Here's Johnny ...

[fullor30]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Two quotes, above, from another thread, that I didn't want to hijack, but that brought a situation to mind.

When I officiate a game, I think of the officiating crew as being a third team on the court, and I believe that communication within that team is essential to the success of that team. I am constantly making eye contact with my partner (mostly two man here in Connecticut), and having mini-conferences throughout the game, especially during intermissions, and during the later stages of the game.

With over 300 officials in my local board, it is very difficult to develop really good rapport with officials that you may only work with once, or twice, every five years, or so. Several times each year, I find myself working with officials that I've never worked with before, usually a younger official on his way up the ladder.

Trying to develop some instant good rapport, I refer to my partner, by name, several times a game. "Designated spot throwin after the time out, Johnny", is a good example.

A few seasons ago, I had a partner, a journeyman varsity official, like myself, who told me that he didn't like be called by name during the game. He was afraid that if the fans discovered his name, that they wold use it against him, "Hey Johnny, don't quit your day job".

I silently disagreed with him, but filed his request in the deepest regions in my brain, for the next time that I worked with him, which hasn't occurred since.

Comments from the Forum?

I can appreciate the anonymity.I've thought about having my name embroidered on my officials jacket on occasion and still may, but as you mentioned, do you want to advertise who you are? I'll call out partners name on occasion. If we have a loud game and someone doesn't catch a rotation a quick "Pete" gets their attention.

Best to me is in between free throws or bringin a sub "Partner, we're in the bonus down here" Again, these are verbal communications that are probably only heard by crew and 2/3 of players.

Watching a friend and another official the other day doing a rare two man varsity at a small school, small gym, small crowd. One official would verbalize every call at a volume that to me was annoying for the setting. That said, I'm probably too quiet and need to vocalize more.

My hearing also isn't the greatest and have told coaches to yell my name for timeouts if I don't catch it right away.

More to your point, I always try and use their name when having a private pow wow