Kick, receive or defer revisited

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by maven

Certain mistakes we won't let them make.

My crew always asks the head coach what he'd like to do if he wins (defer or receive), and which way he'd like to kick. So we know what the answer is before the captain gives it.

This. I started asking the coach in the pre-game what his intention is if he wins the toss.

But if the captain says "kick", I find a way to restate the question, interpreting that he misheard me somehow. Examples:

• maybe he made a selection before I was finished giving all of the choices
• maybe he was confused by a teammate or opponent talking
• maybe he doesn't know what "defer" means
• I might interpret that I stumbled on a word and it wasn't audible
• I may tell him that "your choice has some instruction for you"
• remind him that if he chooses "kick", then "that team" {pointing to opponents} chooses in the 2nd half

But.... if he says "kick" again, then kick it is.

[Texas Aggie]

The R in the OP handled it right: correct them once, then announce defer. DO NOT allow them to choose the kick option. Defer gets them to the same place, and if something weird like wind is at play, choosing the end of the field gets them to play defense first if they choose.

[maven]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

The R in the OP handled it right: correct them once, then announce defer. DO NOT allow them to choose the kick option. Defer gets them to the same place, and if something weird like wind is at play, choosing the end of the field gets them to play defense first if they choose.

Another way to make the same point: by interpreting "kick" to mean "defer," they STILL have to option to kick twice, if that's what they really want.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by maven

Another way to make the same point: by interpreting "kick" to mean "defer," they STILL have to option to kick twice, if that's what they really want.

I thought the same thing...

About 3 years ago, we had a RIDICULOUSLY windy game on our hands. The kid said "kick". R said, "are you sure you don't mean defer". Kid said, "No, I'm sure - coach said to kick." R (as we've all seen before, and as was done in the OP) signalled that his side deferred. Then, as he's about to ask the kid that won the toss what side they want to defend, the OTHER kid pipes up, "Then WE want to kick."

That was a S-Storm to fix. We did NOT look good after that.

[Rich]

I am playing how I do the coin toss in my head and, come to think of it, I don't present any options. I say, "You've won the toss, it's your option" and I can't remember ever having to say more at the varsity level.

[legend]

Had a Jr, Hi. game thursday night where the team that won the toss (with their coach present) opted to defend. Asked if they ment to defer they said no defend. Again they were asked (with the question being directed to the coach this time) Are you sure you didnt mean to say defer. And the answer again for the 3rd time was "no we want to defend". Some times we just can't help them at all. By the way, loved the coaches face when after the half he realized that he was kicking AGAIN to start the 2nd half. At that point he said...and I quote "Oh so thats why you asked us 3 times if we ment defer" Costly lesson learned.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by legend

Had a Jr, Hi. game thursday night where the team that won the toss (with their coach present) opted to defend. Asked if they ment to defer they said no defend. Again they were asked (with the question being directed to the coach this time) Are you sure you didnt mean to say defer. And the answer again for the 3rd time was "no we want to defend". Some times we just can't help them at all. By the way, loved the coaches face when after the half he realized that he was kicking AGAIN to start the 2nd half. At that point he said...and I quote "Oh so thats why you asked us 3 times if we ment defer" Costly lesson learned.

Wait a minute...what did you interpret "defend" to mean? Neither the kicking nor the receiving team can be said to "defend", but if I were forced to decide which team that means, I would say it's the receiving team, defending the field against the kickoff.