Names

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by Smitty

Why would you need to remember the players names?

The times I have done it I really liked it. They seem to respond to me better. I can say "hey Fred can you help with the ball please" or "Bertha can you help me out with 34 he is pushing the limit" or "Paco they need you in the game, don't blow it now"

I'm sure you're just going to say that you can do all that without knowing their names, but I'm hopeful that there are some guys out there that have tried it and have also found positive responses.

[Smitty]

Maybe. As someone who takes great pride in being able to simply remember the number of the player I called a foul on from the point of the foul till I report it, I am never going to even attempt to remember any player's name. I have a terrible memory in general. If it works for you, then great.

I could see a potential problem if you tend to remember one team's names more than the other and then tend to call Team A's players by name and have to refer to Team B's players by number. They might feel slighted, or that you're favoring one team over another. Small point, but if I always treat both teams the same (referring to a player by number), then no one can say I'm favoring anyone over anyone else.

Unless someone slips me some money. Kidding.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by Smitty

I could see a potential problem if you tend to remember one team's names more than the other and then tend to call Team A's players by name and have to refer to Team B's players by number. They might feel slighted, or that you're favoring one team over another. Small point, but if I always treat both teams the same (referring to a player by number), then no one can say I'm favoring anyone over anyone else.

Agreed.....I usually will get two down from each team, but that doesn't mean I know all of the players and I have worried about a coach hearing me call the other team's player by name and being upset or feeling slighted.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Agreed.....I usually will get two down from each team, but that doesn't mean I know all of the players and I have worried about a coach hearing me call the other team's player by name and being upset or feeling slighted.

Seriously, just refer to them by their numbers. It's easier and it's what's expected.

[stripes]

I try to remember the "speaking" captain's name for every game. I get much better response by using their name rather than their number. It works for me, but I have no problem with other officials not doing it. I only have to deal with the player myself and not as my partner.

If it doesn't work for you/fit in with your philosophy, don't do it.

BTW, last night's captains were Cole (home) and Garrett (visitor).

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by stripes

I try to remember the "speaking" captain's name for every game. I get much better response by using their name rather than their number. It works for me, but I have no problem with other officials not doing it. I only have to deal with the player myself and not as my partner.

If it doesn't work for you/fit in with your philosophy, don't do it.

BTW, last night's captains were Cole (home) and Garrett (visitor).

I'll bet you've got one of those brains that's just hardwired to work like a salesman's brain.

[9redskin4]

I read an article in "Officials Quarterly" a while back. I don't remember the mans name, but it was written by a long time baseball umpire that works the HS level quite a bit. The article addressed this very thing and as BITS says, it has led to some positive things. The umpire related that coaches, players, officials, and others all respond differently when they know you care enough to remember their name.

I was working a tournament last night and had a few minutes between games. As I was waiting, a team entered the gym that had been to the tournament in prior years and as the coach entered, I said hello and addressed him by his first name. A while later, he came to me and told me thanks for remembering him and I can only assume that good things will come from that if I do one of his games. (like when I blow a call, he won't be quite so upset)

[Back In The Saddle]

I think what you're attempting to do could have a really positive up side. I'd encourage you to run with it and see where it takes you. Unfortunately I don't have any good memory aid ideas for you.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Smitty

As someone who takes great pride in being able to simply remember the number of the player I called a foul on from the point of the foul till I report it. I have a terrible memory in general.

I also have a poor memory. One year my goal for the season was to not only remember the number of the fouler, but also the foulee. I can't tell you how many times I reversed them on the way to the reporting area. I gave up my goal by Christmas. Since then, I always catch my partner's eye and point to the foulee. Even that was a hassle because if I looked at the number of the foulee, I still screwed it up on the way to the reporting area. So now I intentionally avoid looking at the foulee's number.

[BillyMac]

Many years ago, while working a Catholic middle school game, after a time out, before handing the ball to the inbounder, a little girl in sixth, or seventh grade, I said to her, "Ready sweetheart?", to which she responded, "I'm not your sweetheart". I never did that again, on any level. Never.

[JRutledge]

The only time I remember a kid's name is when that kid is a superstar and every other article is about them. Other than that, I would not remember my partner's names have the time if I did not see their name on a contract (and it used to be hard when those contracts were paper). So no I do not try to remember kid's names, I call them by number. That is much easier to remember.

Peace