Since we have covered a lot of the details of this meeting in a previous effort, this will not be our focus here. Instead, the idea this time is to emphasize the very importance of the meeting and what happens in it.

Perhaps the least understood aspect of the meeting is the question: “Are all your players legally equipped?” Most coaches realize that the only acceptable answer is “Yes.” What far too few realize is that this isn’t a blow-off answer. In fact, this answer locks the coach into making sure this is actually the case. If we later discover that players are not legally equipped, the penalty is a 15-yard unsportsmanlike foul against the head coach. That is a stiff penalty that no one likes to see happen. This is easily avoided by seeing that all players are legally equipped. But the players are constantly looking for a perceived edge that will make them a little more competitive. Frequent violations are found in the area of players’ cleats, lack of required 7-pad sets in their pants (or improperly used pads, especially knee pads), and failure wear the required 4-point chin straps.

Another important point that we want to cover in more than just a perfunctory manner is the continuing emphasis on sportsmanship. Over time this has become a more difficult aspect of the game to enforce. But rest assured that we, as officials, care very much about each side displaying good principles of sportsmanship throughout the contest. We take a dim view of anyone trying to draw personal attention in any way not directly a part of the game. And any sort of baiting or taunting of the other team will draw a quick penalty. So, when we discuss this in the pre-game meeting, we hope you’ll use this as a reminder to your team that their job is to comply with the sportsmanship rules; and you can also let them know that the officials will be watching them closely on this point.

Of course not everything in the pre-game meeting is about our agenda. This is also the time for each of the coaches to deal with anything that they think is pertinent to the game about to be played. We want to leave that meeting with good understandings with both coaches about anything either one of them believes is important. We hope that when we ask you if you have any questions of us that you’ll be ready with any that you have. We’ll be happy to answer any of your questions to the best of our ability.

If you’re interested in learning more about the nitty-gritty of the pre-game meeting, look on our web site, www.mcfoafootball.org and follow the link to “Newsletters to Coaches” and finally to “Volume 1, Number 3, Communications #2”. This newsletter from 2005 should help you prepare for your side of the pre-game meeting

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