Calling coaches and players by first names
 

At our HS association meeting yesterday we discussed the article on pp. 4-5 of the Winter NFHS Officials' Quarterly. The author suggests calling coaches and players by their first name whenever possible. That contradicts what I've been taught and always done. I don't care if it's my next door neighbor, on the field he's "Coach Smith." And I sure don't want the coach yelling from the 3B coaching box, "Ah come on, Larry!"

How do you do it / teach it in your area?

I always just call them "Coach." I know most of the local coaches by name, but on the field they are "Coach." I believe it establishes the desired business relationship and conveys a certain measure of respect for their position. And, it is very easy for me to remember!

It's "Coach" or "Sir" from me... and expected that it's Blue, Ump, Sir, whatever... but not my name from them. I've actually corrected coaches who have called me my name ... "Coach, please call me Blue or Ump out here on the field."

so you would rather be called some color than your God given name?

That to me is disrespectful more than calling me by name and it's not even close

I do not want players, coaches or even fans calling me by ANY name, first, last, middle or nick.

An umpire's name is Sir, Mr. Umpire, ump, Blue or "Hey, man". Call me "Umpsie" and you may end up with a warning. :D

For any official or any sport, display of personal familiarity is a curse and add absolutely not positive aspects to the game the individual has be assigned to officiate.

Anyone besides me notice the irony here? :D ;)

:D

I read the article and have some mixed feelings about the authors points.

I will call a coach by first name, but only if I have a relationship with both coaches involved in the contest. I'm damn sure not going to introduce myself to a coach I don't know with a "Good afternoon, Coach. My name is Andy", and go over to the other coach that I do know with a "Hey, Joe! How are ya?, Good to see you!"

I don't mind being called by name on the field, I guess that is just a personal preference.

As I have started doing more college level ball the last few years, I have noticed that the college coaches seem to like calling the umpires by name. I think they do it for just the reasons the author of the article suggests; they think is establishes a more personal relationship and your calls will go their way more often. :rolleyes:

Calling a coach or player by any name other than their position (coach, #9, or short stop etc.) is just asking for trouble.
It lends itself to an easy claim of us showing favoritism towards one team/player/coach over the other.
I have always been taught that the best thing to call a coach is "Coach or Sir or Ma'am".
Players are always addressed by their position or their jersey number.
In turn the participants should only call you Sir, umpire, heck I will even accept Blue. I do remember when a coach calling you Blue was a sure way to be on the smelly end of the stick for him.

I'm in complete agreement with scott. Or... Blue. Even if both coaches are great friends of yours, it doesn't paint a picture of impartiality and opens you up to avoidable criticism. I *might* use a player or coach's first name if they're not a part of the game I'm working, but I also try to limit my chatter during games.

IrishMafia:

I agree with you completely, BUT more importantly is I don't care what they call me as long as they don't call me late to dinner. :D

MTD, Sr.

If I got called that, I'd probably be too busy laughing my tail off to issue a warning. :D

If I got called "Umpsie" by a female coed player, I might be warning her for her phone number afterwards! :D

A male player calls me that, an advice to enhance his "caveman" vocabulary. :p

Nah, just send him a candygram. Mongol like candy! :cool:

I am in somewhat of a unique position because I am a deputy JO commissioner, so I know just about every coach. I help teach the ACE classes, and will conduct them for an organization if need be in order to spread the word in addition to opening the floor to questions about rules and umpiring.

On the field, if I know both coaches and they know me, I personally don't have a problem being addressed by name -- as long as it's mine. For instance, my name is not a variation of Richard Cranium. I do have a problem with "Hey John, where was that pitch?" or something else from long distance. I will be addressed in a professional manner, and will address them in a professional manner.

If I do not know both coaches (know one but not the other) everyone will be coach. They can call me ump or blue. I am proud to be addressed by either. Umpires have worn blue for over 100 years, and I am most proud to carry on one of the finer traditions of sports officiating. (Thank God we don't have to wear ties.)

I don't have any kind of problem with umpires only addressing coaches as coach.

It's also important to "when in Rome, do as the Romans do." If I am out of town and fortunate enough to be working some kind of tournament, everyone will be coach -- even if it's my Uncle Bob coaching one of the teams or whatever.

Please note that one of the big criticisms of me is that I "schmooze" too much with some of these people. However, when I am not on the field I am out of my uniform, and may be acting in some other capacity like filling in for the TD while he takes a lunch break or goes to get us a couple orders of Ezell's Chicken (as featured on Oprah -- she has it flown in from SEA to Chitown).

If you use names, you may also be considered a schmoozer, so be warned...

"Schmoozing," as John puts it, eventually becomes inevitable when you call a lot of rec ball like I do. You're in the same area, calling a lot of the same players' games, and eventually, people do get to know you. There are some players that I even consider "friends." However, when the game is on and everyone is watching, I keep the friendly chatter down to a minimum and use either "player," "coach," "Sir/Ma'am," "batter," or their position.

There's no sense in opening yourself up further to unwarranted criticism by calling people by their first names. 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!

Not completely unique, John; I am the State ASA Player Rep. Got that position because "everyone knows you". And, I work literally every major ASA tournament in our state, either as an umpire, or UIC; all association berths, National Qualifiers, State Tournament, everything. I also work many rec leagues, middle school leagues, and go out of my way to get to know them, so I can do the PR job better. Also give ACE clinics, attend or give most rules clinics for coaches. And a member of the state high school softball committee, etc., etc.

Literally every travel coach knows me, most parents know me, most players from 14U up know me, all by name. Ask SRW; when he was here for the Fast Pitch camp, and worked our Region Gold Qualifier, he likely saw players, parents and coaches coming up to me and calling me by name. I agree with everything you said; it is a fine line that we have to tread, but if everyone knows me, and everyone calls me by name, and everyone knows that knowing me and my name is SOP, it isn't an issue in our state (even Region, in most cases!!). I do preach otherwise; this is a "do as I say, not as I do" topic. No one else can be me.

Personally I don't have a problem being called by my first name. Actually in the first inning as I get ready to take my position, I look at the catcher and ask her name . . . I then say "Hi Ashley (assuming that's her name), I'm Larry". I also find that if a coach has a problem or wants to make a change they call me blue - if it's something where it's just the two of us they will call me by name - both in HS and college. I've forged a lot of good relationships over the years and never had one problem out of it. I guess if I only have a problem or two every 8 or 9 years (and remember, I've had none yet) . . . that's a small price to pay for the good relationships, IMHO.

Hell, Larry, it isn't like you have much of a choice in WV. It'd be pretty damn ignorant ignoring your cousins like that! :D


Okay, okay! Just kidding, I couldn't help myself. Please forgive me!

A little clarification: I'm not saying it doesn't happen, especially if you work in a small community where everyone pretty much knows who you are.

It happens and I will respond to my name. I'm just saying that I do not make a practice of it and don't believe any umpire should for the reasons previously noted.

What if a coach refers to you by "skinny little $hit." Is it better to be referred to by that than by your name?

Leave Sean alone!!:D :D :eek: :eek:

Oh it's quite alright... that's just one of the pleasantries I was called this year. That and "you're a fcuking ashsole, blue" are the top two for 2007. Both got them trips to the parking lot. :D ;) :eek:

OUCH! :p

Keep It Professional
 

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?

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

God didn't give me my name, my parents did.

When I officiated, I preferred "blue", "ump", etc., but not by my name. I referred to a coach as "coach", even if we were aquainted. Players were by position or uniform number. THAT is respectful. Calling me by my name is familiarity, and THAT is disrespectful.

Bob