A discussion in another forum prompted this topic. Not sure why, but some folks think the coin toss is an opportunity for the R to offer some sort of mini-lecture to the captains regarding sportsmanship. While no one can stop an R from offering such a lecture, in reality, it serves no useful purpose. They ain't listenin'. They are there for the coin toss. So, just get to it.
-Have the captains introduce themselves to each other. Something like, "Good evening, Captains. Why don't you introduce yourselves?" while motioning them to come together to shake hands and introduce themselves to each other.
-If you have a field mic, now is the time to switch it on.
-Not required, but a quick introduction of yourself helps serve as an ice-breaker. "My name is [state your name]. I'll be your referee tonight."
-Show the coin to the captains (both sides). If you need to explain which side is "heads" and which side is "tails," do so. (I have a coin with a red helmet on one side = heads, and a blue snapper in snapping position - seen from behind = tails, so I let them know "red is heads, blue is tails." So much easier to see on the ground while standing.)
-Turn to the visiting captain that will call the toss, touch him briefly on the shoulder and tell him, "[visiting school name], you are the visitors, you will call the toss. What is your call?
-Verify his call by repeating it in the form of a question: "Your call is [heads/tails]?"
-After confirming with the visiting captain, turn to the home captain and ask him, "He called [heads/tails], right?
-After getting concurrence from the home captain, pause just an instant, and position your self squarely between both sets of captains, set yourself, be sure you have a good flipping grip on your coin, say something like, "OK, here we go," then toss the coin up some 2 feet above your head, and FORWARD, so that is lands on the ground somewhere near the center of the captains (so it can be seen by all, and your U can retrieve it while you are announcing the choices).
Note: On grass fields, you might check prior to coin toss time if the coin will get lost in the grass. If so, catch the coin. Catch it flat - don't turn your hands over; just remove your upper hand to reveal the coin.
-Check the coin, and report the winning side, something like, "It is [heads/tails].
-Turn to the winning captain, place your hand on the captain's shoulder and say, "[school name], you have won the toss. Would you like to take your first choice now? Or defer to the Second Half?"
Defer
-If the winner chooses to defer their first choice to the second half, take a step or two directly to the side of them, face the pressbox, come to a complete stop, look up into the stands as you would for a penalty announcement, and announce, "[school name] has elected to defer their first choice to the second half" while using signal 10.
-Turn to the captain of the team with the first choice and say something like, "[team name], you have the first choice in this half." Since 99.99% of the time they will want to 'receive', just ask him, "You want to receive - right?" (If he says something else, turn off the mic, and have a conversation with him to make sure of their choice. Look to his head coach to make sure, if necessary. Don't let them screw up. If they want to kick, or defend a goal - which means they will end up kicking - make dang sure that is what their coach wants before going any further. Rare, but it has happened.)
No Defer
-Make certain they don't want to defer, like, "You want to take your choice now(?). You don't want to defer(?)." If he confirms he want to exercise his first choice now, then ask "You want to receive - right(?)" (If he says something else, turn off the mic, and have a conversation with him to make sure of their choice. Look to his head coach to make sure, if necessary. Don't let them screw up. If they want to kick, or defend a goal - which means they will end up kicking - make dang sure that is what their coach wants before going any further. Rare, but it has happened.)
-If they choose to receive, then turn to the opposing captain, and say something like, "They have chosen to receive. Which end of the field would you like to defend? If he points to an end, confirm by asking, "You want to kick from this end (pointing to that end), going in that direction?" (pointing in the other direction). This gives him a chance to correct any misunderstanding, if he really meant they wanted to kick
toward the end to which he pointed. Be sure you have that right before you go any further.
-Once everybody knows their 'ends,' tell the kicking team, "Please place your backs to that goal" (while pointing them to move to the 48 yard line or so on the side of the 50 they will be defending), and then tell the receiving team, "Please place your backs to that goal" (while pointing them to the opposite side of the 50).
-Step to the pressbox end of the captains that made the first choice, and make the appropriate announcement, which 99.99% of the time will be, "[team name] has elected to receive, while giving the "catch" signal.
-Switch off the mic.-Dismiss the captains with something simple like, "Good luck fellas; have a great game." I usually ask them to shake hands, while dismissing them, but that certainly isn't required.
Get your coin back from your U.
Trouble
Both of these scenarios are possible, but, unless you know in advance they will want to do this, you really need to double/triple/quadruple check that they really want to do these things:
-If, in the rare circumstance of a team with the first choice electing to defend a goal, announce, "[team name] has elected to defend the [north/south/east/west] goal" and point toward the goal they will defend, and give a two-armed point. Then step to to the opposing team and announce their choice, which should be,"[team name] has elected to receive," and give the 'catch' signal.
-In a
more rare circumstance, if the team with the first choice elects to defend a goal, but the opponent chooses to kick, then do the same thing, i.e., announce the choices of both teams, with the appropriate signals.
-In the
most rare of circumstances, if the team with the first choice elects to KICK, then the opponent will receive, but also gets to choose the end of the field they want. You do the same thing, i.e., announce the choices of both teams, with the appropriate signals.
Go get 'em.
