Need to Rant - Part III

[bbsbvb83]

Originally Posted by imaref

Do you allow the players to address you by your first name?

Absolutely. I begin the pregame conference (assuming I am R1) by saying, "Hello ladies. I'm Travis and this is Jane. We're your officials..." I feel this is more a matter of preference than professionalism.

[FMadera]

Originally Posted by bbsbvb83

Absolutely. I begin the pregame conference (assuming I am R1) by saying, "Hello ladies. I'm Travis and this is Jane. We're your officials..." I feel this is more a matter of preference than professionalism.

That may be, but would you want a player saying, "Hey Travis, what was that call?"

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by FMadera

That may be, but would you want a player saying, "Hey Travis, what was that call?"

Why wouldn't you? To me it's all about good communication. And if you can put a player, captain, coach, scorekeeper, partner, line judge, etc. at ease, and get them to feel like they can actually come to you with questions, why wouldn't you? If that means letting them call you by first name, what's wrong with that?

I will admit that I'm a pretty informal kind of guy by nature. And perhaps that colors my thinking on this.

[FMadera]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

Why wouldn't you? To me it's all about good communication. And if you can put a player, captain, coach, scorekeeper, partner, line judge, etc. at ease, and get them to feel like they can actually come to you with questions, why wouldn't you? If that means letting them call you by first name, what's wrong with that?

I will admit that I'm a pretty informal kind of guy by nature. And perhaps that colors my thinking on this.

I guess it depends. I know if I called a player by first name, that would display a level of informality that might be misconstrued by other people. Even if I *know* the player personally, her name is "captain" or "12." Normally when captains come to the stand, they don't address me at all. We just cut straight to the topic at hand, so it hasn't really been an issue. If a captain came up to me and addressed me by first name, well, I can't say I'd be entirely comfortable with it. But no, I wouldn't introduce myself as Mr. Madera either.

A coach might refer to me by first name, and I'm pretty loose on that, but I would still call the coach, "Coach," even after having gone through introductions, or even if I've known the coach for years.

Your mileage may vary.

[bbsbvb83]

Originally Posted by FMadera

That may be, but would you want a player saying, "Hey Travis, what was that call?"

Assuming the player is the floor captain, I have no problem with that. If I introduce myself to the captains and the coaches as Travis during the pregame conference, I shouldn't be surprised when they refer to me by my first name (that being said, it doesn't happen very often as most of them forget my name as soon as I mention it anyway). The same is true when I work the plate on a baseball game. In order to develop a good working relationship with the catchers, I always exchange pleasantries and first names with them during the first inning warm-up pitches. On the other hand, when I introduce myself as Mr. Pate to my students on the first day of school, I expect the students to refer to me as Mr. Pate. I guess I have always considered the classroom and the volleyball court (or the baseball and softball fields) to be two different atmospheres. Perhaps I am alone in my assessment. I suppose it could also have something to do with the fact that I applied for my officiating licenses from the IHSA when I was seventeen (that has been some time ago). Since then, I have worked with a great deal of partners (including state finals officials) and I can't ever recall a partner introducing herself / himself as Ms. or Mr. Whatever. Just curious, are there people on this board that do?

[imaref]

Originally Posted by bbsbvb83

....when I introduce myself as Mr. Pate to my students on the first day of school, I expect the students to refer to me as Mr. Pate. I guess I have always considered the classroom and the volleyball court (or the baseball and softball fields) to be two different atmospheres.

Really? Is this high school? I have always heard school administrators, athletic directors, state high school associations, etc. refer to the high school athletic experience as an "extension of the classroom". Has that changed? If so....I must be an "old-timer".

[bbsbvb83]

Originally Posted by bbsbvb83

Perhaps I am alone in my assessment.

While I certainly agree that high school athletics are an extension of the classroom (in that both athletic and academic experiences involve the learning process, and that both can build character), I still see a volleyball court as a much different atmosphere than a classroom. Think about your favorite class from high school. Come on... it hasn't been that long... even for an old-timer. Now think about the most exciting volleyball match you have ever seen... with outstanding physical accomplishments, roaring crowds, media coverage, emotions running high, etc. Do you still think they have the same atmosphere?

[refnrev]

Im going with Felix on this one. For example, tonight I had a JV/V game and two of the visiting players are ones that I know very well from soccer. In fact, they both go out of their way to tell me each game that I am their favorite official. And I run into one of the girls other places, (food places, wal-mart, etc.) Everywhere I see her I call her "13" her VB and soccer number and she always calls me ref. Even though we have a very friendly relationship, it just keeps a distance that I think is healthier. I will give them a high five or talk to them after the game.... but during in the game it's player, number or captain to the players, and ref or sir to me. Just better IMO.

[jkumpire]

I write the captains' numbers on my hand, and also put on my hand the head coaches names and the setters until I have the rotations memorized. But unless you look at my hand directly, nobody will see it. If you think you have to use a card for this stuff, get a washable marker, and use the writing pad you were born with.

It looks better than using a card, and nobody knows you are using it.

[outathm]

I used to write everything on my hand in the Army. It was a lot easier to clean off(get rid of) when I needed to and a LOT harder to lose when I needed it.

[bbsbvb83]

Originally Posted by refnrev

... I call her "13" her VB and soccer number and she always calls me ref... it just keeps a distance that I think is healthier. I will give them a high five...after the game.

Is this high five given after everyone associated with the opposing team has left, or is it given in view of the opposing players, coaches, and fans? If anyone associated with the opposing team witnesses it, I think this would raise just as many questions about perceived impartiality as a captain asking me, "Travis, what was that call?"