First Name Basis

rainmaker

Originally posted by David B
... even away from the park...

...On the field...

David -- what are you working? GRASS-ketball?!?

Jay R

This is interesting because I worry about being too friendly with one coach. Last week, my partner and I go on the floor for a girls varsity game at the 15:00 mark. I was gonna go opposite the table but my partner says let's say hi to the coaches now. We go to the home coach and my partner and the coach start to talk. After 30 seconds I go see the people at the table. My partner sits and banters with the coach until the 6:00 minute mark. I thought this was completely unprofessional. Then we go to the visiting coach and say "Have a good game".

rainmaker

There was a game where I stood and talked to a coach "too long." As soon as I was done, I went to the other coach and said, "We were just discussing the legal and illegal jump stop. Do you have any rules questions?" It was a total lie, which I don't like, but I was in CMA mode. Next time a friendly banter started with a coach, I interrupted myself, by saying, "...and she just fell right down -- oh, gosh look at the time I've got to check the book." Next time, I think I'll just try to be a little more distant and formal with the attitude in the first place, and call it "preventive officiating."

refjef40

I know of a few coaches who use first names and in their case its a ploy.They know if they yell Jeff I will look their way.I never use first names but if it works for others good.

Mark Padgett

If a coach calls me by my first name, I respond in kind. Of course, every coach has the same first name - "Beavis". I'll let you guess what the assistant coach's name is.

CKRef

I don't mind if they use my first name. Had an out of region coach do that just after meeting me last week. However, for me they are always Coach.

Watching a district tournament a few years ago, an official made an impression on me by having smiling conversation and patting one coach on the shoulder, then looking down (no eye contact) when shaking the other coach's hand. BTW, I charted calls that game and this official's fouls were 10-3. Guess who's favor. (Overall team fouls for the game were even.)

We like to catch them together when possible to speak to both at the same time before the game.

Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

While I am as friendly as the next guy, I do not like to be addressed by my first name during the game, no matter how long or how well I know the coach, and for that reason, I always address a coach by calling him coach.

Last night was a case in point. I was the U2. I had never seen the two schools. I did not know who the two coaches were. I had never officiated with the other two officials. The R knew the Visitor's Head Coach pretty well. From the first foul I called (which was against the Visitor's) it seemed that every foul that the Visitor's committed was in front of me. I cannot wait to see the tape of the game because it seemed that in the first half alone, that I called 70% or more of the fouls against the Visitor's. Before the end of the first quarter I was the object of the Head Coach V's affections and he thought that we should be on a first name basis, even if it meant calling to me when I was the C opposite the Table. It was Mark this and Mark that. The only time I responded to him was to ask "30 seconds or full, Coach?" Finally, with 7:18 left in the fourth quarter, at the 7:18 mark of the fourth quarter, I was the C directly in front of him. He asked me a question, and I gave him a short direct answer while keeping my back to him. Without going into detail, because I have to right my OhioHSAA Game Report this afternoon, two direct technical fouls were charged to him in very short order.

Even though we worked pretty well as a 3-man crew, the ejection just left a sour tasted in my mouth for the two hour drive home at 10pm at night.

Rich

Originally posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.
While I am as friendly as the next guy, I do not like to be addressed by my first name during the game, no matter how long or how well I know the coach, and for that reason, I always address a coach by calling him coach.

Last night was a case in point. I was the U2. I had never seen the two schools. I did not know who the two coaches were. I had never officiated with the other two officials. The R knew the Visitor's Head Coach pretty well. From the first foul I called (which was against the Visitor's) it seemed that every foul that the Visitor's committed was in front of me. I cannot wait to see the tape of the game because it seemed that in the first half alone, that I called 70% or more of the fouls against the Visitor's. Before the end of the first quarter I was the object of the Head Coach V's affections and he thought that we should be on a first name basis, even if it meant calling to me when I was the C opposite the Table. It was Mark this and Mark that. The only time I responded to him was to ask "30 seconds or full, Coach?" Finally, with 7:18 left in the fourth quarter, at the 7:18 mark of the fourth quarter, I was the C directly in front of him. He asked me a question, and I gave him a short direct answer while keeping my back to him. Without going into detail, because I have to right my OhioHSAA Game Report this afternoon, two direct technical fouls were charged to him in very short order.

Even though we worked pretty well as a 3-man crew, the ejection just left a sour tasted in my mouth for the two hour drive home at 10pm at night.

I hope you'll share some details once your report is filed. Or drop me an email 🙂

I worked a game last night where both coaches thought they were being screwed. Visiting team very aggressive and picks up 10+ fouls in about 10 minutes of play. Home team had 3 fouls at the time they started shooting 2 for the double bonus. Partners were a bit tighter than I'm used to, but the V team should've adjusted earlier than they did. I think I called 2 of those 10 fouls and they were both no brainer calls.

At 7-2, he starts in with the disparity -- I tell him I'm not counting the fouls and he says that HE has to with a smile, which brought a smile to my face. Later in the half I call a foul from C with him right in my back -- an obvious foul where his player went for a steal at the top of the key and came across both of A's arms in the process. As I'm reporting he's asking me what his kids need to do.....and before I go over to C I reply, "Stop fouling." I didn't stick around to see whether he smiled that time.

The V team adjusts in the second half and blows out the H team. NOW the home team's coach is complaining that we're letting up on calling fouls on the V team because the coach was working us. I swear they go to some kind of school to learn this behavior.

som44

a bit different-had a game Friday night at our local HS-usually won't do them as i know most of the kids on the team from coaching them in little league, pop warner etc.-
Ball goes out of bounds and in the corner of the gym--without thinking i said "Sean go get that ball for me"--the look from the closest opponent was pricelese--made sure i did not do that again

Overall good game though

Andy

Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser

I worked a game last night where both coaches thought they were being screwed.

This is when you know that you are doing a good job! 😀

Bart Tyson

I have coaches call me by my first name all the time. I don't think its a problem. Of course all coaches are "coach". My question to some of you officials who don't want to be called by your first, what do you want the caoch to call you?

DJ

With all the other things that we get called our first name sounds pretty sweet. Just kidding! If a coach calls us by our first name it is pretty tough to tell him not to use your first name unless he is becoming sarcastic or trying to ridicule. Then we will handle it like all the other things that we have learned to handle with diplomacy!

jont

I think you need to separate the original question of whether to address a coach by his first name from being too talkative or friendly with one of the coaches. Whether or not you know a coach personally or have had a few of their games before, either way you should not talk with him or her excessively before the game and be seen as joking around with them. However, there is no reason why you should not use their first name when talking with them if you know it and remember it. If you "chum around" with one coach and just introduce yourself to the other, the one coach may very well become upset; however, this should have no bearing on whether or not you use their first name or not.

David B

Originally posted by Bart Tyson
I have coaches call me by my first name all the time. I don't think its a problem. Of course all coaches are "coach". My question to some of you officials who don't want to be called by your first, what do you want the caoch to call you?

Just kidding. I agree. I don't think its at all bad for the coach to call me by my name. Its much more personal that way.

However, I'm still going to address him as coach.

Good point.

Thanks
David