Prophecies Become True

As we journeyed into prophecy we must now also share the fulfillment of some of those recent glimpses into the future.

The first fulfillment came to the west of our beloved city and occurred when the previous leader of the feminine band of tennis participants clothed in purple and white, moved into greener pastures. The older and much wiser patriarch of the male horned toad tennis participants at this institution of higher learning has now reconstituted himself as leader of the females. The revelation of the new leader of young male horned toads has yet to come to pass.

The second fulfillment came when the land upon which the Ponies have dwelt for two years received notice that it would be turned into a barren wasteland in 2011-2012. A new promised land will appear to the south of the major boulevard in Ponyland.

Now its up to you to decipher these revelations...

The Wonderful Gift of Prophecy

Modern day prophets.

Forthtelling events that will soon appear on the horizon.

One of my special gifts in life is the gift of PROPHECY--and I wanted to share this with my friends in the officiating world. In order to check the validity of a prophet you need to see if his/her prophecies actually come to pass.

In order to stimulate your imaginations I am FORTHTELLING that there will be some major changes in the three locations listed below.

I will now leave it up to you to speculate but my prophecies should all come to pass within the year of 2010.

Be sure to stay tuned...

A Referee's Responsibilities

In our tennis officiating world we have a tendency to focus on the responsibilities of NEW OFFICIALS and what all they need to do if they ever want the privilege of working even a ZAT tournament but after spending countless hours of training new chair officials I have come to the conclusion we need to also emphasize our responsibilities as SEASONED OFFICIALS. (Please note that I did not say OLD officials because that only makes us all more insecure...)

After working quite a few grass roots tournaments lately and hearing horror stories from some of the NEWBIES, I believe we need to make some basic changes--and do them quickly. The #1 complaint I hear from new officials is that they never get to work once they are certified and that local referees only use their chosen few.

I realize I am running the risk of offending some, here are my thoughts for SEASONED OFFICIALS:

1. Always be PATIENT with new officials. They don't automatically know everything they need to do--and just think back to when you did your first tournament and all the things you screwed up.

2. Have a SENSE OF HUMOR with working with newbies. After all, this is a tennis match and the universe does not revolve around what you do at a ZAT tournament in West Texas. Yesterday I had a trainee doing a chair match for the men's doubles in the Plano ITA tournament and right off the bat she called a let on the first serve. All four players looked at me and started laughing so I joined them--and finally the red-faced chair official joined in the laughter. Perhaps we should all learn to chill out a bit when mistakes are made...

3. Be HONEST with the new ones. When they ask how they are doing, tell them openly and honestly. You don't have to shatter their already fragile egos but you do need to help them in areas that need improvement.

4. Don't be CONDESCENDING with our new family members. Remember they are all adults and have "real jobs" so don't treat them like ignorant children. Someday when you are old and ready to go to the nursing home they may remember what you did to them when they were first beginning.

5. Be TRUTHFUL IN YOUR SCHEDULING. The #1 thing I have heard lately is that we have referees sending out availabilities, umpires returning the availabilities, and then the referee doesn't notify them of their assignment until a day before it begins. I realize referees have to work with many sites but you should at least have some working knowledge of how many officials you are going to use. This ridiculous practice needs to stop--and stop now...

6. Remember that PRACTICE is what is going to make a new official better--but pay them when you enlist them. It seems that now we want them to shadow for free, work the first assignment for free, and then kiss our feet for the rest of their natural lives. This officiating world isn't servitude--its service and we're all in it together.

7. Branch out and use new officials. You'd be surprised what you find out there.

8. Be open to training new chair officials. Right now that responsibility ends up at the doorstep of only a very few referees. Good chair officials don't happen by complaining that we don't have any--it happens when we patiently train the new ones.

9. Keep your eyes and ears open for new people. They are everywhere!

Sometimes Our Image Needs Polishing

As officials we have a responsibility to those who hire us to know the rules, do our job efficiently, and to look good while we do it. In the past few years I have seen officials on court in white ski jackets with their USTA shirt hanging down to their knees, guys who are unshaven and smell bad, and officials wearing hats/caps that are worn out and have no relevance to tennis--so its time we took stock and upgraded our images.

