Coach or first name?

[Adam]

Originally Posted by grunewar

I was also taught to introduce myself and my partner to the players and coaches as Mr. and not use first names. JMO......you'll certainly get others.

I used to do this as well with the players. Intros to coaches have always been first names, but when I was in Iowa I was Mr. Snaqwells and my partner was Mr. Partnerman. Here, however, all my partners have gone with first names to players also, so I'll do the same.

[Raymond]

I don't address any coaches or players by name during games. Coaches are "Coach", and players are numbers.

I called a T on an assistant last week who used to teach my oldest son in 8th grade. I reported the 'T' to the table as "technical foul on the assistant coach with the gold tie" even though I knew his last name.

I don't want the slightest inference by anyone that I may be too familiar or personal with any participant. That just how I prefer to handle things.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I don't address any coaches or players by name during games. Coaches are "Coach", and players are numbers.

I called a T on an assistant last week who used to teach my oldest son in 8th grade. I reported the 'T' to the table as "technical foul on the assistant coach with the gold tie" even though I knew his last name.

I don't want the slightest inference by anyone that I may be too familiar or personal with any participant. That just how I prefer to handle things.

But it is unlikely that the assistant coach's name is on the score sheet. If you used his name, the scorekeeper would be confused and you'd just have to clarify anyways. However, any scorekeeper can write down "Assistant Coach" with a T beside that label.

It's like keeping a database normalized. If all records are accurate, the name of the AC isn't needed in cases of further discipline.

[Texas Aggie]

I will refer to a coach by their first name if I know the first names of both coaches.

This is bad advice. I know the first names of 80% of the varsity coaches around where I work and I would never call any by their first name on the court or in front of any other coach. I have 2 pretty good friends that are head coaches that I talk to semi-regularly and even if they played each other (which would be odd, since one coaches boys and the other girls), I would still address both as "Coach" on the court.

[mj]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

This is bad advice. I know the first names of 80% of the varsity coaches around where I work and I would never call any by their first name on the court or in front of any other coach. I have 2 pretty good friends that are head coaches that I talk to semi-regularly and even if they played each other (which would be odd, since one coaches boys and the other girls), I would still address both as "Coach" on the court.

You could debate this all day. I'm on the other end of the stick, I call them by name. I make it a point to find out their name before the game (either online or a game program). I don't like being called 'sir' or 'ref' so that's why I made the decision that I would call them by their first name.

I'm sure if you ask the coaches what they prefer about 1/3 could care less, 1/3 prefer coach and the last third prefer their first name.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by mj

I don't like being called 'sir' or 'ref'..........

I prefer to be addressed as "Your Highness".

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

I prefer to be addressed as "Your Highness".

One of these days, I'll introduce myself as "El Conquistador."

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

I prefer to be addressed as "Your Highness".

They know your history with meds..........

[zebraman]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

This is bad advice. I know the first names of 80% of the varsity coaches around where I work and I would never call any by their first name on the court or in front of any other coach. I have 2 pretty good friends that are head coaches that I talk to semi-regularly and even if they played each other (which would be odd, since one coaches boys and the other girls), I would still address both as "Coach" on the court.

Just because you don't agree with it doesn't make it "bad advice." I can see validity to both sides of this one.

Until last summer, I always called coaches "coach" regardless of whether or not I knew their names. At a camp this summer, Scott Twardoski was speaking (he refs a few D-1 men's conferences including the Pac-10 and he refs WNBA as well) and he said that he used to feel that way too. Then an NBA ref that he respects highly told him that saying "coach" is an excuse to be lazy and not learn the names of each coach.

Since then, I have made it a point to find out the names of every coach that I officiate and address them by first name in games. I think that dealing with coaches has always been a strength for me (maybe my only one - ). Calling them by their first name has enhanced that relationship even more.

Just my own experience!

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by zebraman

Then an NBA ref that he respects highly told him that saying "coach" is an excuse to be lazy and not learn the names of each coach.

Jeez, this is just as silly as the other extreme. It's not lazy, it's respectful. Being overly-familiar with somebody you don't know is pushy.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

This is bad advice. I know the first names of 80% of the varsity coaches around where I work and I would never call any by their first name on the court or in front of any other coach. I have 2 pretty good friends that are head coaches that I talk to semi-regularly and even if they played each other (which would be odd, since one coaches boys and the other girls), I would still address both as "Coach" on the court.

It is not advice, it is what I do.

I also do not have very good friends that are coaches, so I do not worry about what they may or may not think.

I will say this, if they call me by my first name, I have no problem calling them by their first name either.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

This is bad advice. I know the first names of 80% of the varsity coaches around where I work and I would never call any by their first name on the court or in front of any other coach. I have 2 pretty good friends that are head coaches that I talk to semi-regularly and even if they played each other (which would be odd, since one coaches boys and the other girls), I would still address both as "Coach" on the court.

Bad advice? Cause you don't think it's right?

Even if I have never met the coaches, I will know their names before meeting them and will address them by name the entire game. I also introduce myself to the coaches and captains as "Rich" and am thrilled if the coaches use my name.

Definitely a regional thing, but I'm willing to bet at the top levels of the game they use names all the time.

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I will refer to a coach by their first name if I know the first names of both coaches. Other than that, I call them "Coach"

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

If I know both coaches well enough, I will use first names on occasion.

I agree with this. If I know both coaches, I'll use their names. If I am only familiar with one of them, I call both "Coach". I don't want a coach that I don't know to think that I'm chumming up to the other one. That's a sure-fire way to have problems later.

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

This is bad advice. I know the first names of 80% of the varsity coaches around where I work and I would never call any by their first name on the court or in front of any other coach.

I guess the question is "why?" Why pretend that the three of us don't know each other, when I've been reffing games for both of them for 10 years? It just seems silly to me.