As a sign of impartiality, the opening coin toss has been an event present in sports for a long time. Football and soccer are two of the biggest sports in the world, and both of them utilize the opening coin toss though each sport uses it differently. Up until 2015, Cricket matches also employed a coin toss to determine who would pitch first. In sports, flipping coins has been used to determine everything from a team’s draft position to home field advantage in the biggest game of the season. While a lot of these particular uses are on their way out, the long history and classic place of the coin toss is undisputed. When deciding something as important as the opening possession, a simple penny won’t cut it; only a custom sports challenge coin is worthy of the job.
Custom Flipping Coins for Referees and Umpires
When it comes to sports, the best team doesn’t always win. Training, chemistry and conditioning may be essential for building an elite team, but some things are always left in the hands of fate. A coin flip at the start of a game has the power to turn the tide before play even starts.
In wrestling, for example, custom referee flipping coins like these are used to decide home and away scoring and starting positions of the competitors (neutral, top or bottom). The winner of a coin toss can choose a starting position where they are most confident or a starting position where they know the opposition to be weak. It gives the winner of the coin flip a chance to set the scoring momentum in their favor.
Most people imagine something the size of a quarter when they think of a custom flipping coin, but wrestling coins are usually made on a larger scale. A quarter is roughly 1" while these coins are 2.25" and 2.5" respectively. They may not be close to the largest coin we have designed, but they definitely have a significant presence thanks to their size.
For any kind of referee flipping coin or umpire flipping coin, the most important thing to do is ensure that the two sides are clearly defined. While the flipping coins used in wrestling have red and green sides to determine home or away, other sports will often label each side as heads or tails.
Football Flipping Coins
The coin toss in Football takes place at the beginning of the game and, when necessary, in overtime. The visiting team makes the call of heads or tails before the coin is flipped, and the winning team gets to decide if they’ll start the game on offense or defense.
Starting a game on defense means that you can open the second half on offense. There is a certain strategy involved, and choosing one or the other has the power to change the momentum of the game.
Custom football flipping coins can be presented to referees at the beginning of the season in commemoration of seasons past or in acknowledgement of the great work they’re certain to perform in the upcoming season. Those coins can then be utilized in the opening coin toss for each game.
Soccer Flipping Coins
The coin toss in soccer is similar to the one in football, but it works a little differently. When the referee and team captains head to the center of the pitch at the beginning of the match, the captains are vying for the chance to determine which goal their team will be attacking in the first half. Because the team that wins the toss gets its choice of which direction to play in for the half, the team that loses the toss starts the game off with possession of the ball.
Soccer flipping coins should be thin and light weight to best accommodate the task. Luckily, Signature Coins’ customization options allow for a large number of choices to be made regarding the look and feel of your coin. When you place an order with Signature Coins for custom sports coins, you’re sure to get a free artwork proof and quote between 24 and 48 hours.
Customizing Your Umpire & Referee Flipping Coins
If you are looking for a custom flipping coin, our Signature Coins team has got you covered. All we ask is that you remember losing a coin toss doesn’t decide your fate. It just opens the door for all kinds of possibilities. Our team of well trained and highly dedicated artists have seen it all and know just how to get the best out of your custom challenge coins.
When considering the final look and feel of your coins, keep these unique customization options in mind:
- Shape and Size — Our coins typically range anywhere from 1" to 3" in size. While oversized coins are also an option, considering the specific usage of umpire flipping coins, smaller is the better option.
- Color — Either leave the coin in its natural metallic or have it painted with up to seven colors on either or both sides from the full Pantone color spectrum.
- Coin Edge — There are six different options to decorate the edge of every coin, providing a unique look and feel to each order.
- Plating — Have your coin plated in antique gold, silver, or copper to highlight details or choose to double plate a coin in two different metals to create and highlight key details.
- 3D Coins — While you’re always free to have elements of your custom coin pop off the coin surface, keep in mind that 3D elements add weight and throw off the balance of an umpire flipping coin.
- Offset Print — Offset printing creates an exact replica of an image or photograph on the surface of your coin.
- Silk Screen — Let your coin maintain a perfectly smooth coin surface by silk screening your design’s colors onto the coin.
- Epoxy Dome — Create a glassy and smooth finish over one or both sides of a coin with an epoxy dome.
- Coin Cut Outs — Interior sections of a challenge coin can be customized and “cut out” in different shapes, creating a coin that not only looks cool, but is also uniquely aerodynamic.
- Sequential Numbering — Every coin in an order has the option of adding sequential numbering to either side of the coin to make each one unique to their recipient.
- Glow in the Dark — Using special materials we can make challenge coins that stand out during both day and night games.