Remember--nothing promotes insecurity in parents, players, and other officials like a sloppy appearance!

Here are some helpful hints:

1. Always wear the appropriate officials wear--and be sure you are clean. A clean shirt over a dirty body accomplishes little during the heat of the summer.

2. Guys be sure you are clean shaven or properly trimmed up. Going to do a tournament with a 3 days growth of beard makes you look totally inept.

3. Ladies, please look good while you are officiating. My grandmother used to say, "if a barn needs painting, paint it." Enough said...

4. Be sure that you buy the right sizes in your shirts and shorts. I think you all know what I mean on this point. Bulges in inappropriate locations are not becoming... Also remember that short shorts on men OR women don't look too good!

5. Make sure your straw hat is new or in good condition. I saw one last weekend that looked like it just came out from under the lawnmower!

6. Always be polite. A soft answer has a way of disarming an irate person. You can be firm and polite too.

7. Be sure to wear the right apparel for your duties. Since in Texas we have USTA, ITA, and Big 12 apparel that should give you a lot of latitude. You can even wear different colored shoes in Texas so that should be a plus!

8. When you finish your meal, be sure to throw away your trash. You would think this wouldn't have to be mentioned but it does.

9. Always be gracious to your host. You'd be surprised at how this will go a long way in seeing that you get invited back.

10. Be nice to everyone around you--and that includes parents, players, spectators, and other officials.

Underappreciated, Underpaid, And Well Prayed For

CHAD LOUP

Texas Section Staff Person in Charge of Complaints

After reading some of the comments from tournaments this past weekend and regularly hearing horror stories of parents and players on the junior circuit, it makes me appreciate CHAD LOUP (the USTA Texas Section staff member in charge of complaints) more than ever. There is certainly no amount of money that would make me want his job!

I had the privilege of serving on the Officials Grievance Committee for 6 years and during that time we dealt with incidents that I never thought possible. Many of the complaints were warrantless and simply a parent or player complaining about a line call or a footfault call--but there were some that were valid. I can well remember having to deal with an official who came to her site drunk as a skunk! What a great day that was...

Personally, I feel like there should be more severe penalties given out to help stop the abuses around the state but I will leave those decisions up to those in authority. I have heard of about 20 different offenses and problems just over this one weekend so I can't even begin to imagine what Chad has to deal with on a weekly basis.

I do know that we need to APPRECIATE Chad for the fine job he does. I have no idea of how much money he makes (nor do I want to), but whatever it is, I think he is UNDERPAID...

Now for the BIBLICAL INSIGHT... In the Bible when God told Solomon he could have anything that he wanted and he asked for "WISDOM", I now understand how valuable that was.

I do pray regularly for Chad and those in authority, and pray specifically that they have the WISDOM to deal with all the junk that happens in the tennis world.

Keep up the good work Chad!

The Joys of Junior Tennis Tournaments

From time to time I leave my happy world of ITA officiating to venture out into the real world of "grass roots tennis"--and boy is it exciting!

Yesterday I had the privilege of working the North Richland Hills Champs tournament and I had the 12 year old girls at my site....

About midway through the afternoon a petite little 12 year old came and found me to ask me to come to her court because her opponent was cheating her. As I stood between two courts mediating the constant flux of bad calls (according to the 12 year olds and their Mothers), I noticed an interesting paradox...

It seems that of the four girls playing on the two courts, three of them were crying every time they would lose a point.

What a great day of officiating junior tennis!

Interesting Video On College Tennis

Given recent statements by those in authority at the USTA that they are "distancing themselves" from the ITA, I thought you would enjoy this video.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=130700643636420

Tidbits From Around The Tennis World

Thursday marked the day a record crowd watched an exhibition tennis match between Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams. The new record for attendance was 35,681 and was set in Brussels. Clijsters defeated Wimbledon champion Serena 6-3, 6-2.

