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The full text of “What are the 15 Things a Coach Must Discuss with the Head Referee Before Kickoff?” by Lou Holtz, Retired College Football Hall of Fame Coach, from the Vol 1 — Summer 2018 issue.
Page 32H all of Fame coach Lou Holtz won 249 games at North Carolina State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and South Carolina. His 1988 Notre Dame team won the National Championship. Coach Holtz put together his own list of 15 items to cover during pre-game meetings with officials: “Over the years, I’ve learned 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 taken 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.
By Lou Holtz, Retired College Football Hall of Fame Coach What are the 15 Things a Coach Must Discuss with the Head Referee Before Kickoff?
Page 3333 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 the play. 6. If we’re playing at home, please don’t take the crowd out of the game by demanding that 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 was only fair. 7.
I’d state the correct time and told them I hoped we would agree as much the rest of the day. 8. Were the snacks okay in the dressing room? 9. Was the program there for you to keep as a memory of the 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 will give us a five minute warning? 11. 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. (I say this rather than saying ‘watch the left tackle’ because they usually will resent that type of approach). 13. I wanted to know the names of the officials on our sideline. I wrote them down because I wanted to be able to address the official as Mr.
Smith or Mr. Jones or whatever his name may be, rather than Mr. Official. 14. In any unusual situation, please come to the sideline and explain it to me. And, if I call a time out 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’ and ‘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.”
