Texas' statewide average is one official per 11 courts.
Of course, the ideal is one official per court but that only exists in collegiate, pro, and Dubai tennis.
I think most every would agree that 1/25 is not feasible and 1/11 is probably pushing the limits quite a bit but where is the proper ratio. I would tend to think its between 1/6 and 1/4 for us to properly do our job and partially satisfy the tournament directors and the Junior Council. How well do I remember when the Junior Council representatives came into the Officials Committee meeting and told us that we weren't properly enforcing the rules--and they were considering putting a limit on how much we could charge... So folks, the issue is out there and it is a real and valid issue.
There are many realities that factor into this discussion--and here are a few random thoughts to consider:
* The tournament and TD must be able to make a decent profit. Noone is denying this but obscene profits when an official must officiate 1/12 courts isn't the answer.
* We must be willing to have an open and honest discussion at all levels about what constitutes an "obscene profit" and what is a "reasonable profit."
* Our leadership in Texas must find a way to lower the state-wide ratio of 1/11.
* Parents, coaches, and players all expect much more from an official at a tournament site--but are they willing to pay the financial price?
* Should court monitors be used to supplement the certified officials?
* Should there be a limit placed on the amount a tournament can charge for an entry fee?
* Are people in America ready to pay more in their entry fees to have a lower official/court ratio?
When there's a problem, we need to take the time to properly discuss the issue and then explore our options. I think that time has come...
(BE SURE TO TAKE THE TIME TO VOTE IN THE POLL ON THE UPPER RIGHT OF THIS BLOG)
17 comments:
Perhaps the word "profit" should be removed from the discussion and we should focus on how officials can best serve both TD and Players. Anything above a 1:6 ratio is not serving the best interests of anyone. Ref court monitors....sure, why not? In my opinion they can help. Perhaps the best starting point in the conversation goes back to an earlier blog posting, the referee should determine from the TD what official:court ratio is being planned. The refereee then communicates that ratio in her/his request for avails. At that point the marketplace determines how many officials will be willing to work the event.
There are a lot of factors involved when determining officials to court ratios. What age group are you doing. 12's require the most supervision, 14's a little less and 16s-18s seem to be more able to operate on their own for the most part. Court layout is another consideration. I have done tournaments that I could effectively see and be seen by up to 6 courts but when extensive landscaping or creative court positioning comes into play, it becomes more of a challenge to see and be seen. 95% of potential problems on the court disappear when the official can see and be seen clearly. It's not that play is affected in a negative way, the players mostly behave better when they know an official can see their match. Hard to put a exact number on it, many factors need to be considered...
Great comments...
I did a Super Champ Boys 12 last weekend and the ratio was 1/12. That was a lot to cover but at least the site let me see 8 courts at once. The parents and players made numerous comments that we needed more than one official.
I'm not sure if that was a comment on my officiating or their perceived need...
Hope all is well. As a parent who has a super champ 16 daughter, I agree that the ratio should be less, but I will also tell you that at the last 3 tournaments I've been to it wouldn't have mattered because the officials sat at the tournament desk and NEVER set foot on the courts the entire time I was there.
I find more and more that the officials at satellite locations spend the majority of their time next to the TD desk and not on the courts.
I am still observing a lack of education, or at least a lack of understanding of what their role is when it comes to roving, and as a tournament fee paying parent, that is disheartening.
I'd be happy to pay more if I knew it would actually put more roving officials on the court. But from what I've seen recently, it would just add another person at the tournament desk.
Just my thoughts as a parent.
Court layout is a big factor. I work one site where I can stand in the middle and see and be seen by all 8 courts. I work another site where they are layed out in a long row. When standing in the middle, it is impossible to know what is going on at either end.
I vote 1 to 6. 1 to 8 only if the lay-out is good.
From Haymuncher-
1st,full disclosure;
I do not work the USTA events described herein
However, in the past I have been a participant and many officials I work with share their views with me on this subject.
I am not aware of any facilities where adequate coverage is not directly influenced by the court layout A ratio of 1/3 to 1/6 is necessary to provide proper coverage and as you move up in # of courts to watch the required experience and skill levels need to go up as well.
The comments about officials being near the TD desk are valid but if you only have 1 official for 8-12 courts and one of them is the Referee,it is often the best option.
If you are trying to cover a large # of courts the players and parents expect you to see everything and be available on instant demand which is not possible
On the other hand if you have a Ref+1 and 12-16 courts to cover
you can better serve the event by locating at the desk and responding to requests which you will have plenty of.
For many years I have advocated
a line item officiating fee added to the cost of entering.
This would vary by type of event and would not be intended to cover the cost of the officials but to bring to light this service and cost.
EXAMPLE: 16 courts 2 days 4 officials 8 courts 1 day 2 officials (avg $150 per day)
$1500,150 entries @ $6 fee =$900
reducing the cost to the event for officials to below the cost of a 1to 8 ratio and getting everyone INVOLVED
Of course the main benefit is a better event with better officials
Certainly the tournament is responsible for the Referee cost
In would also help if the tournament information included
"the event will have a ratio of one official per (X) courts"
It's not really about telling someone how much of their income should be from tournaments.
