clock status

[concordref]

Here is a question for all the wing officials that work NFHS varsity ball.  Do you as a standard pratice, tell the coach what the status of the ball after marking off the yardage  will be when you notify him of the penalty.  Or another way, what do you tell the Head coach on major fouls ie. holding, interference against his team etc) that effect his team.  Do you inform the coach the same way if time is not a factor in the game or what yard line they are on..  I do not know if I worded this right.  After I get several responses I will inform all what brought on this question.  Thanks!

[takemeaway10]

Do you as a standard pratice, tell the coach what the status of the ball after marking off the yardage  will be when you notify him of the penalty. 

Guessing you meant "clock." Yeah, I tell them. "Clock starts at the snap" or "clock starts on the wind."

[HLinNC]

Only time I mention clock status to the sideline is late in either half when it could be a factor.  I will also mention the RTP being blown to a coach straggling out of an authorized conference.

I try to get the number on fouls from the calling official and we try to relay the info from one side to the other.  The WH normally tells them in pre-game that we will try to get them a number but it might be a play or so later.

I've never understood the urgent immediacy of why a coach wants to know who the foul is on, other than to gnaw on the kid.

[El Macman]

I've never understood the urgent immediacy of why a coach wants to know who the foul is on, other than to gnaw on the kid.

There are two reasons:
1) To 'coach' the player about avoiding that same mistake, which is sometimes a constructive conversation, but is, indeed, often just 'gnawing' on the player, or
2) To challenge the officialas as to the veracity of the call; i.e., if, for some reason, you couldn't get the number, the response will be, "How can you make a call when you don't even know the number; you didn't see it; you're just making it up!" And, if you make the mistake of reporting a number they don't have on their roster, all hell will break loose - "WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THAT NUMBER! NOW YOU'RE JUST MAKING STUFF UP." Or, "HE'S NOT EVEN IN THE GAME! HE'S OUR THIRD STRING DEFENSIVE TACKLE AND HASN'T PLAYED A DOWN ALL YEAR! NOW YOU'RE JUST MAKING STUFF UP! And they love it when that happens. No number is better than the wrong number, but better yet to get the right number.

[HLinNC]

And when they can't hear its even better.    Last Friday- Me: " Holds on 71 coach"
Coach: "61 ain't even in the game, how can you have a hold, blah blah blah?!"
Me: "I said 71 and he's standing right there", as I point towards my hashmarks.
Coach: Hangs head and turns away.

[bama_stripes]

As a wing, I inform the coach if time is critical.  As R, I inform the QB if time is critical.

[AlUpstateNY]

Makes sense, the key word being "critical".  The person needing that information on penalty options is the person making the decision, usually the Captain (NF:2-32-5c) or loud enougn/near enough to the Captain's coach so he can advise the Captain if necessary.

Explaining how, and when, you'll get information useful to the Head Coach, during the pre-game discussion, is appropriate as there is usually no situational urgency involved which can limit listening.

[NWA_UMP]

Maybe I'm just mean or a bit dense...I have never told a coach when the clock will start after a penalty. I have never been asked either...could be that as a crew we are yelling at each other when the clock will start 

[InsideTheStripes]

And when they can't hear its even better.    Last Friday- Me: " Holds on 71 coach"
Coach: "61 ain't even in the game, how can you have a hold, blah blah blah?!"
Me: "I said 71 and he's standing right there", as I point towards my hashmarks.
Coach: Hangs head and turns away.

I had a similar exchange recently...

Me:  The hold was on 66 (who I happened to be standing next to).
Coach:  COME ON, MAN... WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A 66.  THAT'S TERRIBLE!
Me (turning 66 towards his coach so the coach could see the front of his jersey):  Coach, let me introduce you to 66. 
Coach: 

Not another word from him all day.



Back to the OP, I try not to "over communicate".  The coach has a job to do and I don't want to distract him from his job any more than I want him distracting me from mine.  If the clock status is important information for him to have (end of a half, end of a quarter if significant weather exists, etc.), then I'll give it to him.  If he asks, I'll give it to him.  I'm not going to offer it all the time for no specific reason.