If the coach went across the field to confront another coach, they did a few rules violations IMO. Rule 9-8-1 says that the examples that are given are not limited to those actions listed in the rule. Now that might not be what some are looking for, but not sure I would just let it go if a coach did this or any sport for that matter. And yes on some level we are there to keep coaches and players from crossing lines. That is not a baseball thing, that is a sports officials thing. We do the same thing in basketball too and put a stop to actions of coaches and players or they will suffer the consequences.

Peace

First off, an authorized conference during a timeout can't be held in that location (in front of an opponent's bench) so if you wish to find a rule, there's one. That's enforced as UNS, BTW.

Secondly, the officials have wide latitude for calling UNS in just about any situation where it's warranted. Doesn't sound like the visit was to discuss where the coaches were going for afternoon tea.

Thirdly, the swipe against baseball umpires is unnecessary. I'm a baseball umpire and a football official. My role is no different on either field.

Well said.

How, exactly, did he disrespect our authority --- given that no one told him to stop? You say he thinks rules don't apply to him ... yet there's no rule being broken here. And in the OP, nothing unsporting happened. We are not given that conversation - and since nothing volatile happened after he went over there - it could have been something entirely inoccuous. I grant that no self-respecting official would have let him all the way across the field, but in the OP that's exactly what happened.

ok then you let him walk across your field .... He wouldnt be walking across mine...thats all im saying....and when I get the "whats the problem I did it last week and there wasn't an issue" I would tell said coach to find the previous weeks official and ask him why he could't control his game.

We had a game situation where a coach who started the game with 13 and after 3 injuries and being down by 30 wanted to speak to the opposing coach about shortening the game, which is possible by mutual consent of the opposing coaches and the Referee. He called a timeout and calmly walked out to the WH and informed him what he wanted to do and the two of them calmly walked over to the opposing sideline and then we all went home.

Then he did things properly. He went to the WH to explain an unusual situation and the WH calmly and professionally (from the way you described it) escorted him to the other sideline so they could have a discussion like adults. That isn't the only way to do things in an unusual situation, but it does seem acceptable and certainly within the spirit of the rules.

I guarantee you it's not the way they'd want to do it if the coaches wanted to discuss ditching the officiating crew without pay and immediately installing another. There are some things you just don't want the referee in on.

Huh?

I think you missed my point.

NO. I would not let him walk across my field. And if he blew through my stop sign he'd be flagged, and likely reported (to whatever authority matters depending on the level of the game). But in the OP, there was no official there stopping the guy.

That's just not going to happen. I don't work a single game around here without a contract. And supposing that I did work youth football without a contract -- I'm also an officer of two officiating associations -- good luck getting any competent officials after I'm done recommending to everyone that they not take your games.

The athletic director and principal be damned I guess.

I guess if both coaches can agree to:
a) take both their teams to another field off of school property where the AD, principal, etc. won't be able to stop them
b) find and use a competent officiating crew that is not part of any association
c) be content with the results of that game, regardless of how it goes for them
d) get the state association to accept the results of a game that it did not sanction
e) accept the personal liability risk for playing a game in a manner inconsistent with THEIR contracts
f) do so in a manner that no parents or fans will be angered that the game was not played in the time and location promised and subsequently complain

... then the coaches really don't need me on the field. I'm willing bet my house that it doesn't happen in THIS country before the heat death of the universe, with the coaches keeping their jobs.

Facetiousness-challenged? I'm just saying there might be reasonable circumstances wherein opposing coaches might want to confer during the game without the R's being in on it.

The one you posited was about as ridiculous as possible. Please feel free to name one possible (not potential) scenario where the R would or should not be included in such a discussion during a timeout.