As Referee What Would You Do?

This is a true life scenario since it happened to me. What would you do?

SCENARIO

The event is the men's national junior college tournament in Plano. As referee I am standing and observing an official on court #1. As I look out, I see the official standing at the net post with a Diet Coke in one hand and eating a Snicker's bar! One of the coaches casually walks up to me and says, "that one sure doesn't inspire much confidence."

What would you have done????

How Would You Rule?

One of our most popular blog topics is the "How Would You Rule" section. Here is a good one for you--and especially for referees...

Scenario: In a recent tournament, an umpire was standing a couple of courts away from court #2 and observed a foot fault. Upon observing this grievous violation of the rules, the umpire immediately ran behind the adjoining courts to court #2 to call the foot fault; however, the players were already through at least four exchanged shots. The umpire totally disrupted play and said, "foot fault."

As a referee (when you were called to the court--and you would be), how would you rule??

1. First, determine whether it was the first or second serve and then rule accordingly.
2. Find out who was winning the point when the umpire interrupted play and then award them the point.
3. Run to Waxahachie laughing all the way and hope the players never find you.
4. Apologize to the players for the ineptness of the umpire, correct the umpire in private, and then replay the point because of "official interference."

As far as I know, the four players are still at the courts scratching their heads in disbelief...

The above listed four options are only suggestions. If you have more, we would love to hear them...

The Dilemas Of ITA Scheduling & Commitments

It is that time of year again when we send out our availabilities for the 2010 collegiate season--and every official is faced with the decision of making their commitments. Now that some of our universities are sending their availabilities out sooner than ever, it further complicates the issue...

Most officials in Texas wait for the Big 12 to send out their availability and then hope they get as many of those matches as possible since they pay so much more--and I don't blame them. However, this leads to some serious dilemas for the officials involved because noone receives all the availabilities they send in for the Big 12. What to do about making commitments this early???

Here are some steps I have taken to help alleviate the suffering and guidelines that I recommend in this area:

1. Send in your Big 12 availability and hope for the best but remember that other coordinators take a dim view of your committing to them and then cancelling to do a Big 12 match. Trust me, we know when you do it!

2. TCU and Baylor availabilities have already gone out but the rest are still in waiting. Most coordinators are waiting for the Big 12 to make their assignments before sending out availabilities. I have personally encouraged Cheryl Jones to make her final commitments as soon as possible so the rest of us can trust the validity of our commitments.

3. Personally, I think it would help if the Big 12 would send their's out at least by September 1st each year and then make commitments to officials by September 15th. This would enable the rest of the universities to send theirs out by September 15th and have them returned to us after officials knew which Big 12 matches they would be working. The bottom line is that the Big 12 is the engine that drives the bus so we need to find ways to work with the bus...

4. With all of that said, let me encourage officials NOT to double book in hopes of getting at least one. In the long run this will backfire on you... I coordinate over 90 ITA matches and I have to trust the integrity of the official making a commitment to work. If I can't trust your integrity, then you won't be getting an availability.

5. We need to remember that assignments are somewhat of a random/lottery type thing. We send in the availability and hope we get the assignments--also knowing that we won't get all we sign up for.

I would say just do your best, maintain your integrity, and trust the coordinators to do the best they can.

Here are some guidelines I would suggest for our COORDINATORS:

1. Quit trying to send yours out earlier than everyone else. Its hard to ask officials to commit to a specific day 6 months in advance...

2. Make your commitments as soon as possible following the sending of your availabilities. This will help the officials know where they will be working.

3. Work together to send out your availabilities all on the same day. This way the officials would know what was being offered and where and could make a more intelligent decision.

4. Encourage Cheryl Jones of the Big 12 to give a firm commitment date for her assignments and then work within that framework. Cheryl does a great job but the rest of us totally depend on her for our time schedule.

This is a volatile and pressing issue and these are just a few comments and guidelines. We would love to hear your feelings on this issue...

Perplexed

After being involved in the game of tennis for well over 50 years now (both as a player, official, and parent of a player), there are still some things that greatly perplex me... Such as:

* Why do some certified officials also serve as tournament directors and then cut or limit our pay? Perhaps it is time for some of them to decide which side of the fence they are sitting upon. I imagine that EVERY TOURNAMENT pays for the tournament director's meals.

* Why do some officials change so drastically when they start calling lines in pro tournaments?

* Why can't we offer officials schools at times other than January and February?

* Why does a certified referee (with Texas Section rules training) have to attend an additional training school taught only in Austin in order to referee tournaments in Texas?

* Why do some provisional officials think they know everything about officiating when they have done their first ZAT tournament?

* Why do some tournament directors tell us that their expenses have gone up so we shouldn't raise our rates even with a cost of living increase?

* Why do some people think we are getting rich at $15/hour?

* Why do some parents think we are deaf, dumb, blind, and stupid?

* Why do some coaches think we just arrived on a late bus?

