Calling coaches and players by first names

[Scooby]

On the field I address the coaches as "Coach". While you are on the field you have a job to do and favoritism or the appearance of favoritism undermines your credibility.

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by Scooby

On the field I address the coaches as "Coach". While you are on the field you have a job to do and favoritism or the appearance of favoritism undermines your credibility.

What if you are buddies to both coaches?

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

What if you are buddies to both coaches?

I still say it can be a bad idea. While the coaches may understand that you are on friendly terms with both of them, not all participants may share that same understanding. I fall back on what I said earlier...

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Let's not forget that a "friend" before the game can quickly turn into your worst enemy by what they perceive to be a missed call!

I've had this happen to me in the past with teams that I previously was on good terms with, only to have them get ugly when they thought I made the wrong call on a bam-bam play. Let's face it, players and coaches will not always "have your back" when a call goes against their team, even if they know that you made the right call. They don't want to appear to go against their own team, and they'd much rather keep quiet.

[Scooby]

I just don't think its a good idea. Even if you do know both coaches. What about the people in the stands, there could be other coaches and other players seeing you fraternize with these coaches and that could make them think what you're doing their games they might not be getting a fair shake. And I personally don't like the idea of having different behavior in different games.

[Mountaineer]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

I've had this happen to me in the past with teams that I previously was on good terms with, only to have them get ugly when they thought I made the wrong call on a bam-bam play. Let's face it, players and coaches will not always "have your back" when a call goes against their team, even if they know that you made the right call. They don't want to appear to go against their own team, and they'd much rather keep quiet.

Well, I have had friends chew my a$$ on the field and before they do say "Larry, can I have time?" and after the game and even months later give me hell about it. Doesn't change the relationship.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

Well, I have had friends chew my a$$ on the field and before they do say "Larry, can I have time?" and after the game and even months later give me hell about it. Doesn't change the relationship.

Well, I never said friends. Just people I was previously on good terms with.

On the field, the only "friend" I've got is my partner.

[IamMatt]

In our area, Blue is the typical means of address. Was it once a sign of disrespect or is it a sign of disrespect in some areas?

On the field, I am in favor of calling the umpires "Blue," the coaches "Coach," and the players by their position (or "batter," etc.). It avoids any appearance of impropriety, favoritism, or lack of taking the game seriously and maintains a level of professionalism. Same thing with coaches' daughters--on the field their dad is "Coach" not "Dad."

After the game and off the field, you may have a personal relationship with these people but on the field the relationship is a professional one. At least IMHO.