Tips For Coaches & Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I make my schedule?
-Coaches meet in early February (Monday Feb. 5th 2007 at Raymond Memorial G.C. 7:00 p.m.) to fill in a tentative fall schedule.
-Matches are usually Monday through Thursday from the first match date (Aug. 13, 2007) until early October.
-You may schedule 18 matches including league matches (O.C.C., M.o.g.g.l., etc.); the sectional does not count against your total.
-You may schedule 1 scrimmage during the season or “tryout week” (starts Aug. 6 for 2007 season).
-It is advised that you come prepared with a calendar with dates blocked out (such as Labor Day, religious holidays etc.) and put in your league match dates and sectional date before starting to schedule.
-If possible, contact courses that you hope to use as a host site before the meeting; you may be able to pencil in dates and avoid schedule changes down the road.
-If you are unable to attend the meeting, you need to send someone to make your schedule! It is very difficult to create a schedule after this meeting because most teams will have filled their dates.
- What happens at a match?
-When your team arrives let the hosting coach know a.s.a.p. in case there is some last minute change by the course etc., plus they will direct your team about where to change, etc.
-If you are the hosting coach, it is your responsibility to check in with the clubhouse, take care of greens fees, and find out any local rules or changes due to course construction. It is also a nice gesture to acquire score cards, pencils, cart keys or other items needed for all teams.
-range balls are provided at tournaments, O.C.C., sectional, and district matches (M.O.G.G.L. matches tba.); you may or may not hit balls before a duel match depending on time/availability.
-The host school will make a general announcement to all players and coaches about the rules being played/local rules or course conditions before play starts.
-5 to 6 players from each team play in a match, usually in the order of skill/scoring average.
-Players from opposing schools trade score cards and keep track of their opponent’s score as well as their own. If there are 3 players in a group, each keeps all 3 scores.
-During the match only the designated coach may speak with players (from when the last player in a group has finished the hole until the first player in the group puts a ball on a tee for the next hole). Do not let parents, boy friends, etc. talk to the players no matter what the subject. If they want to relay a message or pass an object (water, hat, etc.) through you that is fine, but an infraction of this rule is a two stroke penalty.
-A coach may speak to a player during the play of a hole if the player asks for a ruling. (In non-tournament play, the coaches are the rules officials)
One sign of quality coaching is if the players know the rules. Even if a player is inexperienced, knowing the rules will make them play faster and with more confidence. This site and the USGA website both contain printable rules quizzes.
-It is highly recommended that all coaches use carts if available-it helps with speed of play, making rulings, recovering lost clubs, and emergency situations.
-Keeping players moving quickly is one of the coach’s main duties during a match. Keeping up with the group in front of you is the goal, but due to skill level differences, that is not always a reasonable expectation (some groups may have 3 players shooting par and finish 9 holes in an hour and a half). A group not keeping a pace of 15 minutes per hole is given a warning and may be put “on the clock” if they do not speed up. At this point players have 45 seconds to take a shot once they have reached their ball, and would receive a 2 stroke penalty if they do not. A second violation is another two-stroke penalty, the third is disqualification. At some matches coaches may be asked to transport players in a cart between holes- this is fine as long as the host coach has approved of this and all players in the group receive transportation.
-At the conclusion of play the players total their scores within their group and sign the cards once everything is agreed on.
-The players will pass on the scorecard to their coach who should inspect it and double–check the addition for the final score. (players are responsible for having the correct score in the box for each hole on their scorecard, but NOT for their total score).
-Once all players have turned in cards, the best 4 scores from each team are added to make the team total.
-the 5th player is the tie-breaker. If the match is still tied, the 6th players score (when applicable), and finally the team with the lower individual score.
-The medalist is the player or players who had the lowest score in the match.
-Tournament play may use a playoff to decide in case of a team tie or for medalist honors.
-The host team is expected to report the final score and medalist to the newspaper (and hopefully this website).
