Question Number: 6520

Pre-Game

RE: Youth Under 12

Tony Messina of Kingsport, TN USA asks...

Regarding Question 2053, I have found it to be an effective ritual to first clearly show which side is heads and which is tails, then to explain that the winner will choose which goal to attack and the loser will kickoff, then to tell the visitor to call it in the air, tell them if it lands on edge I will step on it, and then have the home captain actually flip the coin in the air, and I do let it land on the turf. If on edge, I step on it and read the result. I use a large coin, about 1.5 inch diameter, and have had no problems this way. I seldom have to step on it. Younger kids in particular seem to enjoy flipping the coin...I don't like smaller coins, like US Quarters or below, because they tend to get lost in the turf.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Tony I have never had a problem loosing a coin in the turf, I catch it in the palm of my left hand and cover it with my right. Then I ask if the captain is sure in his choice, it ain't the NFL you know. Once he is sure I move my right hand and hold the coin in front of who will have the choice of ends. I use a coin with a head that matches the gender of the players. ..On an important match I use a small dollar, silver or gold, and the winner of the toss keeps it as a memento...Regards,

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Answer provided by Referee Victor Matheson

I never understand why referees don't simply catch the coin. It saves all of the second flips and means I don't have to bend down to pick up the coin. It also gives a chance to make sure that a player clearly called one or the other before I expose the coin. Obviously this is the least important thing we do, but this is all the more reason to make sure we don't screw it up.

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Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The reason a lot of us don't catch the coin is we can't!!! I use the official USSF coin which the kids love and make them call it before I flip it. I have never had it land on edge. I let the AR bend down and pick it up!!

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