High School Football Strategy Question

Factual Questions
1

Before yesterday’s football game between High School S and High School G, they had the coin toss as usual. High School G won, and their coach elected to defer his choice until the second half.

I don’t understand this. If he chooses to kick, then he can receive in the second half. By deferring his choice, High School S will undoubtedly elect to receive, because if they elecet to kick, then High School G will elect to receive in the second half, meaning that High School G will receive both times, putting High School S at a disadvantage.

Which is all a roundabout way of High School G setting things up so they can receive in the second half, which they would have done anyway had they elected to kick in the first half, when they won the coin toss. Follow me so far?

What’s the reason for this kind of move? It seems to me that it’s all a way for one coach to get into the other’s head. It’s as if he’s saying, “Your team is so insignifigant to me that I’m not going to bother deciding whether to kick or receive right now. You go ahead.”

Anyone have any further insight?

2

Was he picking which goal to defend? Was there alot of wind or something?

3

No, you misunderstand the rule. When you win the coin toss, you can (a) choose to kick, receive, or defend a goal; or (b) defer your choice until the second half. If you exercise ANY of the options in (a), the other team still gets first choice at the beginning of the second half. So if one team elects to kick at the start of the game, the other team have first choice and will elect to receive AGAIN at the start of the second half.

4

Some teams – the Baltimore Ravens during their Super Bowl run, for instance – prefer to send their defense out first.