Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz answers his second question as sent to him from an AFM subscriber. Today, Coach Holtz lists a total of 15 items that should be discussed with the game referee before kickoff.
Question from Pete Kowalski, Head Football Coach, Westfield State University:
I once heard you talk about the 15 things to cover with officials during your pre-game meeting and wasn’t able to record it.
Can you go through that listing?
Answer from Coach Holtz:
Over the years, I’ve learned that there are many things that you should cover with an official when they arrive at the coach’s
dressing room approximately an hour and fifteen minutes before the game. Because I was never around the Head Coach
when this meeting was taking place, I had to learn a variety of different things to share with the officials. These are some
of the things I shared:
1. First of all, I told them who our captains were.
2. Anyone on our team could call a time out.
3. In the unlikely event we have a penalty, please report it to me.
4. All of our players were dressed properly.
5. If we have any trick plays, such as the reverse pass back to the quarterback, I wanted them to be aware of it
so they didn’t call a penalty or get in the way of our play.
6. If we’re playing at home, please don’t take the crowd out of the game by demanding they be quiet so the
other team can snap the ball. If we were on the road, I’d say we want to have the same opportunity as the
home team to snap the ball as the home team, and that this was only proper.
7. I’d state the correct time and told them that I hoped we would agree as much as the rest of the day.
8. Were the snacks ok in the dressing room?
9. Was the program there for you to keep as a memory of this game?
10. Do they come out first or do we come out first, and I assume the official will come get us and let us know
the proper time to come out, and you’ll give us a five- minute warning? Also, how long do we have at
halftime and, once again, will the official give us a five-minute warning?
12. In the unlikely event we have a penalty, I know you will report it to me. And if our left tackle grabs a
defensive lineman around the neck, I hope you will call it a penalty. By the same token, if their left
tackle does this, I’m sure you will do the same. (Rather than saying “Watch the Left Tackle” because
they usually will resent that type of approach.)
13. I wanted to know the name of the officials on our sideline. I wrote them down because I wanted to be
able to address the official as Mr. Smith, Mr. Jones, or whatever his name may be, rather that Mr. Official.
14. In any unusual situation, please come to the sideline and explain it to me. And if I call timeout because I
want an interpretation or wish to visit with you personally, will you accommodate my wishes?
15. If any of our players say anything but “Yes, sir” or No, sir,” please report it to me. I just want them to play with class.
These are just some of the things I covered with the officials. The main thing I wanted them to know is how well organized
and prepared we were as coaches, and I wanted them to assume our team would be the same exact way.