Pre Game Quiz

[eme]

NCAA or NFHS:

You certify the home team coach who then informs you that the coin toss will be at 7 minutes prior to game time to allow for a ceremony after the coin toss honoring the four graduating seniors complete with roses for their mothers, etc.

Upon certifying the visiting team coach and then telling him the pre-game schedule and ceremony, he says, "They can do what they want but my team will not interrupt their warm-ups for their ceremony."

How do you proceed?

[BlueJaysLaxFan]

So the coach does not want to remove his team from the field during the home team's ceremony? Neither the rules nor the mechanics give us guidance on this, as far as I can tell. However, the rules tell us that as officials, we have overall authority on the field from the time we arrive until we depart. But, I would not penalize a coach who becomes obstinate about removing his team from the field during the pregame ceremonies, unless some type of unsportsmanlike conduct occurred.
First, ask the home field coordinator, usually the AD, as to whether he/she informed the away team ahead of time about this. Then, with this information, I would tell the coach that I want his/her team off of the field for the ceremony after the coin toss. If he/she politely refuses, then ask him to move the team to the one end of the field to at least stay out of the way. If not, plan to file a complaint with the league or association while the crowd boos the visiting team.

I had a reverse situation occur last spring. The previous game was running late which meant our game was to start late as is. The home varsity coach requested that we start 10 minutes even later to allow for a pregame ceremony (some kind of contest). My partner, who was the referee, refused and stated the game would start 20 minutes after the conclusion of the previous game. Needless to say, the coach was not kind to my partner during the game.

[3rdPersonPlural]

NFHS:

How do you proceed?

'I am here to enable lacrosse. This sort of flower exchange is a plus in my book. You may warm up behind the benches or, better yet, stand at attention and honor moms with the rest of the field.

Don't be a douche."

It takes a very bold or idiotic coach to risk being branded as a douche by the officials before the game even starts.

[coaches gal]

I agree with 3PP...

Tell him to take notes during the ceremony so that his team can do the same and prevent the whining of "their mom's get flowers, how come our team doesn't do something like that?!"

[massref]

Better yet, call the coach to the center of the field and give him a flower.

[wolfenburg]

Well since I don't know exactly the rules I only can say, how I would react:

If the coaches agree: no problem

If the visiting coach whants to have his worm up Iwould allow it to him but tell him what I am thinking of this and that he should thint weather it is a good Idea to warm up on his side while on the other side the ceremony takes place.