Names
 

I was just reading over the posts of pre-game introductions and wondered if any of you try to remember player's names? If so how do you go about it? Look at a roster prior to the game? Listen to the PA announcer when he/she introduces the starting line-up? Or just the captains' names when you meet them?

I have enough names to remember in my life, including my partners (which change every game). I don't even bother. Since I'm going to be in this city for some time now, I'm sure I'll start seeing repeat players and picking up on things; but I'm not going to make an effort to do so.

I have a hard enough time remembering my partners names if I haven't worked with them...not to mention the coaches. I don't even try to remember the player's names.

Why would you need to remember the players names?

I tried to remember the captains names. If I had problems with a player I would get the captain, "Jason, tell #22 to cool it before he gets your team in trouble." To me, it could be good preventative officiating. Also, I found that it surprised the mud out of the player when he heard the ref calling him by his name and not his number.

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.

I remember as many of their names at intros as they probably do officials - ZERO. Just a formality.

That being said, when I do Rec Ball I do know many players and coaches names, as they do me, and address them by name.

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.

I don't even care if the players have names, as long as they all have numbers. Besides, when they grow up, they'll just be a number anyway. They might as well get used to it.

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.

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 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.

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

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)

I wouldn't assume this.

Looking at it from a different perspective, whenever a coach decides to remember my first name and uses it the whole game when addressing me, it only irritates me. I feel like half the time he's trying, unsuccessfully, to be my pal, and the other half he's being condescending. No thanks. Don't like it.

Whos On First ???
 

Tell me about it. We have 300 members in our local board, and I'm available for games from middle school to high school varsity. Thank God the Arbiter has photos.

Fouler And Foulee ???
 

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.

From The Mouths Of Babes ...
 

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.

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

Personally I think the coach is trying to be a professional. Its not about being your buddy, its about professional respect. In your profession, do you care less about knowing any of the names of your coworkers?

I'm a big fan of knowing as many names as I can possibly retain, even my security rep and the people who work for him, table staff as well granted its not always possible because its just so many names!

I feel that way, mostly. My very first ever real game (had done a couple scrimmages), the coach kept referring to me by name. Hollering my name across the floor. I was so clueless about my own job, that I mostly had no clue what he was saying. I really didn't understand the points he was trying to make, so I just ignored him. But it got under my skin. It really felt like he was "working" me, which he was, but not by what he said, just by the fact that he was using my name. I'm with Smitty, I don't like it.

And, hey Smitty, how are you? I'm back for reals this year, and missing you.

I'd rather know the names of the security folks and table personnel than the coaches and players.

As far as professionalism being the reason that coaches want to know my name, I don't buy into that personally. Out of all the high school coaches in our jurisdiction only 2 know my name, one because he can't stand me and one because he used to be an associate member of the board and he's just a really nice guy. I have coaches who smile and shake my hand sincerely every time I work their games and they have no idea what my name is.

As far as players, if I'm going to call one player by his name then I feel I should be calling all players by their name. That's just my personal philosphy. To each his own I say.

Totally disagree. Same principle...you get better response with a name. If you don't want a coach using your name, let the coach know to address you differently.