Captains meeting
 

What does everybody discuss other than typical sportmanship, court awareness- out of bounds, backboard, and ball retrieval by players away from court.

"Guys, you've heard this before if you were listening, and if you weren't listening before you're probably not listening now. Good luck."

Keep it short...

"Questions"
-This is almost always answered with a no

"Display good sportsmanship towards us and your opponents...and take of your teammates before we have to."

At that point, I'll ask if my partner(s) has/have anything to add...hopefully not.

"Good luck gentlemen/ladies."

15-20 seconds max.

I don't ask for speaking captains.

- I introduce myself and shake hands with the captains and have them introduce themselves.

- I tell them they are all captains for their teams, so handle their teams.

- Keep your jerseys tucked in.

- Remind them about good sportsmanship, remind the coaches to communicate with us about what kind of timeout they are requesting.

The end. 30 seconds max.

1. Ask the coaches, "Are your player's properly equip?"
   
2. Identify speaking captains.
   
3. Sportsmanship talk.
   
4. Cover any unusual ground rules that might apply (extremely rare now).
   
5. Ask my partners if they have anything to add.

This probably does not take 20-30 seconds.

Peace

1. Introduction
2. Shirts tucked in, properly report to table
3. ask for their help in dealing with problem players before our intervention is required.
4. Questions.

Takes 20 seconds.


There is no mention of boundary lines and crap that I plan on calling tonight " we'll be watching the handchecking and 3 in the key" etc.

Not One Word More ...
 

Only the minimum required by NFHS rules, IAABO mechanics, and local area guidelines.

Players properly equipped.
Players wearing uniforms properly.
Practice good sportsmanship.
Adhere to the restrictions, as well as the privileges, of the coaching box.

Not...
 

"OK guys/girls, this is Mr. Brown, Mr. Smith, and I'm Mr. That Guy:
- Tonight we're gonna play the black line all the way around
- Play defense with your feet
- Which one of you is the speaking captain
- Girls, don't hang on the rim after dunking
- Any rules questions, cuz I'll take time right now for a mini-rules clinic"
:D (Sorry...couldn't help myself)

Why would you discuss any of this with the captains?

Backboard? What about it?

One Minor Thing...
 

Though many of us joke about the time-worn frivolity of "...the black line all the way around", on some floors, given the cross-thatching confusion of all the multiple painted lines, some have indeed found it wise to alert the visitors of, for instance, the red volleyball line four inches inside the actual black out-of-bounds line of the same width (ridiculous engineering common on some of the newer, most expensive multi-use courts). Just a brief mention of that which has, perhaps, confused visiting teams before. Kinda falls into the constructive category of preventative officiating.
Re. the other stuff you mention, I agree.

Maybe in a junior high game, but never in a high school game. If they don't know which lines matter, we have a lot more problems to worry about...

+1

IMO, the captains meeting should be eliminated. No one would notice. Even so, I have the meeting as directed, but keep it light and short. Essentially, I introduce myself and partner/s, have the players do the same, ask them to play hard and have fun, then get them back to their teams.

I get a kick out of officials who say, "I am Mr. So and So" cause then I step in and say, "I'm Rich."

four points to make tonight enjoyable for all involved...

-respect your opponent
-respect the officials
-respect the game
-HAVE FUN

Good Luck!

HEY! You stole that from me!!!! Or you stole it from the same person I did!!!! :D

See post 61 of this thread for my pregame script. Its short and sweet and addresses the only that matters, sportsmanship.

http://forum.officiating.com/basketb...players-4.html

BRILLIANT! :D

I've worked with Mr. So and So, too!

I don't discuss anything. :p

Introduce my partners, tell captains to handle their hot-heads before we have to, and sportsmanship is our #1 concern.

After introductions it goes like this:

"First and foremost, have fun tonight.

Respect the game, respect your opponents, respect the referees. If you have a question during the game, we will be glad to answer it if it's addressed in a calm manner. Do you have any questions now? Good luck."

I do add the boundary line bit more often than not, but this may be a reflex from soccer where players frequently get confused by football boundary lines.

I keep it short and sweet after introductions.

