SJOA Headlines
Don't Overlook the Coaches' Meeting
If a head coach thinks a rule was not correctly administered, the rules provide a procedure for him to discuss the situation. The request for a conference must be made prior to the ball becoming live following the play to be reviewed unless any period has officially ended. Coaches may not request a conference directly through an official; a player or substitute may go to any official. As soon as the request is made, the appropriate official should signal the clock to stop. The referee should signal that the timeout is charged to the team requesting the conference. The conversation should take place directly in front of the team box but on the field. The referee should be joined by either the official involved in the play or the appropriate wing official. The referee should listen to what the head coach has to say, discuss all related issues and then make a decision. Based on the referee’s resolution, one of two things will next take place. If the head coach is correct and officials made a correctable error, the referee will make the proper adjustment. No team timeout will be charged and the meeting remains an official’s timeout. If the referee determines the coach’s concern is not valid, meaning there was no misapplication of a rule, the meeting remains a charged team timeout. If all three team timeouts have been used in a half, the team will be assessed a five-yard penalty for delay. A head coach cannot use the conference to debate an official’s judgment call, which should never be reversed as a result of a head coach’s complaint expressed during the meeting. If the referee determines the coach is using the opportunity to complain, the conversation should be immediately ended, the timeout or penalty charged and play should resume. Play 1: The line judge calls clipping on A1 during a run. A conference with the referee is requested and team A’s head coach tells the referee his player blocked B1 from the side and not from the back. Ruling 1: Since that was a judgment call and not a procedural error, the penalty will stand and be enforced by rule. Team A is assessed a team timeout or delay penalty. If a rule is not properly followed, the conference is the way a head coach may bring the error to the referee’s attention. Play 2: Team A’s ball, third and 21 from its 20 yardline. B1 interferes with A2 at midfield and the pass is incomplete. The umpire walks off 15 yards from the previous spot to team A’s 35 yardline. However, the chains do not move. The box man goes to team A’s 35 yardline, but does not change the number, which shows third down. Before the next play, team A’s coach has A3 request t a conference. The head coach tells the referee that defensive pass interference carries an automatic first down. Ruling 2: When the referee realizes the play was not administered properly, he should tell the chain crew to set up for first down and 10 at the team A 35 yardline. The referee will then give a timeout signal and point to himself to indicate the conference was an official’s timeout. It is a good idea to tell the other head coach of any changes made because of an official’s mistake. While the head coach and referee are talking, players and other coaches can conduct a normal timeout conference. Players can talk to coaches on the sidelines. One coach may come onto the field to confer with his team in its huddle. If a decision is not reversed and a team is charged a timeout, play will continue in when the meeting ends. No video replay of a previous play can be used to review a disputed call. Play 3: After an incomplete pass on first down, team B’s head coach requests a conference after second down, stating the ball was placed on the wrong hashmark for the second-down play. The coach says a spectator in the stands filmed the play, which shows the error. Ruling 3: Video replay cannot be used to correct errors. The head coach’s request is denied, the play stands and his team will be charged a timeout or a delay penalty. However, if the referee agrees with the coach that the placement was improper, the corrective measures should be taken and the timeout charged to the referee. Officials must honor a head coach’s request for a conference. Even if you are positive a decision made on the field is absolutely correct, the head coach still has the right to state his case. A head coach may not know a judgment call cannot be over turned by a conference. A philosophy a good referee should adapt is being able to recognize when a head coach may have a valid concern for wanting to talk to you. Find an opportune time to communicate with him and not charge him a timeout. That could be between quarters, during a team or injury timeout, as you are walking off the field for halftime, etc. As a referee, do not hesitate to consult with other officials regarding the misapplication of a rule or improper execution of a procedure. They may have information you may not know. Also, do not be stubborn or inflexible because you or your crew made a decision. Be able to admit an error may have been made if discovered and brought to your attention by a head coach. After all, as an official, you want to get it right.