Serena Williams

One of the highlights of the exhibition match was that it was officiated by none other than Martina Navratilova.

New Record For US Open Prize Money

The US Open tournament will have the richest purse in tennis history with a record $1.7 million going to each of the singles winners. The men will continue to play the best of five sets and the women play best of three sets.

How Do I Get To Do ITA Officiating?

That is one of the most often-asked questions we ever receive--and a good one. The bottom line is that the ITA officials family is a fairly small one but not one that is impossible to join.

Here are some things you need to know in order to become an ITA official:

1. Be ITA certified and have a strong working knowledge of the rules. There is no substitute for knowing the rules--and if you don't, it will show up in your first chair assignment.

2. Be a team player. If you aren't, you won't be getting any assignments.

3. Be teachable. If you can't take helpful instructions, you're probably out in the cold.

4. Be aware of who the coordinators are in your area and BE SURE they know you and like you. The bottom line is that no coordinator is going to hire someone they don't like--so do your best to be nice and likeable.

5. Be willing to pay your dues in order to get into the family. This means you might have to officiate in the cold or even do some matches that aren't glorious but that's all a part of how it works.

6. Don't turn your nose up at any assignment. You won't get to do the #1 singles match every time and you can be sure the coordinator is watching your attitude.

7. If you come from the pro ranks, don't walk in and act like you know everything and are superior to all ITA officials. In reality, I have found very few pro officials who make good ITA officials.

8. Keep trying, learning, and making yourself available. All our coordinators are in need of good officials!

Here are your local coordinators in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

TEXAS:

TCU: Myron Krueger

UT: Vickie Wright

A&M: Sara Lammerts

Baylor: Chuck Scott

SMU, UTA, & UNT: Randy McDonald

Big 12: Cheryl Jones

ACU: Duke Williams

UT Tyler: Millard Countryman

Rice, UH, Lamar, Lee: Ginny James

OKLAHOMA:

OU & OSU: Jim Lawson

Tulsa: Paul Jordan

ARKANSAS: Mike Standrod

ITA Chair Training Opportunities Begin July 16th

The opportunities for ITA chair training begins on July 16th and continues throughout the fall tennis season.

The first opportunities will be during the ITA summer circuit tournaments held in Plano and Arlington. Those who are selected to participate will be able to do on court training and chairs during the tournament matches. You will be able to work as many hours as you can and we will accomodate your work schedule. You will be assigned a training time but will NOT be paid for this training.

Here are the dates for the tournaments and training:

July 16-19 Plano tournament at Collin College

July 24-27 UTA tournament at UTA courts

These are the requirements for participation:

1. You must have an ITA certification.

2. You must also have a green ITA shirt.

If you are interested in participating, contact Randy McDonald at 214 796 7402 or email him at rmtennis@yahoo.com

This is a great opportunity for on court training and opening the doors for ITA work in the spring tennis season.

Jeff Hammond Leaves TCU

TCU Director of Athletics, Chris Del Conte, announced on Saturday that Jeff Hammond will not be returning as the women's tennis coach at TCU.

Jeff was one of the finest coaches in the nation and he will surely be missed. He was a true friend to officials and always treated us with respect and dignity. We need more like him!

Just a little FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Since Matt Knoll (Baylor's men's coach) ventured into the world of women's ITA tennis, perhaps he might like to be considered for the open position at TCU...

Picking At Your Butt All The Way To A Wimbledon Title

Nadal won his second Wimbledon title today as he totally out played his opponent. The only excitement of the match was watching Nadal constantly picking at his butt.

For a more informative view, check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbzRViLJucU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PozI_6r1NE0

You would think with all his money he could find a counselor to help him overcome this habit.

4th Wimbledon Title And 13th Overall

Special congratulations to Serena Williams for winning her 4th Wimbledon title and 13th overall major championship.

Serena did it in vintage form as she routed Vera Zvonarova 6-3, 6-2. The match was never in doubt and Serena won this year's Wimbledon without losing a set.

Perhaps she will go down as the greatest ever...