"Help us out and take care of any issues that come up with your team and help us out with the ball the when it goes out. Questions?"

I've stopped asking my partner if he has anything to add because inevitably, everything I purposely left out "black line all around", "defense with feet", "this is your warning now", "tuck jerseys in" etc get added back in.

ETA: There are some partners I want to introduce as "This is Mr. Official Smith, based upon the last game we just worked, he will call the whole game and I will be simply standing here waving my arm around from time to time and helping him inbound the ball." I've managed to refrain from doing so however.

Ha Ha.............saw your first statement about playing black line all the way around and started to reply, got me.

Yes, I am guilty of theft...but it is worth it. I hope you don't mind...

Ever played on a court with a HS 3 point line and a college 3 point line?

My last captains' meeting went like this:

"You know who your knuckleheads are. Take care of them so we don't have to. Any questions? Anything to add (looking at my partner)? Have a good game."

This year, I've had a U, when I asked him if he had anything to add, ask for the speaking captains. I've had an R start getting into the new rule about team control during throw-ins. About a third of the guys around here will ask for speaking captains; but I have to be honest, I don't even remember who the captains are by the time I toss the jump ball. It's probably something I should work on, but I have never, ever, needed them.

A couple of years ago, I had an R give the whole black line speech with the players (hs game, not a confusing court) and then start to discuss correctable error procedure with the coaches.

If the players are respectful, they can communicate with me even if they arent a captain.

In a girls game, I always wonder what the dad in the stand thinks when his little girl lifts up her warmup to show the number on her jersey to 3 men :rolleyes:

As far as I know, I am the only person in my area who does not ask for speaking captains. Everyone else I have ever worked with still does.

I had a veteran (30 years experience) partner a couple years ago ask for the speaking captains when I was done with the captain's meeting and had not asked for them. I don't think I even asked him to add anything, he just stepped in and asked the players who was going to speak for them.

I worked a football game at umpire with a white hat that went over the entire points of emphasis with each coach during the pre-game conference. He then proceeded to review the entire rule change on blocking below the waist and his opinion on what would happen with the rule in the years to come. I think I turned three different shades of red during that.

The last time I asked for speaking captains (which I did because a few guys in that area were doing it), my veteran (40+ years) partner asked me why (afterwards). I didn't have an answer, and I haven't asked since. Last week was the first time I had a U ask after I was done.

Next time make sure to ask him for the speaking captains numbers in the middle of the 3rd Q :D

Apparently some guys arent allowed to speak at home...

LOL, yeah I've thought about that before too. :D

Several weeks ago, I worked a middle school girls game and arrived a bit early. I'm standing on the side of the court watching the girls play around with a volleyball for about 15 minutes; wearing a trench coat. My bag must have given me away, but I thought it was odd that no one acknowledged me for so long.

Okay, you topped mine. That's the equivalent of "we're going to call hand-check/three seconds/black line/moving screens and here's the new rules this year" guy.

Early in the year, going over (briefly -- no more than 30 seconds) any new rules that affect the players isn't a bad thing.

I do use the speaking captains: 1) Ask if ready to play before the start; 2) ask them to take care of trouble makers if I see it and if they are on the court.

Could have used the captains last week, but R didn't ask for them, so I tried someone else and he didn't seem to care.

*Everyone shake hands. If it's a middle school girls game, I usually have to prod with "ladies, introduce yourselves." Otherwise, this takes care of itself.
*"I'm Mr. Referee, that's Mr. Umpire."
*"Can I expect good sporting behavior from everyone here today?" (Yes.)
*"Coaches, are everyone properly and legally equipped?" (Yes.)
*Only discuss lines, overhangs, and/or tight quarters out of bounds, if necessary. Often, it isn't.
*Anything to add, partner? (Usually, there isn't.)
*"Question anything you like, as long as you're civil about it. Let's have some fun."

FWIW, we were instructed not to bother with speaking captains, as anyone on the floor can address you, anyway. A few partners I have still insist, though. As always, follow Roman Law.

Use the Three B's of a Military briefing......
 

Be Brief,

Be Bright, and

Be Gone

No child is calling me by my first name. I was not raised that way and I do not even call people that were adults when I was a child by their first name. It is a sign of respect and values IMO.

