Since there are a lot of new officials (and a bunch of older ones) who regularly read the blog, it might be good to enumerate those things that an official working a USTA event in the Metroplex can expect.
Here are just a few of the things an official should expect from their referee:
* A timely commitment to their assignment. No official should have to be put on hold for days and days and then told the day before a tournament that they aren't needed. If a referee has this reputation (and believe me, they do) and they ask you to work--run.
* The referee should be forthcoming about the finish time for your shift. Don't let them tell you that you will be working a 6 hour shift and they keep you there for 12 hours. Again--check their reputation.
* The referee should be providing you with a lunch (or supper if you work past 6:00 p.m.) or a MTOA approved alternative. That means if there is no lunch provided then you are entitled to leave your site to go get your own lunch. Never, ever, let a referee talk you into bringing your own lunch and then sitting at the site during the lunch time. They know the rules and should abide by them.
* The referee should pay you for time worked. That means that if the referee asks you to report at 6:30 a.m. then they should pay you from that time. Don't let them ask you to report "early" for your shift and not pay you. That also means that you get paid for checking the nets, cleaning the courts, and preparing for the start of play. If the referee is pulling this unethical stunt and only paying you from the time that play starts then don't show up until play starts. They'll change their tune pretty quickly... Again, if this is being done, report it to the President of the MTOA.
* The referee should pay you in hourly increments. That means that if you work over an 6.75 hours then you should be paid for 7 hours. We do not pay in 15 minute increments and don't let anyone do that to you.
* The referee should "have your back" when there is a dispute with players and/or parents. Even if you have made an error in judgment or knowledge of the rules there is no excuse for a referee embarrassing an official publicly. Those are discussions that need to be held in private.
* The referee should know the rules. Believe it or not, there are some that don't.
* The referee should be on site or easily reachable by phone. Do not ever work for a referee that is "out of town" during the tournament because you're only asking to be set up to fail. If a referee does this, report them to the President of the MTOA and appropriate action will be taken.
* If the referee is on site then he/she always need to be available to assist you if there is a problem of any kind. They are the ultimate authority and need to make their presence visible. Most problems will disappear when they are around.
* The referee should be respectful to those who are working for him/her. We are all officials and need to be treated with respect when we are working together.
10 comments:
"The referee should "have your back" when there is a dispute with players and/or parents. Even if you have made an error in judgment or knowledge of the rules there is no excuse for a referee embarrassing an official publicly. Those are discussions that need to be held in private."
Real World. Doesn't happen all the time. Referee wants to keep coaches happy.Why? So they get the assignment again and again and again. If coaches not happy with umpire (usually because they are losing) and are persistent. referee will pull umpire. No one wants this embarrassment but it happens. And it is a moment you will never forget.
How about you add that as an Umpire should expect the referee to hire the right number of people! When they fail to hire the right number of people to work a site - EVERYONE LOSES! They need to do whats right an NOT WHAT THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR WANTS - so that they will be hired again!
If the Referee does not have their Umpires Backs on this - WHY WORK?
BACO
can someone answer this.lf I were told a 6hr shift till 6pm and I work on a Sunday when all the matches(Finals) are over by say 4:30pm and assist site director in closing and leave say by 4:50pm will I still be paid for 6hrs or just the hours I worked.
Is this the OFFICIAL mantra for MTOA Referees? If so, then I know for sure not all Referees in the Metroplex follow these guidelines, especially paying officials from the time we arrive until we are released for the day. It was my impression that we only start getting paid once matches actually start. If that's not the case, can we collect back pay for getting cheated out of an extra hour of work?
The policy in the MTOA for 2013 is that the referee is paid $18 and hour with an 8 hour minimum. The umpires are paid $15 an hour with a 6 hour minimum.
If you work less than your minimum you still get paid that amount.
And yes, some referees and TD's owe you some back pay if they have been asking you to work without being on the clock.
NOTE to all of you money hungry/me first/gotta-get-a-free lunch phat aars OFFICIALS:
I think that we have LONG crossed over the line of donating time and efforts to the game of tennis - we are now using this mandatory Officials position as a life support...sucking the life blood out of every parent and player!
please just go do your College matches and make your BIG BUCKS there and ...leave the grassroots tennis alone.
Thought I would publish that last comment so you can see what's out there. Obviously this person doesn't work as an official and is most likely an unsuccessful tournament director. Officials are among the last ones who are "sucking the life blood out of every parent and player."
Shouldn't we expect our Referees to be USTA certified? I know for a fact there is a person from Waco who's NOT yet he continues to assume Referee duties in collegiate tournaments. How can that be stopped?
Who in Waco is acting as Referee? Hope that isn't true.
You must be talking about the Imperial Wizard Chuckie. He serves as the Referee for the Southland Conference Tournament.
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