Checking Footballs

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Sturno

We have always done it that way...and I do it that way with my 4 man JV crew as well, unless for some reason we are running late. That conference takes maybe a minute and a half to two minutes +/-, unless coach explains razzle-dazzle play or wants clarification on something.

Every crew I've been with or heading up since the early 90's has done it that way. Must be a Washington County thing.....

That said, we may be the one of the only crews in WI not into the wide stripes yet.

I think it's healthy to question practices from time to time. I can't imagine a single positive of a coach being ganged up on by 5 officials.

The R/U have specific reasons for being there. The rest? Have other jobs to do.

[Sturno]

Originally Posted by Rich

I think it's healthy to question practices from time to time. I can't imagine a single positive of a coach being ganged up on by 5 officials.

The R/U have specific reasons for being there. The rest? Have other jobs to do.

I don't really disagree, and would have no issue the other way....I'd like to see Wade's take on it, because there's at least 8 to 10 crews I know and/or have subbed with do it the same way, and quite a few of those go pretty deep in the playoffs or to Mad-town every year.

As far as the other jobs to do....you guys must come out late or really go deep into conversation with the chain crews and trainers with all the time you have left.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Sturno

I don't really disagree, and would have no issue the other way....I'd like to see Wade's take on it, because there's at least 8 to 10 crews I know and/or have subbed with do it the same way, and quite a few of those go pretty deep in the playoffs or to Mad-town every year.

As far as the other jobs to do....you guys must come out late or really go deep into conversation with the chain crews and trainers with all the time you have left.

We are on the field by 6:25PM. Every week. We're required to be there at 6:30PM, so I make sure we leave the school at 6:20PM.

We take the time after the coin toss to observe the teams, talk to the ball boys, etc. We put 4 officials on the 30 yard line on each sideline and the BJ on the 50. No huddling, no congregating. It's all bidness.

At some point, we'll talk to ball boys, greet the trainer, and at some point in the last couple of minutes, I'll personally thank the chain crew and remind them that I keep a fast pace (I act like I'm kidding, but I'm not).

Knowing Wade, he'd ask "what's in the manual?" That said, it's not the kind of thing that would make or break a deep playoff run, IMO.

Oh, and love the wide stripes.

Originally Posted by Welpe

Quite often around here we will have the actual coin toss off the field about 20-30 min before the game. Then we'll do a mock toss right before kick off.

The "simulated coin toss" has to be the dumbest thing I've ever seen written in a manual/book. Thankfully, we simply do it at the 50-yard line -- at 20 minutes.

Conference rules dictate these kind of things.

[CT1]

Originally Posted by Rich

We are on the field by 6:25PM. Every week. We're required to be there at 6:30PM, so I make sure we leave the school at 6:20PM.

7:30 kickoff?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by CT1

7:30 kickoff?

No, 7PM. We're required to be on the field 30 minutes prior.

If they made it 60 minutes prior, I think a substantial number of officials would quit.

[scrounge]

Originally Posted by Rich

No, 7PM. We're required to be on the field 30 minutes prior.

If they made it 60 minutes prior, I think a substantial number of officials would quit.

As anyone familiar with Ohio knows, we have an extremely detailed and specific list of steps, starting at 6:00 required arrival (for a 7:30 kickoff). It is what it is....it has brought a level of uniformity and predictability in mechanics, especially when mixing officials from the various urban areas in the state as well as the many rural areas in the playoffs or filling in on other crews.

U's check the footballs here. It works pretty well, teams bring a bag with all their balls to the locker room between 6:00 and 6:50 when we're dressing, U marks the ball (the timer usually comes by around the same time to talk with R/LJ), entire crew meets with coaches at 6:55 (or so), coin flip at 7:10 (20 mins prior), and off we go.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by scrounge

As anyone familiar with Ohio knows, we have an extremely detailed and specific list of steps, starting at 6:00 required arrival (for a 7:30 kickoff). It is what it is....it has brought a level of uniformity and predictability in mechanics, especially when mixing officials from the various urban areas in the state as well as the many rural areas in the playoffs or filling in on other crews.

U's check the footballs here. It works pretty well, teams bring a bag with all their balls to the locker room between 6:00 and 6:50 when we're dressing, U marks the ball (the timer usually comes by around the same time to talk with R/LJ), entire crew meets with coaches at 6:55 (or so), coin flip at 7:10 (20 mins prior), and off we go.

Our crew arrives no later than 5:45PM for a 7PM kickoff, so we're only 15 minutes behind Ohio. Sometimes we're there by 5:30PM.

My 5-person crew has been together for 8 years as a group now. We've taken on a sixth (a rookie) and he's in his 3rd year and works 4-5 games a season with us and also subvarsity and also works on other crews from time to time.

I admire Ohio's efforts at uniformity, actually. Some of the things I find odd, but from a macro perspective, there's a lot to like about it.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by Rich

I think it's healthy to question practices from time to time. I can't imagine a single positive of a coach being ganged up on by 5 officials. The R/U have specific reasons for being there. The rest? Have other jobs to do.

Not having the burden (luxury) of 6 and 7 man crews, I've found it a positive exchange to have the wing official working a specific sideline participate in the coach/official discussion befor the game. It's a way to "personalize" the entire "get back" issue and introduce the official who will be helping the coach with penalty details, or understanding who those details should be directed to if not the HC.

Starting the game on a friendle, helpful note has never caused a problem.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by ajmc

Not having the burden (luxury) of 6 and 7 man crews, I've found it a positive exchange to have the wing official working a specific sideline participate in the coach/official discussion befor the game. It's a way to "personalize" the entire "get back" issue and introduce the official who will be helping the coach with penalty details, or understanding who those details should be directed to if not the HC.

Starting the game on a friendle, helpful note has never caused a problem.

Our wings find "his" coach at an opportune moment in the 10 minutes before kickoff and does this one-on-one. I don't need to be there for this and this lets the coach and the wing start their working relationship without the R hovering nearby.

Lots of stuff happens in the 17 minutes or so between the coin toss and the kickoff. That's why I like that while we're meeting the coaches, the wings walk the field, fix the pylons and yard markers, and look for issues.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by Rich

Our wings find "his" coach at an opportune moment in the 10 minutes before kickoff and does this one-on-one. I don't need to be there for this and this lets the coach and the wing start their working relationship without the R hovering nearby.

Lots of stuff happens in the 17 minutes or so between the coin toss and the kickoff. That's why I like that while we're meeting the coaches, the wings walk the field, fix the pylons and yard markers, and look for issues.

With most things in life, there's usually more than one way to successfully accomplish most any task. If a process works as intended, there's not much reason to change it.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by ajmc

With most things in life, there's usually more than one way to successfully accomplish most any task. If a process works as intended, there's not much reason to change it.

There's value in the schools and coaches seeing a uniform experience every week.

BTW, one of our association officers talked to 5 big school varsity coaches after preseason scrimmages, and every one of the coaches said how much he hates the 5-on-1 meeting prior to the game. They all much prefer talking to the R/U only.

[Reffing Rev.]

Our state office dictates the 5 on 1 meeting and that the entire crew attend and be a part of the coin toss. They are by the strict letter of the mechanics manual usually, expect on coin toss mechanics.

[bigjohn]

John, you're not having a seizure are you?

No Welpe, that is just the way it pasted! Thanks for checking on me though!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Reffing Rev.

Our state office dictates the 5 on 1 meeting and that the entire crew attend and be a part of the coin toss. They are by the strict letter of the mechanics manual usually, expect on coin toss mechanics.

Your state must have its own mechanics manual. The NFHS manual only has the R/U meet the coaches.