What to do when a head coach asks about a play from a prior game during the pregame conference or complains about the opposing team’s illegal play?
Sometimes, during the pregame, a coach will mention a play from the previous week. He wants to complain or find out if the officiating crew was correct.
Example: “Last week the crew let the play continue when a runner was stopped on top of a pile. He rolled off and ran downfield for a score. We lost all our momentum because of that play.”
Listen respectfully and ask clarification questions if you are unsure what the coach is describing.
Use “by rule” statements to respond to the coach’s comment or question.
If you haven’t seen the play, you can say, “I’m not familiar with the play, but by rule…” Or you can say, “I would need to see that play to judge whether the runner’s forward progress was stopped.”
Sometimes, you can say, “Coach, by rule, what you described is not a foul,” or “By rule, the formation is legal.”
If you have seen the play and agree with the coach’s complaint, do not criticize the officiating crew. Again, use “by rule” statements (cite the 4-2-2 rule regarding forward progress) and then move the discussion back to the upcoming game.
Sometimes a coach will complain about something they viewed on film about the opposing team.
Example: “We’ve watched film and (team name) does a lot of blocking below the waist, hits after the whistle, holds on the edge, covers a slot receiver that goes downfield for a pass, etc.”
Again, ask clarification questions if you are not clear about what the coach is describing.
Your response is simple. “I understand what you are describing coach. Thank you for sharing that. We’ll discuss that as a crew and we’ll be looking for that.”
Quiz
Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer(s). (Choose all that apply.)
4/18 at midfield. During the punt, R25 holds K10 at the R-43. The ball hits the ground, is touched by K81 at the R-2, and bounces sideways. R88 gains possession at the R-3 and begins to run. R88 then fumbles at the R-25 and K16 recovers and is downed at the R-20.
- Team R can have their foul enforced from the R-3 and keep the ball
- If Team K accepts R’s foul, it will be 4/8 from the R-40
- Team K can choose to decline R’s foul. Team R will next snap the ball on the R-2
- Team K can decline R25’s foul and next snap the ball from the R-20.
Review Rules 2-16h, 6-2-5, 10-4-2b