Game ManagementGame Management

MCFOA Meeting – 9/13/2010MCFOA Meeting – 9/13/2010

Jeremy ValentineJeremy Valentine

What is Game Management?What is Game Management?

Many aspects of the game that Many aspects of the game that establish a positive (or negative) establish a positive (or negative) perception of the crew on the fieldperception of the crew on the field

The “Little Things” that no one The “Little Things” that no one notices that make our lives a lot notices that make our lives a lot easiereasier

Without them, we would have no Without them, we would have no chance of providing a positive chance of providing a positive contribution to the game.contribution to the game.

It’s All About It’s All About Perception!Perception! The perception of the crew is The perception of the crew is

established LONG before the opening established LONG before the opening kickoff!kickoff!– Referee’s confirmation emailReferee’s confirmation email– Interaction with Athletic Office personnel.Interaction with Athletic Office personnel.

It is imperative that the crew responds It is imperative that the crew responds to the Referee’s emails and requests to the Referee’s emails and requests promptly so he can contact and promptly so he can contact and request the correct information in a request the correct information in a timely manner!timely manner!– Parking and other InformationParking and other Information

It’s All About It’s All About Perception!Perception! First Impressions are EVERYTHING!First Impressions are EVERYTHING!

– You can only make it once!You can only make it once! Be on TIME (which means early!)Be on TIME (which means early!) Look and act PROFESSIONALLook and act PROFESSIONAL Treat your host, locker room, and anyone Treat your host, locker room, and anyone

else you may meet with RESPECTelse you may meet with RESPECT– You never know who that person is, or may You never know who that person is, or may

report to!report to!

It’s All About It’s All About Perception!Perception! Once you establish a good first Once you establish a good first

impression, MAINTAIN it impression, MAINTAIN it throughout the daythroughout the day– Clock Operator, Chain Crew, & Ball Clock Operator, Chain Crew, & Ball

Boys (if available) Pre-gamesBoys (if available) Pre-games– Meeting the AD, Supervisor, or Meeting the AD, Supervisor, or

PrincipalPrincipal

The Little Things That The Little Things That Count!Count!

Ball PersonsBall Persons– They will make or break your crewThey will make or break your crew

ALL sideline officials need to meet and ALL sideline officials need to meet and have a thorough pre-game with the ball have a thorough pre-game with the ball persons on your sideline!persons on your sideline!

– Learn their names, write them on your card, Learn their names, write them on your card, and call them by their name for the entire and call them by their name for the entire game.game.

I have yet to meet a ball boy who has the I have yet to meet a ball boy who has the name “Ball” or “Football”name “Ball” or “Football”

– Has to be the same, rehearsed, SOLID pre-Has to be the same, rehearsed, SOLID pre-game every week, no matter how good they game every week, no matter how good they look.look.

The Little Things That The Little Things That Count!Count!

Ball PersonsBall Persons– Discuss:Discuss:

Importance of their job (Make or Break!)Importance of their job (Make or Break!) They are part of YOUR crew!They are part of YOUR crew! Game balls stay in THEIR hands unless Game balls stay in THEIR hands unless

they are on their way to an officialthey are on their way to an official Hand-offs or SHORT tosses are the only Hand-offs or SHORT tosses are the only

way to deliver a ballway to deliver a ball Footballs NEVER hit the ground…(why? Footballs NEVER hit the ground…(why?

Remember, It’s all about PERCEPTION!)Remember, It’s all about PERCEPTION!)

The Little Things That The Little Things That Count!Count!

Ball Persons:Ball Persons:– Discuss:Discuss:

They need to stay focused on every They need to stay focused on every play.play.

YOU need to keep them engaged on YOU need to keep them engaged on every play!every play!

Make themselves visibleMake themselves visible

– Your crew’s game will become Your crew’s game will become exponentially easier with a solid pre-exponentially easier with a solid pre-game for your ball personsgame for your ball persons

Measure Up To the Measure Up To the Task!Task! Chain CrewChain Crew

– Most of the time are at least three to four Most of the time are at least three to four football savvy individuals. USE THEM football savvy individuals. USE THEM WISELY!WISELY!

Tell them to give vocal queues for the HLTell them to give vocal queues for the HL– Say “First Down” as you run by for obvious callsSay “First Down” as you run by for obvious calls– Say “Close” if they think it’s close to the stick so Say “Close” if they think it’s close to the stick so

you can take a good lookyou can take a good look– Yell “Flag” if there is a flag thrownYell “Flag” if there is a flag thrown– Have the Down Box operator say the down and Have the Down Box operator say the down and

distance to you EVERY playdistance to you EVERY play– Tell him what that tape means so you don’t have Tell him what that tape means so you don’t have

to look!to look!

Measure Up To the Measure Up To the Task!Task! Chain CrewChain Crew

– Again, a standardized pre-game is necessary!Again, a standardized pre-game is necessary! Get a good line to break the “I’ve been doing this Get a good line to break the “I’ve been doing this

for 30 years attitude!”for 30 years attitude!” Be sure you cover:Be sure you cover:

– Safety (Drop them ASAP!)Safety (Drop them ASAP!)– Movement (Not until you’re told!)Movement (Not until you’re told!)– Communication (Every Down)Communication (Every Down)– MeasurementsMeasurements

Again, get their names, REMEMBER them (or write Again, get their names, REMEMBER them (or write them down) and call them by name all the time.them down) and call them by name all the time.

It’s Almost TimeIt’s Almost Time

Clock OperatorsClock Operators– Meeting is usually in the press box Meeting is usually in the press box

vs. on the fieldvs. on the field– Remember PERCEPTION! Whatever Remember PERCEPTION! Whatever

is said with them around WILL be is said with them around WILL be repeated to anyone and everyone in repeated to anyone and everyone in the press boxthe press box

– A standard pre-game is once again A standard pre-game is once again REQUIRED!REQUIRED!

It’s Almost TimeIt’s Almost Time

Clock OperatorsClock Operators– Game Clock Discussion:Game Clock Discussion:

Get press box location, field blind spots, Get press box location, field blind spots, recent issues with the time systems, recent issues with the time systems, etc.etc.

Can they hear the PA in the press box?Can they hear the PA in the press box? Discuss timing rules.Discuss timing rules.

It’s Almost TimeIt’s Almost Time

Clock OperatorsClock Operators– Game Clock Operator:Game Clock Operator:

Be sure they:Be sure they:– Disable any automatic horn or buzzerDisable any automatic horn or buzzer– Disable the 1/10Disable the 1/10thth second display if possible second display if possible– Know the half time length and when to start Know the half time length and when to start

the clockthe clock– Know to stop the pre-game clock at 1:00 and Know to stop the pre-game clock at 1:00 and

set it for the next quarterset it for the next quarter Tell them where the start/stop signals Tell them where the start/stop signals

may be coming from on the fieldmay be coming from on the field

It’s Almost TimeIt’s Almost Time

Clock OperatorsClock Operators– Play Clock Operator:Play Clock Operator:

Be sure they:Be sure they:– Know when to start the clockKnow when to start the clock– Know what to do if delay is or is not calledKnow what to do if delay is or is not called

What is Game Management?What is Game Management?

They are there to make YOU look They are there to make YOU look good!good!

Utilize them correctly and it will Utilize them correctly and it will happen!happen!

Good luck! Good luck!