* Why do we put up with people in leadership complaining about our rates when they are charging nearly $50 for each entry in tournaments?

* Why don't we consider the possibility of organizing into a Player's Organization and providing at least some limited benefits and retirement plans for our officials?

These are just a few of the things that perplex me after these many years of being involved in the sport of tennis. We would welcome your comments and perplexities...

Looking Past The Rhetoric To The Reality

There is probably not an area that brings in more comments that the issue of tournament directors and this is not always a bad thing. Personally, I think communication and discussion (and sometimes disagreements) lead to better relations and improved quality. I think we need more of this in the area of OFFICIATING but that is a topic for another day...

I have been personally involved in tennis for well over 50 years now (and all in the state of Texas) so I have been involved in every aspect of the game. I've been an official for a long time but have also been a tournament director plenty of times too. Here are some of my unbiased (of course) observations of tournament directors today:

* Most TD's are fantastic and do a great job! Don't ever forget their importance and how much they compliment our work. As a referee, I find that a good TD is one of the best friends you can have and one that makes our job a whole lot easier.

* TD's put in tons of work and many times for no pay; however, some are paid quite handsomely and rightly so. Their pay levels are not dictated by any association and are not regulated in any way in Texas so they are free to make as much as they choose to make.

* TD's need to be aware of the fact that officials are their friends and not their enemies. We are the ones who are on the courts and dealing with the parents, fans, and children so you need to respect our position as we do yours. Remember that it is the referee who is in charge once a tournament begins and he/she is the one who takes the heat.

* A good TD should be aware of rising costs in ALL areas of the game--and this includes officials' fees. Years ago the registration fee for a tournament was $2.50 and that included a t-shirt so go figure the changes...

* TD's should never be guilty of retaliation against officials for raising their fees--and that includes deleting our lunch/supper allowances. We don't want to get into an adversarial relationship with TD's and both sides need to respect each other's positions. Sometimes I am appalled at the amounts that are charged to play in tournaments but I certainly wouldn't raise my rates to get even with the TD's for what they charge.

* A good TD will also be open with what fees they are charged by the USTA for their sanctioning and registration. This will help parents, participants, and officials understand the size of the registration fees.

* A good TD will recognize changes in fees for all aspects of a tournament (and I'm sure most of them do). If there are increases, then pass the increase along to the participants of the tournament or delete some of the "goodies" that you give out during the tournament. There is no God-given right to a t-shirt!

* We all need to remember that in most tournaments the TD is paid just like the officials. It varies from the sublime to the ridiculous so we'll all try to be patient and understanding. Perhaps a little more openness and transparency with their rates and pay scales would eliminate any controversy. I personally know some TD's who make nothing for doing the tournament, some who put all their profits back into the club or organization, and some who make obscene profits from their tournaments--and that is their right to do so. However, it is also our right as officials to charge what we deem to be right...

* TD's and officials can't do a tournament without each other--so let's all work to be supportive of each other.

Things We Need To Fix

One of the marks of quality leadership is that the leaders deal PROACTIVELY with issues instead of REACTING to issues. There is a fine line in leadership but one that needs to be bridged if you are to accomplish anything of value. Leaders and those in leadership must have the ability to foresee problems and issues and deal with them proactively before they arise. Unfortunately, we have some pressing issues that now need to be dealt with and we encourage our leadership to begin to act proactively on these issues. Here are a few of the pressing issues:

OFFICIALS SCHOOLS

The required officials schools are currently only offered in January and February (with the exception of one school in San Antonio in March) and these need to be expanded immediately. If our goal is to enlist as many quality and certified officials as possible then we need to offer more opportunities for certification and training. Not everyone can make it to a school in January and February--and certainly not on the one weekend it is offered in their city.

It would require no special effort to offer additional schools in various parts of the state during the summer months and/or early fall. Data cards do not have to be in until October 15th but the school is for certification in the next year anyway and has not standing on this year's certification.

If cost is the issue, then let the participants pay a small fee ($10) to cover the instructor's fee. There are instructors in every major area of Texas so there would be no travel expenses involved. There is also money in the Texas Section budget for instructors that is not always used--and it should be. Let's teach and train until we have the best qualified officials available.

Hopefully this issue will be addressed at the next Texas Section Officials Committee meeting.

REQUIREMENTS FOR TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS AND REFEREES

One of the most "difficult to understand" requirements in Texas is the current requirement that the tournament director and/or referee MUST attend a tournament director's workshop in Austin in September. The workshop is only taught on one Sunday and is required in order for your tournament to be sanctioned.

First of all, every referee school that is taught in Texas contains a specific section that deals with Texas Section rules and regulations. There is no need nor justification for requiring additional certification for USTA referees.

