Captains meeting

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

We are talking about players; we are not talking about coaches. But if you need that to be understood, yes coaches can call me by my first name as that is about the only way to identify each official. Coaches often do say, "Ref" or "Sir" many times as well. And they are adults in every case when I work as well. Then again I still do not refer to them by their first name. I did say this previously in the thread as well.




Maybe that is where you are, but actually that is not always the case or in the case where I am or with most that I have worked with. I work college in all of my 3 sports which includes baseball and I almost never refer to a coach by their first name. The only caveat to that is when I know both coaches very well. When I do not know them very well I will never call either coach in a game by their first name. And in many cases with partners they either call them "Skip" or "Coach...last name." And funny thing about this in my area there is a big time basketball official that has told people at camps and this came up in my pre-game conversations with an official on Monday, he said, "Never call a coach by their first name no matter how well you know them." And this came from a person that has worked games for some of the most famous coaches at the college level.

Peace

On the rare occasion when I might know both coaches equally well, I possibly would address them as "Dave" & "John". But, if I do, I run the risk of showing one coach favoritism (perception) if I speak with one more often than the other. "Coach" never gets you in trouble. They can call me "Gap", though, especially if they are requesting time out in a loud gym.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

On the rare occasion when I might know both coaches equally well, I possibly would address them as "Dave" & "John". But, if I do, I run the risk of showing one coach favoritism (perception) if I speak with one more often than the other. "Coach" never gets you in trouble. They can call me "Gap", though, especially if they are requesting time out in a loud gym.

That is why I almost never use their first name. I have done it, but it is probably so rare that I can count on one hand over my career when it happens. And I always feel uneasy if I think to use a coach's first name.

Peace