Peace

A sign of your values and what you consider respectful, which is fine. Not everyone shares the same values.

And when you introduce yourself as "Mr. Rut" I'll say, "and I'm Rich."

My values are different (not better or worse) than yours.

I'm guessing "JRut" is acceptable for your college games?

I get that, but was commenting only because it sounded like there was something wrong with someone wanting to be referred to by players by their first name. I am not their social equal, they are not calling me by their first name in this setting.

Peace

I did not say anything about values being better. I said they are not adults and I was not raised to call adults when I was in HS by their first name. Remember Rich you made the point of what you want them to call you. That is fine with me, but do not make it sound like everyone thinks that is respectful to refer to us by our first names. If that is not the case in other aspects of our society, it certainly is not the case here. No big deal if you want to be called Rich. I even refer to coaches as "Coach....." unless I know both of them very very well, which is rare.

Peace

I strongly agree. IMO, there are times where it's okay for a child to call an adult by their first name (based mostly upon familiarity and parental permission), but not when we're officials.

This past fall, I was working a JV soccer game with a partner who wasn't more than 23. He worked a good game, but in the pre-game, he insisted on being called "Jimmy," and was clearly uncomfortable with anything "Mister." At halftime, I pointed out to him the respect for the role, much like those of high/middle school teachers. You can be informal with a teacher, but don't you dare call him by his first name.

We're actually required to ask the coaches if their players are properly equipped and ready to display good sportsmanship. We're also required to get a verbal "Yes" from them in response. Don't know why that's a sticking point here in the Peach State but it is.

Definitely regional. In Iowa, it was like that. Here in CO, it's much less so. My kids, however, are taught to use Mr and Mrs.

I introduce myself by my first name to the players, but I don't expect to be addressed that way during the game. With coaches I use first/last name. I've never had a player call me by name. Coaches will at at times. Usually it is "Hey, ref" or something of that nature by both coaches and players alike when it is necessary to get my attention. One time it was "Mister Referee Sir".

Actually this is more cultural. I grew up with a African-American, Southern upbringing. Everyone in my family except for a very small few exceptions were born in the south (Alabama or Florida). And in many cases they went to college in the south as well. So when people referred to my Grandmother as an example they would call her "Miss Ollie" or "Miss Jones" but never Ollie. I will never forget I called someone that was a family friend by his first name and not only did he tell my parents, my mother and father jumped down my throat for doing such.

That to me has nothing to do with where I live now or what others do. I just do not feel kids are in a position to call me by my first name and the way I was always raised. I still value that to this day to the point where my mom is a retired college professor and she will call some of her colleagues who I knew as either kids or when I attended the same university and she will refer to them by their first name and I will not know who she is talking about. Then when she says, "Dr. ......." I then know who she is talking about.

Peace

He didn't. At all.

I introduce myself as Dave. All the kids in Texas seem to use the term "Sir" when speaking to the officials, which is also fine with me.

Yup. Plus these kids know to play the whistle anyway.

Agreed
 

When I left the military, my bosses would say, "Now you can call me Karl or Jeff or whatever their name was."

I always responded, "Yes Sir."

I agree it's cultural, and I'll add that while we introduce ourselves here by first name, I've never had a player address me by my name. It's always "ref" or "sir." I'm in a military town now, and the religious make-up would make some think we're in the south if it wasn't for the weather and scenery.

I was raised in a conservative small town in Iowa, and I always referred to adults outside of the school by their first name. I didn't respect them less, but that was our culture.

Our kids, however, always use Mr. or Mrs. (normally with a first name, but with some adults it's the last name.) This is something we picked up from our church in Des Moines, and the trend is even stronger here.

Little of the above. We are required to say the following in GA: "Coaches are your teams properly equipped and wearing their equipment properly, and we expect good sportsmanship from players, bench personnel, and coaches".....
And that's more than I'd like to say. This is no time for a rules clinic!

Yep, and the players get the point pretty quickly that I'm not chasing the ball; when I don't chase the ball.

