coach addressing ref by first name

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by bigdogrunnin

Does it really matter if a coach uses your first name if s/he is respectful and professional?? My answer is no.

I officiate in dozens of gyms every season, and have about 75+ different coaches that I see on a yearly basis, and most I see year-after-year over the course of several years. If they want to call me by first name, then rock on.

Now, if a visiting coach asks me why he is calling me by my first name, then I introduce myself, and say, "coach, if you want to use my first name too, then you can. Just not in vain."

Coaches around here don't care what an official's name is, at least not mine.