Checking Footballs

[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.

[HLin NC]

We take the field at 7:00 pm. Here all 5 meet, first with the home coach, R goes over the Big Question, any casts/splints/braces for my U to check, halftime, unusual plays, non-conference game- do you want to play OT?, LH/RH QB, introduce his wing official. Then on to the visiting coach- same thing. I've never had an HC ask to do the early coin toss, they always say "Nah let the kids do it".

We then go to our pre-game field duties, stretch, prepare for the coin toss.