And I do get that having grew up in rural Illinois. People are usually very respectful and call people by their last name with Mr or Mrs in front. It is when I got to the suburbs or kids from the suburbs of Chicago you do not hear as much of those references. But even in my church I do not know many kids that do not call the adults the way I do. Then again as an official I cannot think of many that call me by first name. Not even college players do that. And I have gotten to the point where I introduce myself with my first and last name not Mr. But they better not call me Jeff. That is not going to be acceptable. Just like I do not refer to coaches by their first name either. I just feel how you talk to people shows a certain level of respect.

Peace

I'd rather have a kid call me by my first name to my face and respect me behind my back than a kid call me Mr. to my face and trash me behind my back.

As long as the game goes smoothly, I really couldn't care less.

Outside of the court, I'd rather have a kid respect me to my face than behind my back, if I had to choose.

If your values are no better or worse why do you get a kick out of it?

There are guys I play pick up ball with (I'm way older than most who I play with) who call me Mr. BNR or Sir when talking to me. It's all about how folks were raised. Somebody introducing themselves as 'John' instead of 'Mr. Doe' doesn't make me think are any nicer or approachable than anybody else I'm come across in life.

Is that the only combination of events? What about kids who call you by your last name and respect you behind your back? Or kids who call you by your first name and trash you behind your back?

I like to be referred by my first name as I'm not big on titles. I also refer to coaches by their first name but I may be in the minority on doing that in my area. I even look them up prior to the game if I don't know them.


It's what works for me, do what works for you...

+1

The 3 respects are witty and quotable, but is not really useful (for me anyway) once the game starts. We also bring the coaches together, to talk to them briefly before the game. That conversation is very brief as well. I consider all of this my first warning, especially where sportsmanship and teenagers are involved.

This generally takes 30 seconds
 

I'll introduce myself to the coaches.
"Coaches, are your players legally equipped and prepared to play"?
"Coaches, players, you're expected to show good sportsmanship at all times; coaches, we expect for you to be the leaders with this".
"On timeouts, let us know if it's a full of 30, otherwise, we charge you a full, and no discussions about it".
To the players: "Let your teammates know if they don't have the shirttails in, we will not let them into the game".
"Any issues"? (Usually "No").
"Good luck, have a great game".

I agree. I also think a social setting is very different than a formal or professional setting.

Peace

Almost As Bad As Mr. What'shisname ...
 

So did I. Terrible. Reaches out from his primary coverage area all the time. I have to carry him every game.

What about after the game?

My captains meeting:

Introduce yourselves (if they haven't already. Seems to be pretty common practice in my area.)

Coaches, is everyone properly equipped?
Coaches, are you aware of the concussion protocols?
Coaches, let us know full or :30 on timeouts right away so we can let the other coach know.

Players, sportsmanship is key

(To partner) Got anything?

Good luck.

I don't ask for speaking captains. Like others have said, I can't remember who the captains are 9 times out of ten anyway. I have a hard time remembering coaches' names, so I address every coach as "Coach". I can't be wrong that way. If I have a problem with a player, I will go to a coach.

I have no problem with coaches OR players addressing my by my first name. Maybe this is because I'm a young guy (24), so 95% of the coaches I deal with are several years older than me, and I'm not that much older than the players (though it just hit me that I'm ten years older than this year's freshman class).

Maybe I Look Like Someone ???
 

Coaches and players call me "Grandpa". I wonder why?

Mine is quite brief. I ask the coaches if their team is properly equipped, and I tell the coaches and captains we expect good sportsmanship. I do add that when we have a held ball, to please stop fighting for it after the whistle blows. (maybe that's too much?)

Mind? I'm flattered. I steal stuff from here all the time.

First name, last name. who cares, get off your high horse. As long as they are not disrespectful or out of line what do I care.

Do you not introduce yourself during your captains meeting? "I'm mr. official, and you all better remember that"

You got me. I think it's stuffy and idiotic. I was being polite.

I've never had a kid use my first name and don't expect to. I wouldn't care if they did, though.

I prefer they respect the shirt by acting the right way on the court. This stuff is just window dressing.

