Friday Decisions #3: Creating a Friday Night Decision Sheet
The One-Page Tool That Keeps Coaches Calm When the Game Speeds Up
The Situation
It’s Friday night.
The score is tied with 4:18 remaining in the fourth quarter. Your offense just crossed midfield after a momentum-changing turnover.
The headset comes alive.
“Go for it if we get close.”
“Take the points.”
“We need to slow the game down.”
“Who’s handling the clock?”
Everyone has an opinion. No one is certain who owns the decision.
The next two minutes become reactive instead of intentional.
Here’s the reality: great game management doesn’t begin in the fourth quarter.
It begins on Thursday afternoon with a sheet of paper.
The Friday Decision
Will we create a Friday Night Decision Sheet before kickoff?
The best coaching staffs don’t rely on memory when the pressure rises. They prepare for critical decisions before emotions, momentum, and the game clock begin influencing their judgment.
A Friday Night Decision Sheet isn’t another piece of paperwork.
It’s a leadership tool.
Why This Decision Matters
Every Friday night presents dozens of decisions that can change the outcome of a game.
When responsibilities aren’t clearly defined, uncertainty creeps in.
Players hesitate.
Coaches talk over one another.
Timeouts disappear.
Opportunities are missed.
A well-designed decision sheet creates clarity before the first kickoff.
It reminds every coach of their responsibilities and gives the staff confidence when the game becomes chaotic.
Preparation reduces hesitation.
And hesitation often costs games.
Build the System
A Friday Night Decision Sheet doesn’t need to be complicated.
In fact, the best ones fit on a single page.
Consider including these sections:
Communication Chain
Who communicates with the quarterback?
Who relays defensive adjustments?
Who has final approval on critical decisions?
Game Management
Timeout philosophy
Fourth-down decisions
Two-point conversion situations
Clock management responsibilities
Special Situations
Sudden change after turnovers
Goal line packages
Two-minute offense and defense
End-of-half procedures
Onside kick alerts
Personnel
Substitution responsibilities
Injury communication
Special teams rotations
Emergency backup assignments
Weekly Reminders
Every opponent presents unique challenges.
Leave space for reminders that are specific to this week’s game plan.
Common Pitfalls
Many staffs already have the answers.
They simply haven’t written them down.
Watch for these common mistakes:
Assuming everyone understands their role.
Waiting until game day to discuss critical decisions.
Changing responsibilities from week to week.
Having multiple coaches communicate the same message.
Never reviewing the decision sheet before kickoff.
Consistency builds confidence.
Leadership Principle
Pressure doesn’t create your decision-making process. It reveals it.
If your staff hasn’t organized its decisions before kickoff, the game will organize them for you—and rarely in your favor.
The calmest sideline is usually the most prepared sideline.
Reflection
Ask your staff this week:
If we paused our game film during the biggest moment of last Friday’s game, would every coach know exactly what decision they were responsible for making?
If the answer isn’t an immediate “yes,” your decision-making system deserves attention before next Friday.
Great coaching isn’t about making more decisions.
It’s about making fewer decisions under pressure because the important ones were already made.
One Decision. One Lesson. Better Leadership by Next Friday.
What does your Friday Night Decision Sheet include? I’d love to hear what has become indispensable for your staff. Share your ideas in the comments so we can all learn from one another.