Second, if the workshop is going to be required then there should be workshops taught in every major metroplex area in Texas instead of one solitary school in Austin on a Sunday morning. It is presumptious to ask someone to travel to Austin at their own expense to attend a workshop that can and should be taught in their own hometown. Imagine the expense involved in you live in Amarillo or McAllen and have to make the trek to Austin...

Third, money should not be an issue. There is plenty of money in the Texas Section for teaching workshops in major areas.

Fourth, my suggestion would be to put the information and teaching on a CD and then send it to all tournament directors and referees. We are all quite capable of studying on our own without having to travel to the Holy City.

IMPLEMENTATION OF PROVISIONAL TRAINING

One of the most pressing issues we face is having provisionals who take the test and are certified but have no actual training since they aren't required to attend a school until the next January or February.

This problem could be alleviated by adding additional schools as mentioned above or having the local associations institute their own training classes. This is already being done in DFW and Houston and its working very well. Provisionals need specific training before we pitch them out on a court--and that doesn't mean just taking an online open book test. I guarantee you that a serious provisional official will welcome the training.

These are just a few specific areas that need to be addressed by our leadership. I hope they do...

The Paradox of The Day

PARADOX

Definition: A self-contradictory or false statement.

We are told on every hand that the officials' fees are causing tournaments to lose money and we are their greatest expense. This folks, simply is not true.

I recently was the referee for a tournament and here is the analysis for the tournament with 400 entries:

$10,400.00 Entry fees based on 400 players at $26.00 per player.

$600.00 Sanction fee to the Texas Section for 400 at $1.50 per player.

$1,200.00 Fee to Tennis Link for registration for 400 at $3 per entry.

$640.00 Officials fees which include lunch, supper, snacks, and fees.

I will leave it up to you to do the math but it is quite a paradox to say that officials cost the most for a tournament when you see the true figures. It actually cost nearly twice as much for players to register online as it did to pay the officials.

You see--they can actually provide meals for the officials and not lose money.

Are We In It For The Money?

Any time I bring up the subject of our officials' fees we always have a lively discussion--and that's all good. I have no qualms discussing money since we all need it to live on...

It seems that anytime we discuss our fees then tournament directors and associations always have an opinion about what WE make with no discussion about what they make or their profit margin. Its time to put some of these myths to rest...

Here are some simple observations about pay in tennis:

* Everyone has to make a living and its not wrong to expect to be paid a fair wage for a day's work. If an official doesn't do a day's work for a day's pay, then don't hire them again.

* Officials have the right to raise their rates whenever they deem necessary without any fear of retaliation from anyone. I think we have a whole country founded on this premise.

* There are officials who depend on their pay for their living and that is nothing to be ashamed of. When an official says, "I don't need the money" then they can send it all to me and I'll use it to live on...

* Just as the USTA, tournament directors, and associations continually raise their fees for tournaments and memberships, then we as officials will also need to raise our fees.

* The average officials' fee is raised every 4-5 years. That means that we go a lot of years with no increase. During that time, the cost of living continues to go up.

* Since our officials' fees are public knowledge and open to full scrutiny, then I think every tournament and tournament director should publish their expenses and profits from every sanctioned tournament. I also think the budget and budget expenditures of the USTA and USTA Texas Section should be posted online and available for all to see. I think when this is done, there would be no complaints about our officials' fees. It would also be wise to publish online the budget and expenditures of the Texas Section Officials Committee so we can all see how money is spent in our area.

* Certified tennis officials should be wise and exercise discretion in taking positions such as tournament director or serving on the boards of local associations. Just leads to divided loyalties and a big mess. I think we are seeing that issue right now with our Sectional Chairman being on the board of an association that retaliates against officials for raising their rates.

These are just a few observations about our officials' pay. We would welcome your comments and observations...

A Great New Tournament In The Metroplex

This weekend marked the completion of an exciting new tennis tournament series here in Dallas called the SUPER SERVER SERIES. It is a series of tournaments that feature cash prizes for the winners and events for everyone who is interested.

The first tournament (this weekend) was held at Huffines tennis center in Ricardson and was a rousing success! There will be a SUPER SERVER TOURNAMENT held every month throughout the rest of the year with increasing price money at each tournament. Be sure to check the blog for details of future tournaments.

Here are some of the participants in this weekend's tournament:

Kriegler Brink (Singles & Doubles Semi-Finalist)

Cameron Nash (Doubles Semi-Finalist and Consolation Singles Finalist)

These two fine young men were lead out participants in the first SUPER SERVER tournament. Kriegler is a former player for TCU and Cameron is currently on the TCU varsity tennis team. Both young men are some of the finest and were a great attribute to the tournament.

TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR

David Kuczer

David has his first weekend as a tournament director after a successful career at SMU. He has also risen to the #2 ranking in Texas in the men's open division.

Debra McGuire

Tournament Sponsor

No tournament like this would be successful without great sponsors and this tournament has some of the best! The lead sponsor was Debra McGuire of Rockwall, Texas. Congratulations Debra for a job well done.