Pregame conferences: Captains and Coaches

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by seanwestref

I like yours -- short, sweet, to the point. Asking questions gets the captains/coaches invested in the meeting. Reminds them about what you expect from them, and gives you something to refer back to in case a player is improperly equipped, etc.

Has anyone used different "speeches"? Have you noticed if saying certain things make the game go smoother/avoids problems? I am sure we can put our brains together and figure out which combination of elements would create the best speech.

I accidentally dropped an F-bomb in one Captain's meeting. It's was the 2nd meeting between 2 teams and my U1 had worked the first meeting. He said the game was exceptionally rough and that it was a carry over from their football game that season.

Both captains were football players so I asked each one separately, "Do you play football" and each responded "yes". Then I said, "Well this isn't f***ing football season, it's basketball". After the initial shocked wore my partners told me they loved it. Never heard anything from the coaches or my commissioner so I guess none of the players went back and "snitched" on me...LOL

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by VaTerp

I ask for speaking captains because that is what is the custom around here. I agree that it's pretty pointless but it's what is done.

Don't sound so apologetic. As Saint Ambrose said in 387 A.D., "When I am at Rome, I fast on a Saturday; when I am at Milan, I do not. Follow the custom of the Church where you are."

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by deecee

My personal favorite is, "Black line all around is out of bounds."

... especialy bad if the line is blue.

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

... especialy bad if the line is blue.

Careful with this one.
On Thursdays they might play the walls as OOB.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

... especialy bad if the line is blue.

I'm not convinced it's not better if the line is blue (or green). Then you'll know if the kids are paying attention.

[rockyroad]

Boys Regional game Saturday...the Sweet 16 of the classification. Winner moves on to 8 team State Tournament. Working with two gentlemen from other parts of the State, and one of them is the R. His Captain's Conference took almost 3 minutes!

Started with the "gentlemen, we are playing the black line all around today. Not the blue lines, the black lines..." and ended with "Gentlemen, please respect us and respect each other tonight." to be honest, I kind of blanked out for the rest of it.

He finally said, "Partners, do you have anything to add?"

So I said "Yeah. Can we try and have some fun here tonight?"

He actually said "Oh yes. I forgot that. Let's have some fun tonight."

[Freddy]

Tried this line this year with moderate success, to both the two captains and how many ever ceremonial other players they brought out there and then with the coaches:
"We like the game show Jeopardy. Anything in the form of a question is okay with us."
Not all comments end up coming in the form of a question after a while, though.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

Boys Regional game Saturday...the Sweet 16 of the classification. Winner moves on to 8 team State Tournament. Working with two gentlemen from other parts of the State, and one of them is the R. His Captain's Conference took almost 3 minutes!

Started with the "gentlemen, we are playing the black line all around today. Not the blue lines, the black lines..." and ended with "Gentlemen, please respect us and respect each other tonight." to be honest, I kind of blanked out for the rest of it.

He finally said, "Partners, do you have anything to add?"

So I said "Yeah. Can we try and have some fun here tonight?"

He actually said "Oh yes. I forgot that. Let's have some fun tonight."

I would've walked back to the opposite sideline after about 30 seconds of it.

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by Rich

I would've walked back to the opposite sideline after about 30 seconds of it.

Came close. Actually did step back away from center circle and watched teams warming up.