How do you introduce yourself to captains & coaches?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I give my first and last name to everyone. I only allow coaches to call me by my first name. The players are not my peer or equal. Heck I still do not call adults that were adults when I was a child by their first name. I consider that disrespectful to them. Then again that is how I was raised.

Peace

Originally Posted by tomegun

And that is still a great way to be raised!

...

Agreed...and it has nothing to do with basketball or officiating. All minors in all situations get "I'm Mr. Lastname" when I give my name. Depending on the relationship/dynamics that develop it could change to "Mr. Firstname" over time.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Agreed...and it has nothing to do with basketball or officiating. All minors in all situations get "I'm Mr. Lastname" when I give my name. Depending on the relationship/dynamics that develop it could change to "Mr. Firstname" over time.

Eh. I'm 40. I introduce myself as "Rich" to everyone. I use coaches' first names. I'm not one for formalities.

In the end, everyone can do whatever they want.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Eh. I'm 40. I introduce myself as "Rich" to everyone. I use coaches' first names. I'm not one for formalities.

In the end, everyone can do whatever they want.

Different strokes for different folks.

As an aside, with HS school players I look at myself as on par with school administrators or staff members. I sure hope my children (17 & 11) aren't calling the principal or any of their teachers by their first names.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Different strokes for different folks.

As an aside, with HS school players I look at myself as on par with school administrators or staff members. I sure hope my children (17 & 11) aren't calling the principal or any of their teachers by their first names.

I called a family friend one time by his first name. Not only did he tell my parents, I had both parents tell me not to do that anymore. I learned that lesson quick and I was about 11-12 at the time. I have not done that since. And I am 37 and as I said, if you were an adult when I was a child (and I knew you of course) your first name is off limits. I call you by your title or Mr. or Mrs./Ms.

Peace

[Adam]

This has always fascinated me. I was raised in a very conservative small midwestern town, and I called all the adults by their first names unless they were teachers or coaches. My wife was raised in a similar small town about sixty miles away and she referred to her friends parents by first name, but other adults by Mr. or Mrs. Lastname.

The children in our church in Des Moines referred to adults by Mr. or Mrs. Firstname (an odd quirk), and that is something that I've seen used here as well. I'd never heard that before, but that still seems odd to me.

The lovely Mrs. just reminded me that the first time we heard "Mr. Firstname" was when visiting friends in Houston.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

The lovely Mrs. just reminded me that the first time we heard "Mr. Firstname" was when visiting friends in Houston.

Interesting. I haven't been here that long but I don't think I've heard that one yet.

I like first and last name with coaches and first names with players. I've never had a player call me by first name, only by Mr Official, etc...though my favorite is calling me "blue" while in stripes.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Interesting. I haven't been here that long but I don't think I've heard that one yet.

I like first and last name with coaches and first names with players. I've never had a player call me by first name, only by Mr Official, etc...though my favorite is calling me "blue" while in stripes.

I do like being called "blue," it takes me back to my playing days.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Different strokes for different folks.

As an aside, with HS school players I look at myself as on par with school administrators or staff members. I sure hope my children (17 & 11) aren't calling the principal or any of their teachers by their first names.

I have a friend who is a math teacher. He wouldn't care if students called him by his first name, but the administration frowns on it, so he is mainly called Mr. LastInitial.

He introduces himself to players by first names, too.

I am not an administrator or teacher. I *hope* I am more approachable during a game than a principal would be normally.

[chartrusepengui]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I have a friend who is a math teacher. He wouldn't care if students called him by his first name, but the administration frowns on it, so he is mainly called Mr. LastInitial.

He introduces himself to players by first names, too.

I am not an administrator or teacher. I *hope* I am more approachable during a game than a principal would be normally.

I am a teacher, and no, I don't let students call my by my first name and they never would. However, I don't put the same restrictions on sports. It is a different setting. I've never had a problem with crossover mistakes. They know in school I am Mr. S and on court I can be Rob. I've not had experience with any disrespect because of this. Perhaps I am lucky but I like to think it's because I've earned their respect. Most of the athletes are ex-students at the HS level, but I do teach a HS music class and have had a current student or two over the years. (never at varsity level - always turn those contracts away)

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I have a friend who is a math teacher. He wouldn't care if students called him by his first name, but the administration frowns on it, so he is mainly called Mr. LastInitial.

He introduces himself to players by first names, too.

I am not an administrator or teacher. I *hope* I am more approachable during a game than a principal would be normally.

I would hope all principals are very approachable while still expecting students to call them Mr/Mrs/Ms. The 2 are not mutually exclusive. I am no less or more approachable by the name I give when introduced. My demeanor and personality determine that.

Snaqs, the Mr/Ms FirstName thing is very common around these parts. My kids use that for my personal friends and also for the counselors in their daycare programs through the years. And if a HS school player happened to know my first name, based on my experiences here in Virginia, they would use Mr. FirstName.

[nine01c]

In these here parts, students/players address adults as Sir or Ma'am. On the court, officials are usually addressed as Mr. Ref or Miss Ref. They remember our names about as well as we remember the Speaking Captains' numbers.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by nine01c

In these here parts, students/players address adults as Sir or Ma'am. ...

I forgot to mention that also but I think some people's heads would have exploded. I work on a military installation and the surrounding area has the highest concentration of US military population in the world, so Sir/Ma'am is a regular occurrence around these parts.

I use Sir/Ma'am on coaches all the time, it throws them off when I feel a rant coming on.