Has a player ever called you by your first name?

[Josh1993]

Season is almost over, but of course something new just had to come up so I'm asking you for advice once again:

Warming up for the boy's JV game and the scorer's table is trying to get the game ball to me. They hand the ball to a player who calls "Josh!" and when I turn around he passes me the ball.

I shot him a look and replied, "Thank you, number 15!"

He knew what I meant right away. "Oops. Sorry, Ref."

Has this ever happened to you, and what have you done about it?

[Rich]

My name's not Josh, so I'd probably be confused.

If they said, "Hey, Rich!"?

I'd say, "Thanks" and not think twice about it.

[ChuckS]

At my very first HS game, my partner introduced us as "Bob and Chuck". Of course as a raw rookie I wasn't going to say anything, but I thought it was odd. We are adults, they are kids (students). They would never call their teachers or coaches by first name, so why us?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

At my very first HS game, my partner introduced us as "Bob and Chuck". Of course as a raw rookie I wasn't going to say anything, but I thought it was odd. We are adults, they are kids (students). They would never call their teachers or coaches by first name, so why us?

I've been doing this almost 30 years and I introduce myself as Rich.

These threads never go anywhere -- opinion is split on whether a "child" should call an adult by a first name. Some feel it's no big deal. Others think it is. Perhaps I should link to an older thread and then close this one.

[BryanV21]

My partners and I always introduce ourselves by our first names.

What's the problem?

BTW, if you want to be like that, then we are officials. There is only one "referee" and two "umpires" on an officiating crew.

[Nevadaref]

At the varsity level, I address the captains by their first names (yes, I memorize them) and I permit them to call me by mine. Most of them are 18 years old and are young adults anyway. I also address all coaches by their first names and expect them to use mine.
I look at the whole issue as one of mutual respect.

I have to wonder what some of the older generation thinks of sharing the same roads with these young drivers and voting in the same elections as these young citizens.

[deecee]

Who cares. If they call me by my first name I'm fine with that. I introduce myself as such. When partners go on about "I'm Mr. so and so and he's Mr. so and so" you might as well introduce the crew as a$$ and holes.

If I know a coach's first name and we are chatting I will call him by that. I have a name and expect it to get used.

[jpgc99]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

At the varsity level, I address the captains by their first names (yes, I memorize them) and I permit them to call me by mine. Most of them are 18 years old and are young adults anyway. I also address all coaches by their first names and expect them to use mine.
I look at the whole issue as one of mutual respect.

I have to wonder what some of the older generation thinks of sharing the same roads with these young drivers and voting in the same elections as these young citizens.

I agree. I always address captains by their first names. However, I do not use first names with coaches in basketball. I do in football, but on the basketball court it is always just "coach."

It doesn't bother me at all if anyone uses my first name. Why would that offend me?

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

They would never call their teachers or coaches by first name, so why us?

Yes, they do.

[SD Referee]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

Yes, they do.

Yes, you are correct. Some kids do and some coaches allow it.

If somebody calls me by my first name, I couldn't care less. I'm not too big time to be offended by it nor do I think I'm better than anybody.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

They would never call their teachers or coaches by first name, so why us?

Originally Posted by rockyroad

Yes, they do.

Many (not all) coaches at the high school that my kids attended, and participated in several sports, had their players address them by, "Coach Firstname", i.e., "Coach Bob". It was never just, "Firstname", it was always preceded by, "Coach". No way it would be like that when I went to high school back the mid twentieth century.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Rich

My name's not Josh, so I'd probably be confused.

If they said, "Hey, Rich!"?

I'd say, "Thanks" and not think twice about it.

This.

I think people get too caught up in how we're addressed. Showing respect doesn't require calling me "Mr. xxx" or "Ref" or "sir." Respect is in the tone, and the accompanying actions.

I introduce myself as "Adam" to coaches and captains, so why should I get all twisted up if they actually address me by name?

[just another ref]

Dealing with kids, around here, Mr. _______ is the norm, and is what I expect and prefer, along with yes sir and no sir. BUT, in my opinion this is an issue for the parents, not me, and is not something I would attempt to control during the game.

Dealing with coaches, I use my first and last name and I'm not greatly concerned by what they call me, even though some of them may fit my current definition of "kids." (under 30ish)

[BlueDevilRef]

Put me in the category that doesn't care. I don't think it's a big deal

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by Josh1993

Season is almost over, but of course something new just had to come up so I'm asking you for advice once again:

Warming up for the boy's JV game and the scorer's table is trying to get the game ball to me. They hand the ball to a player who calls "Josh!" and when I turn around he passes me the ball.

I shot him a look and replied, "Thank you, number 15!"

He knew what I meant right away. "Oops. Sorry, Ref."

Has this ever happened to you, and what have you done about it?

No. I have always introduced myself and my partner(s) as Mr. Last Name here.

MTD, Sr.