OK. Different strokes.

Spice Of Life ...
 

Agree. Not better. Not worse. Just different.

Because we are not trying to please them, we are trying to communicate to our partners and those that have to record stuff. I do not care what teams think of what we call them.

Peace

The only verifying that I do, regarding colours, is with my partner(s) and table crew. The kids will figure it out . . .

I never really do either of these. The table crew knows who is who, and so do my partners. There's nothing wrong with doing it like you do, but I just don't see the point.

Solution in search of a problem, IMO

Because of my color-blindness, I'll sometimes ask my crew, or the table, or a player what color a jersey is. I've never had anybody answer anything other than the basic 1 syllable colors. Once had a timer say we should call a team "Teal", but that was b/c it was her favorite color.

My point is, that if my partner(s) tell me they're going to say "orange", then I'll follow suit, or if they're going to say "purple", then I'll do the same. It's just easier, especially in HS games, with the personnel we get at the table, for all of us to use the same designations.

I've had several off-season games, AAU, in which the Home team was light blue, and the Visitors' colour was dark blue. In most instances, we used the nomenclature of "light" and "dark." I've had a couple of partners who insisted on referring to the light blue as white (?) and the dark as blue.

For the record, I won't flat-out ask what color they want to be called, but I will ask for "blue" captains or bring up the color somehow. Or, although it's something we do here even though it's not in the rule book, we'll ask for "blue's" speaking captain (since more than one usually come to mid-court for the captain's meeting).

I do not ask or tell them what I will call them. I might say to my partner if we have one of those in-between colors that we might call them "black" or "blue" or "gold" if the color is close. Heck the other team is "white" anymore so it makes it really simple to understand.

Peace

With Apologies To Stan Laurel And Oliver Hardy ...
 

Uh oh. Here's another fine mess you've gotten us into.

There are HS guys around here that ask for and will only talk to the speaking captain as well. What a stupid idea. When I am the R, I never ask who the speaking captain is since it means absolutely nothing to me. I will talk to and answer questions for just about any player that speaks to me in a respectful manner, whether they are the speaking captain, a captain, or just a regular player. Further, I have encountered many games were my partner has asked who the speaking captain is, and that player has turned out to be the biggest jackass in the game. Another antiquated and useless practice that just wont seem to go away.

Black Line All The Way Around ...
 

"What's your number? Are you starting?"

Ask Me About My Belt ...
 

I agree with you, but, lighten up. This is another one of those "When in Rome" moments.

I won't go rulebook digging right now, but I'm quite certain the rule says that any player (read: checked into the game) may address an official.

Yeah but the rulebook also says a team is composed of five players, one of whom is the captain. Not sure why anyone would need to know who that one guy is though...