I find it funny that people get all up in a bunch of coaches or players say something to them, then they want to tell others how they prefer to be addressed. It is no more of a high horse than folks that claim to get upset if players or coaches say certain things to them that results in a T. Unless we are friends or I know you really well, I do not want you calling me by my first name, which is why most business do not have their people calling their customers by their first name.

Peace

Most businesses address you as sir, unless there is an introduction as in, "Hi, I am bob" then the employee will call you Bob.

If you don't know someones name you don't have many options of what to call them.

Most of your statement JRUT made no sense whatsoever.

Well anytime I go in to a bank or I call a company that I do business with on the phone they say Mr or Mrs to their customers (cable, electric, gas or phone company). And yes they know my name, because they my information in front of them or I have to verify it to them before we can proceed. They still call me Mr. Rutledge. They never call my Jeff or my full first name. NEVER!!!! I also cannot recall them calling me "sir" after they know who they are speaking to.

Peace

knowing a name and having an introduction are 2 different things. I just think your horse is getting higher by the post.

+1


except I don't call myself Rich.

Well then I will be on a high horse then. I was raised in a place where adults were adults and children were children. Sorry if you like your kids talking to you any kind of way and the only way they can show respect is not to curse at you. That was not acceptable in my world. No wonder kids do the things they do today. You want to be their friend rather than being the one responsible for them or the authority figure.

Peace

Around here we are required to use the proper terminology i.e. 60 second time out not full time out.

I use full time out as a terminology because 30 and 60 sound similar, where as 30 and full are quite distinct from one another. Less confusion.

This is of course when the coach asks for a TO and I need to get a response on whether he would like "a full" or "a 30"

Shortest Pre-Game For Me Ever
 

My R was quick tonight.

"Ladies, introduce yourselves."

"Speaking Captains?"

"Good luck and have fun."

15 secs, tops.

So, Does It Really Make A Difference ...
 

For years, my ex-wife used to hassle me about calling my best friend's parents, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", rather than, "Bob" and, "Marge". I'm as "old school" as they come when it comes to manners, and being polite, and respectful.

However, for over thirty-one years, I have been introducing myself to captains as, "Billy Mac". In literally thousands of games, I have never had a player address me as either, "Billy", or, "Mr. Mac". Never. Ever.

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

Me too. I'm not big on titles and even thought I introduce myself by my first name to players before the game, I don't think I have ever had one call me by the during the game. They forget by the time the game starts anyway.

This post sounds like some old crank saying "Get off my lawn!".

It can sound any way you like. But when I played ball and sports and if I even thought to act like these kids do today, my parents would have went out on the court and pulled me off the court themselves. Then my coach would have ran the crap out of us for doing these things. I could not even think to speak to an official let alone question anything they did. As I said before, on wonder kids act the way they do, we have adults that are too worried about being liked by them.

Peace

Not that you care, but this is perhaps the most insightful thing I've ever read from you.

Really don't care. ;)

Peace

Back off on Rut. Not that he needs my help. He said before its a cultural thing. Let it go at that. In the south and in African American circles, Mr. and Mrs. is used as a sign of respect. I grew up in a racially mixed neighborhood. Even when we were very close, I still called my elders Mr. Al or Miss Bessie. It was just a sign of respect.

Personally, I always introduce myself with my first name. I have never been addressed during the game as anything other than "Ref" or "Sir". Well, not counting moron, stripes, idiot, et. al. by fans.

To me, it's amazing how some people can get so worked up over what, to me, is window dressing (Rich vs. Mr. MyLastName) and yet don't think a 12-year old saying "You suck" to an official (see the other thread) warrants a flagrant technical foul.

I'd rather be called Rich and have genuine respect shown me than be called Mr. Anything and not have genuine respect for me or my position. Keep the window dressing. Call me anything you like as long as you treat me appropriately when something doesn't go your way.

And to me, that's one of the things wrong today -- too few coaches willing to tell a player, "That behavior is unacceptable, you're done for the day" when a kid gets whacked for behavior. Instead, the coach wants to argue the technical foul and tell the kid (out of earshot) that he did nothing wrong. Of course, that's where the kids get this behavior from -- either the coach models this behavior or doesn't step on it when his players exhibit those behaviors.

I don't think anyone is really worked up over this.

