Coin toss

[copedaddy]

Would just like to know, how many R's are still "catching" the coin toss out there? I know in the northeast part of the state that is all but gone and you never see it in college anymore. Just wondering. Thanks

[texref]

I still catch it.

[JasonTX]

I catch mine.  I've seen others drop the coin and it rolls and they have the chase it or ends up getting stuck in the grass or turf in an upright position.

[TXMike]

Pregame with coaches...Team 1 coach says if he wins toss he will defer.  Team 2 coach says if he wins he will receive.  Why do you even toss?

[centexsports]

To show off my pretty coin

[Etref]

I let the coin hit the turf. That said last week we were on a grass field and the grass was about 3" long. I caught the coin because I was afraid we might not find it in the grass.

[TexDoc]

I show the coin to both teams saying this is the head and this is the tail, I'm going to flip it and let it hit the ground, visiting captain do you want heads or tails, repeat his options loudly, then toss it and let it hit the ground.  It all works very well until you hit a grass field with long grass and the coin stays vertical. 

[TxSkyBolt]

We had that Saturday night Mike....flipped anyway. Tried to talk the R into not doing it since it was raining.

[Welpe]

Is catching it now verboten? I've always caught it but except for the occasional six man game, I don't work at R in varsity games.

[Etref]

Is catching it now verboten? I've always caught it but except for the occasional six man game, I don't work at R in varsity games.

If you catch the coin, just do not turn it over (flip the hands) because then you changed what it was originally.

[Joe Stack]

I catch it in the palm and say, "if I drop it, we'll do it again." Only dropped it once, I think.

Anyway, several reasons to catch it. First, it takes less time. Second, coins turn different ways on the ground and while 95% of the time its clear what the result is, why take the chance? Third, what if it hits someone's foot (or person) but still lands flat? Do you flip it again or not? The fact that there wouldn't be a consensus answer to this question among officials, coaches, and captains means you shouldn't, again, take the chance. Finally, in low light, it can be hard to see what the result is on the ground and the last thing an official wants to do is to illustrate by action he can't see the coin 6-7 feet away very well.

Now, what are the disadvantages of catching it?

[Welpe]

If you catch the coin, just do not turn it over (flip the hands) because then you changed what it was originally.

I don't flip it, just catch it and hold it.

[TXMike]

We had that Saturday night Mike....flipped anyway. Tried to talk the R into not doing it since it was raining.

Your R is as hard headed as mine       They  must have gone to the same R certification class.

[TxSkyBolt]

It was his first college game at R and I don't think he wanted to change anything. He did great by the way.

[allen]

Pregame with coaches...Team 1 coach says if he wins toss he will defer.  Team 2 coach says if he wins he will receive.  Why do you even toss?

To let the captains feel special in front of the crowd.  (and the R's)

[El Macman]

To let the captains feel special in front of the crowd.  (and the R's)

This is what is wrong with modern football. The fact that the game is for the players has been lost. Making the coin toss merely ceremonial is pure BS. The game belongs to the players - regardless of their age. Yes, they should feel special in front of the crowd, but as genuine representatives for their teams, participating in an important element of the game. Not just window dressing.
Far too much emphasis is placed on the coaches (especially by the coaches). Sure, players in high school may not be as experienced as those in college or professional football, but they ain't stupid. Take a few minutes to teach the players the rules and procedures of the coin toss, and there would be no problems at all with the coin tosses.
The game could be played without coahces. Without fans. Without officials. But it danged sure can't be player without players.
Let's give the game back to the players.

[Arbitrator]

 

99.99% of the time, we will pre-toss(at the coaches discretion) some 15-20 minutes prior to the scheduled kickoff. Usually, this occurs at the end of the field closest to the fieldhouse where we have brought the captains for introductions and for the pre-toss. Rarer still is the head coaches meeting for the pre-toss, but it does occasionally happen.

In any event, if we are standing on an artificial field or on a very flat mowed field, then I will flip the coin and let it land on the playing surface. Otherwise, I will just simply catch it.

After the National Anthem and just prior to the opening kickoff when we bring the captains to the center of the field for the simulated coin-toss, I will flip it and catch it. Same thing goes for a live toss held just prior to kickoff.   

[TexDoc]

99.99% of the time, we will pre-toss(at the coaches discretion) some 15-20 minutes prior to the scheduled kickoff. Usually, this occurs at the end of the field closest to the fieldhouse where we have brought the captains for introductions and for the pre-toss. Rarer still is the head coaches meeting for the pre-toss, but it does occasionally happen.

In any event, if we are standing on an artificial field or on a very flat mowed field, then I will flip the coin and let it land on the playing surface. Otherwise, I will just simply catch it.

After the National Anthem and just prior to the opening kickoff when we bring the captains to the center of the field for the simulated coin-toss, I will flip it and catch it. Same thing goes for a live toss held just prior to kickoff.   

Around these parts it is rare to have anything other than the normal toss, done by captains on the 50 yd line 15 minutes before the scheduled kickoff.

[Etref]

I ask the coaches in my pre-game how they want to handle the toss (before with mock or on field). Have not had one yet that wanted to do before. Guess I may quit asking.............

[TexDoc]

I always try to visit with the home team coach first so that if there is anything special going on that night (homecoming, etc), I can pass that along to the visiting team coach.  One of the first things I ask the home team coach is, when do you want to do the toss.  If we revisit rule 3-1-1-b, we will see that it is prescribed that captains will be present for the toss and it will be done three minutes before the scheduled kickoff.  We rarely follow this to a T, but I do still like having the captains do the toss.  I see having captains smart enough to get through the process of the toss as being part of the game.  If you have stupid captains, you may not wind up with what you wanted, and we've all seen that.  But, if the coaches want to do the toss, I let them do so, be we always reenact the toss, although I never re-toss the coin.  I just bring them out, introduce them, tell them they know the coaches have already tossed and we know the outcome, team A put your backs over there, team B over here, give signals and move on.  Short and sweet.

[TXMike]

We go with the UIL exception which only RECOMMENDS the toss be at that time.  Since it is not mandated at that time, we rarely go at that time.

[TexDoc]

Here is the exact wording of the UIL exception:

“It is recommended that the coin toss be conducted at midfield three minutes before the scheduled starting time. The referee shall toss the coin in the presence of no more than four field captains of the opposing teams and another game official, first designating the visiting field captain to call the fall of the coin.”

It doesn't say anything about allowing coaches to do the toss, but it is done all of the time.  I don't really have a problem with that, other than the fact that as an R, you never know when the toss will be, where it will be, and who will be representing either team.  Consistency would be nice, but hey, this is only high school football.  We can adapt.

[TXMike]

It is implied that coaches can do it.  Especially since the exception for extra Periods specifically says they do it.

[DallasLJ]

Probably half of our games the coaches do the toss about 30 minutes before coin toss.  Not really a big deal.

[allen]

 In Amarillo, it's almost always with 3 minutes left before kickoff at the 50 and the captains decide.  I have to admit, I like it this way.