Pre-Game Conference Guide
| Introductions Introduce yourself (and Umpire) to the Head Coach in a friendly and business-like manner. |
| Bench area / safety and respect Coaches are expected to coach from the dedicated space off the field and behind the white lines. Officials require adequate space along the sidelines to do their jobs properly and in a safe manner. All interactions with officials should be respectful. |
| Coaches ID Cards All bench personnel (coaches, managers, trainers) are expected to have physical Football Manitoba ID cards. Ask the coach to have their coaching staff/managers/etc to have these cards ready before captains are called. Anyone without an ID card is not permitted in the bench area. Professionals (athletic therapists, doctor) are exempt. |
| Equipment Ask the coach to certify that their players meet the following equipment requirements. It is not necessary to address each item. The Referee may wish to do so in a generic way. |
| Coach’s Certification The head coach, or the designated representative, shall certify to the umpire before the game that all players: a) have been informed of the mandatory equipment as specified in the rules, and what equipment is illegal b) have been provided with the mandatory equipment as specified in the rules c) have been instructed to wear the mandatory equipment, and how to wear it during the game d) have been instructed to notify the coaching staff when equipment becomes illegal for any reason during the game Reinforce the requirement for all players to wear knee pads. Players without knee pads or altered ones will be sent off the field. Inform the coach about the new rule pertaining to mouthguards. Provide as much or as little information as the situation demands. |
| Player Numbering Ask the coach for player numbering of captains and special teams players (convert kicker, holder, long snapper, punter) Any numbering issues; ineligible or eligible numbers playing out of position (50-79 are ineligible receiver numbers) |
| Unusual Plays Ask the Head Coach if they wish to share any information with respect to unusual plays. |
| Opportunity to seek clarification Inquire if the coach has any questions pertaining to the interpretation or intent of a specific rule. |
| Conclusion Conclude the meeting with a positive statement. |
Example Script
Good afternoon, Coach! I'm [Referee's Name], your referee for today, and this is [Umpire's Name], our umpire.
First, for everyone's safety – officials, players, and your staff – please make sure all your coaching staff stay within the bench area, which runs between the 15 and 45-yard lines. Your players should be a good five yards back from there. Coaches are fine in the space between your players and the sideline, but please don't go on or over the sideline itself. As Head Coach, I'm sure you'll ensure all interactions with officials are respectful, and I promise you'll get the same from my crew. If you have any questions about this, just ask.
We'll be checking for physical ID cards for all coaching staff; please have those ready. We'll do that before we call captains.
Just a quick run-through on equipment: Are all your players properly equipped and wearing everything correctly? Specifically, we'll be looking for:
No tinted visors
Knee pads that fully cover the knees
And a new rule this year: players can only have one mouthguard, and they need to be wearing it while on the field.
If we spot any non-compliant players, they'll need to leave the field for at least one play until the issue is fixed.
Could you give me your captains by number, please? Also, can you tell us who your convert kicker, holder, long snapper, and punter are? Any numbering issues on your offensive line or in the backfield we should know about?
Finally, do you have any unusual formations or trick plays that might catch us off guard? Also, any onside players you'll be using on punts or field goals?
Do you have any questions for us before we get started?
We'll check those ID cards about three minutes before kickoff, and then we'll call captains. Have a good game, Coach!