In a match at this past week's National Indoors the following event occured:
After the 3rd point had been played the chair official announced the wrong score. Neither player said a word. After the 4th point, the official again announced the wrong score with no response from either player. After the 5th point, the official announced "game" and then the player who lost the game said the score was wrong.
Everyone who was watching the match knew the official had the score wrong but neither player ever said a word until the game score was announced. Of course one player and coach wanted the game but the other player and coach disagreed. The chair official was not able to adequately resolve the matter so...
Both coaches then called the referee to the court to resolve the matter.
Here are the questions for you:
1. What would you do with the points and the game?
2. One of the coaches said he was calling the referee to the court because it was a "question of law and not fact." How would you deal with that?
I'm looking forward to your answers...
9 comments:
Assuming that both players clearly heard the chair official announcing the score. The score as announced by the chair will stand. If one of the players denied hearing the score the normal three step process would apply. It is a question of law.
The referee for this match was Linda Hinshaw and I'm not sure how she ruled. If anyone knows, be sure to let me know.
First off - FIRE the chair umpire. As players, we never listen to the chair umpire anyway. Isn't Linda Hinshaw that umpire that never sees footfaults since she's too busy focusing on where the serve is ABOUT to go?
It would appear whoever hired the chair officials (Linda Hinshaw) should do a better job finding qualified ITA certified officials. Based on my previous experience watching those events where Hinshaw is working, the level of officiating has always been suspect, at best.
I will agree with the first response the players must have heard the score and kept playing and not questioning. It stinks but if neither player questioned the score then the game should stand as they were played in good faith. Needless to say the Referee probably did not put this umpire back the court as that is a bad mistake but also a mistakle on the part of the players & coaches.
BTW was this in Madison or Chicago.
As for Worm, why don't you leave the personal attacks off the site.
When the score 'game' was announced and the player then said the score was wrong, then a scoring dispute resolution would come into play, just as if there was no solo official on the match. I assume it could be quickly determined what the proper score should be. The chair should announce correction and then give the correct score and play resumes.
Everybody makes mistakes from time to time. But, I would have enjoyed being there for this one!!!! :)
Very interesting comment from Worm about players never listening to the chair during a match. When a player forgets the score during a match, the coach will blame the chair, when in fact it is the player that is not listening.
How was the score card marked? We're assuming the chair marked one of the points wrong? Was there a scoreboard? If so, who was entering each point played?
I agree that sometimes it appears that the players are not listening to what the chair says.
I would rule that the game was over because neither player questioned the score each time it was announced wrong. But the primary reason is this: if you go back and follow the 3 step rule for scoring disputes, then some players will see that as an opportunity to go back and re-play a point in a game they know they have lost. In other words, they would try to cheat! This is why the new one medical time-out rule for ITA this year. Some players were "trained" to abuse it. The same could happen with a scoring dispute with the chair umpire.
Game over. The player should have questioned the score immediately when it was announced incorrectly.
Lets put another twist in this. I got the score wrong once. I had a far sideline call, did not see an out call and there was no clear signal to me, at least and saw a ball good and called the score as such. I called the score 30 - love. At 40 - 15, the sever won the pint and I called game. We had a discussion adn I learned that the far sideline was called out and both players saw it out, the player signaled such but as his back was to me, I did not see it but the point loser saw it as he was on the far line as well. Point being that I agree, players do not listen. I know the rules say the game stands as the score was said, but i would hae gone though the points like I did and get it right... I was lucky in that case as they both agreed I was wrong...
Do you know if the referee broke the chair umpire's pencil for his/her actions? That would have certainly happened in Texas.
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