As you said, it's window dressing. In the grand scheme of things it really doesn't matter because kids should not, and in my case have NEVER, addressed me by my first OR last name during a game.

It's a personal preference for a captain's meeting intro that last no more than 30 seconds.

But Rich, you're the one who sort of made it an issue by saying you get a kick out of other officials who prefer to introduce themselves as "Mr." and then you step in using your first name as if it somehow makes you more approachable or less stuffy or whatever it is you think it does.

Again, to me it does not matter as no player is addressing by either. Sometimes I use my first name, but increasingly I just shake hands and do a generic greeting without my name.

As a former teacher and director of youth camps and rec programs, I do see where Rut is coming from though. Kids are absolutely more disrespectful today than they were when I was in high school in the mid 90s, and I'm sure we were more disrespectful then kids growing up in years prior. And a big reason for that is parents and adults who are more concerned about being liked and being their friends than they are about being a parent/adult and setting proper boundaries.

I don't think using your first name at a captain's meeting is part of that problem but I also see absolutely nothing wrong with adults who introduce themselves to teenagers with a "Mr. or Mrs." in any setting, including a captain's meeting.

Never say never. Earlier this year during a dead ball substitute wait, I told a captain who was inbounding "I like the way you play Megan, you play hard all the time." Her response, "Thank you.........thank you Mark"

First time ever and it made my night on an otherwise crappy night.

Thank you for contributing to the downfall of America's youth. smh...

:p

I love Rich, but this I totally agree with you on this one. Rich started the "I am Rich" thing.

For the record I will say again, I always say my full name to captains and coaches. They are not allowed to call me by my first name in this setting.

Peace

I always address players by their number, even when I have known them from coaching AAU, or other circles.

Cool exchange though. The problem would be when you get the smart azz kid who uses your name in a disrespectful manner. To this point I've never seen it happen in a scholastic game but have during high school rec leagues.

My experience with those leagues has not been great as I have run into a lot of spoiled, entitled, little punks who think they can say and do whatever they want. I would never give those kids my first name and during those capt's meetings simply say we are your officials today.

Guess I work with a lot of idiotic and stuffy people...who spend 6 out of every 24 months in the Middle East and Southwest Asia or who were raised by stuffy and idiotic parents and grand-parents. :rolleyes:

Great 5000 post. ;)

Peace

I have done just first name to captains in some cases to be consistent with my partners. To me it does sound a little off to have some officials use their first name and some "Mr. or Mrs."

I think I will go the full name route from now on as I do with coaches. The other week I did a Montrose Christian game where their star player introduced himself by his full name, "Justin Anderson." First time I think I've heard a player do so.

I kinda laughed and thought to myself, "I know your name, you stiffed my alma mater by decommitting and signing with UVA."

Exactly. He was the first one to make a big deal about it. Basically saying (and has for years in when this subject has come up) that anybody who doesn't introduce themselves to the kids by their first name is an a$$-hole.

I've officiated many of his AAU games. One of the nicest kids I've ever encountered in officiating.

"Hello, I am Ref, and this is Ump1 & Ump2."

I agree with this whole post....

As for the bolded part, it is refreshing to see when a coach does put his foot down when a player gets silly. I whacked a JVB player in a tournament a few weeks ago for popping off, and his coach yanked him for a few minutes. He didn't sit him for the rest of the game, but he made it known he wasn't pleased with him. He didn't question me about it or anything.

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.

During the coaches meeting, I introduce myself by my first name.

However, I never address players/coaches by their first names, for two reasons:

1) I'm terrible with remembering names, to the point that when coaches introduce themselves they might as well say "Hi, my name is Blah", because I'll have forgotten their name BEFORE THEY FINISH THE SENTENCE.

2) Our association clinician feels that it's best to always address coaches as "Coach" and players by their number. Even if this weren't the clinician's opinion, I'd still do it anyway (see point #1).

I don't care if the coaches call me by my first name or not. It's been my experience though that I only get called by first name by coaches who want my attention so they can whine all game.

Whether they call me by first name or 'blue' or 'ref' or 'Mr. Ref' I still call them 'coach'.

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

And what would you do if they did?