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.