Instead it should be about doing the best possible job in a way that makes the event more attractive/acceptable to managers and entrants
Just my observations
HAYMUNCHER
Re: Parents and players wanting more officials
Especially at the lower level touornaments, the parents and players expect the roving umpire to chair their matches and call every line. I spent 30 minutes at the last CMZ I refereed explaining to a distraught parent the role and duties of the roving umpire. I usually have a 9:1 ratio which can be hectic but when the 4-1 rule (I'm down 4-1, I need a line judge!) epeidemic starts, it spreads like wildfire and if the other on site official gets hung up on a match, my 9:1 turns into 17:1...
If one of my rovers spends his time at the tournament desk during one of my tournaments, he better have his leg in a cast! Won't be working for me again for a while.
A lot of times you have to stay at or near the tournament desk for the following reasons:
1. To default or penalize players who are late.
2. To handle complaints.
3. If the site director is inept.
I did not vote, because it seems that 1/8 is a viable alternative. The current 1/11 is onerous to even very experienced officials, not to mention, fatiguing (specially in Texas summers.) 1/11, 1-25, doable - sure - unreasonable and fatiguing, absolutely! In addition, the quality of officiating declines.
But in my limited experience, I have gotten the impression that the division of labor between site directors and umpires is often not clear, even tournament referees and site umpires (some delegate freely and others micro manage). In juniors, some parents profess to know the rules, and though some appear to be knowledgeable, others are not. If the parents are not knowledgeable, it follows that the child is not either.
Therefore it might help if prior to a season both parents and aspiring players attended a meeting that would explain the basic rules and specially the role that umpires (particularly rovers) play. Even among umpires this role is not entirely uniform, some more passive and others more officiating. [Note: a parent on this blog observed that the officials were often just sitting at the tournament desk; he/she may have seen the referee - rovers are not usually sitting in shade (as spectators are), except on a break, and are on the courts for 8 to 12 hours. Adult tournaments are not much different, though one would expect adults (and I would include super champs, particularly 16-18)) to be more savvy.
One point against 1/11 or 1/10 is that players get on court and sometimes even start play before one can get to them or even know they are there because the official has been called to a certain court or is observing a random game. The concept of a monitor is interesting if that role is well defined. And though I agree that profit should not have a place in amateur level tennis, fair and adequate, structured compensation is fine. I vote for 1/8 or 1/6 in that order.
As a TD I use 1:6 as a general rule, except at UT Whitaker. AT UTW it is more like 1:10 the first day of the tourney (banks of 5 courts back to back). I hire and pay experienced site directors and I work alongside them, mainly at UTW because of the complexity and # of courts used. The last day of the tourney (Juniors), the ratio is close to 1:3 and sometimes 1:1. Supers tourneys are generally well covered and in 2012 I will begin CHAIRING Supers finals; This gives some experience to our newer chair officials. You have less issues if you have adequate officials on court....duh
I must agree with the SCMZ mother...if I saw an official sitting around chatting it up in the shade all day, I'd take issue with that too. However, breaks are needed in Texas heat so sometimes this overused line gets blown out of proportion when it is a well-deserved break or lunch. Personally, I think Austin has a great bunch of officials who work hard.
In most adult tourneys I don't worry with the officiating ratio, unless it's my end-of-year Championships. For my upcoming EOY Masters tourney, ALL FINALS ARE CHAIRED for a 1:1 ratio. Other days the ratio is like 1:3 or 1:4 at Headquarters and 1:4 or 1:6 at satellite sites.
I would venture to say that Austin is the only place in Texas that has that good of a ratio. Vickie is to be commended!
Interesting that this discussion is one of the most constructive, invective free, ever posted on the blog. Excellent comments from everyone, although the comments about officials at tournament desks just astound me. To me, staying at the desk is totally unacceptable.
Good discussion RM - here is an idea that was mentioned earlier, make sure the Referee knows you are “not for hire” if you have to cover more than 6-8 courts! That in a NUTSHELL will solve the problem.
Come on fellow officials. I've worked many tournaments where I was responsible for at least 12 courts and I've always been able to maintain control of the players. I'm always moving between courts so I'm visible to all players. Very seldom do I have to go onto court to solve problems. When I do, I usually take care of business quickly and then move on.
Am I just that special, or have I just been extremely lucky over my 15 years of officiating, or better yet, are my fellow officials either inept or can't handle multi-tasking. Wish someone would let me know.
I've seen way too much whinning by my fellow officials and I can't understand why.
With that kind of arrogance I imagine you aren't getting the job done but you don't even know it. Either that or you are Superman.
Nationals I believe require a 1:4 ratio during the bidding but otherwise we have pushed for a 1:6 ration when possible. Of course we all have the option of saying no to a tournament, but $$$ does talk.
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