Captains meeting

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

As opposed to Mr. Closed-minded.

I'm as closed minded as you folks on this issue. You think I'm wrong, I think you're wrong. What's the difference?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I'm as closed minded as you folks on this issue. You think I'm wrong, I think you're wrong. What's the difference?

I can only speak for me. I did not say you were wrong. I said what I do. You and I could work together and if you use only your first name it would not bother me. I would just say my full name and we would keep it moving. This is not something I would get upset with as I would not care how you pack your cloths in your bag or what kind of bag you bring to the game. If it makes you happy, do what makes you happy.

Peace

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I'm as closed minded as you folks on this issue. You think I'm wrong, I think you're wrong. What's the difference?

I never said you were wrong in your approach. I stated what I do.

You are the one who said anyone who introduces themselves to children as "Mr. ***" is stuffy, idiotic, and unapproachable.

[VaTerp]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I'm as closed minded as you folks on this issue. You think I'm wrong, I think you're wrong. What's the difference?

False.

Nobody has said it's "idotic" to introduce themselves by first name only.

Nobody but you has stated that someone is "unapproachable" because they don't let kids call them by their first name.

I talk to players all the time and allow them to talk to me as long as they do so in a respectful manner. I'm as approachable as they come and I don't allow high school players to call me by my first name.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

It does not really matter to what you say in the introduction, but I want to make it clear I am not their peer. I save the first name to people I meet socially. I am not talking to players and even coaches in this situation socially. And it is not unusual to meet up with coaches socially in many situations in my experience. Even when you know a coach I still introduce myself as if we have never met before a game.

Peace

FWIW, I think the stripes are what make it clear you aren't their peer.

Originally Posted by zm1283

You don't let coaches call you by your first name during the game? What do you do if they call you by that? Ask them to stop?

In college baseball (And professional for that matter), umpires and coaches/managers use first names. I work college games, so it kind of carries over to basketball for me.

There are guys I work soccer with who will yellow card a coach for using their first names. But that's a bit more about soccer culture perhaps.

I've gone back and forth across the years. Currently, I use my first name only with players and first and last with coaches. I expect both to address me by ref, referee or sir and I address them by number or coach, respectively.

I only make an issue of a coach calling me by name if it happens more than infrequently and I then ask him to stop referring to me by my first name. (The reason of course is that it does imply familiarity which can give the appearance of the lack of neutrality.)

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

FWIW, I think the stripes are what make it clear you aren't their peer.

And that is naive if you think that is the case all the time. There are players that feel they can talk to me because we share some features that they will not say things to others that wear the same stripes. So the color of our uniform does not always decide how folks treat or talk to us.

Peace