A player may avoid a fan with many items to have signed. Players prefer to sign trading cards, 8x10 pictures and hats. They are less likely to sign helmets, jerseys and footballs. Have your item ready. Use a pen or Sharpie marker, not a pencil.
Timing is everything.
The worst time is in between practices, when the players are both hungry and tired. We'd like to get to everybody, but sometimes we can't. It gets even worse when somebody is willing to trample someone else for a signature. Especially when it's an adult. Linton admits that players are more likely to sign for a child than an adult, but doesn't advise people to ''borrow'' children to get an autograph.