Time to Ditch the Shrapnel? 3 Alternatives To The Coin Toss

In mid-January, right as the ashes ends, the NFL playoffs become all the rage, and that’s no different in 2022. With big hits, bigger plays and tight games, the NFL playoffs are clogging up news feeds more than an NRL offseason controversy. 

But like an NRL offseason, the NFL playoffs have not been without controversy, most recently surrounding the infamous coin toss, used by multiple sporting codes across the globe.

In the Chiefs vs Bills games, scores tied at the end of regulation led to a period of OT, with a coin toss deciding who received the ball first, this being no different to the NRL and other sports. However, the difference for the NFL is just how much this can decide a game, the team receiving basically wins the game then and there just by receiving the ball, as this almost guarantees first points. 

Coins are fast becoming an outdated accessory in the modern world, and with the continued rise of cashless payments, coins are now almost exclusively found in folds of couches and under floor mats in the car.

Because of this, many people are calling for the coin toss to be changed, so let’s have a look at what else they can do to decide who gains the advantage of choice:

Scissors Paper Rock

An obvious choice, involving less luck than a coin toss and more skill. However, deciding between “scissors paper rock” or “rock paper scissors” could stop this option from playing out, as confusion between states, cities and conferences would make the pre-game ritual take far too long. 

Thumb War

Like scissors paper rock, this method involves more skill than luck than a coin toss, however, some could argue it requires even MORE skill than scissors paper rock. A thumb war to decide who receives could see more coaching staff hired, but instead of wrestling coaches, we would see thumb wrestle specialists come in and work with team captains, making it more likely to win the “toss” and receive the ball. 

Knee Footy

The final, and my favourite option is knee footy. Knee footy settles arguments left right and centre, in fact, I actually once played a game of knee footy to decide who was left and who was right centre. Similar to a thumb war, teams would inevitably sign coaches to teach captains technique and strategies to win the game of knee footy, and I have no doubt social media would eat up season highlights of the knee footy games. The only problem with knee footy is who starts with the ball? Maybe a coin toss could decide that……