. Thus, I want to make sure that the captain or coach is making a properly informed decision and virtually all the time, that means they will not make what most would consider an incorrect choice. So if they make such a choice, I accept some fault as maybe I didn't communicate the options clearly.

You won't last long around where I work in the stick it to 'em camp.

Excellent post Texas Aggie.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

For those in the "stick 'em with the decision they made originally camp," you must first account for the possibility that you (or the R) did not adequately explain the options to the Captain or coach and that they were making a proper, informed decision. I would consider myself, based on my experience, a top tier communicator, but I would never consider myself perfect. Thus, I want to make sure that the captain or coach is making a properly informed decision and virtually all the time, that means they will not make what most would consider an incorrect choice. So if they make such a choice, I accept some fault as maybe I didn't communicate the options clearly.

You won't last long around where I work in the stick it to 'em camp.

Amen.

I simply won't let the kids make a mistake during a game that I can (and should) prevent. I will go as far as looking in the coach's direction and giving a little "decline" signal and asking "is that what you want?"

I know some WHs cringe at this, but I don't really care. When I work the professional level....oh, wait, I see WHs in the NFL ask the coaches directly all the time. Bad example....or maybe it's a good example after all.