Thursday, May 21, 2015

Its Time To Require Linesmen In Deciding Matches


The infamous "far sideline."  Strangely vacant at the NCAA tournament.

After watching the deciding match in the NCAA semi-finals between Oklahoma and TCU men, I have decided its time for us to call for a requirement that all deciding matches have officials at least on the long lines.  There were two points in the second set tiebreak that would have had an undisputed and clear resolution had the NCAA powers that be believed in putting the remaining officials on a line when it comes down to the deciding match.

In this specific match, there would have had to have had an official on both long lines but that's what is done in the Big 12 and numerous other collegiate matches in Texas.  The official in this match upheld an out call by the OU player which he may or may not have changed to good.  Had there been a linesperson they could have seen his change of mind had there been one.  The question would have been settled and the right decision made.

In the second instance, the chair overruled an out call on a serve by the TCU player on the near sideline.  To say the overrule was questionable would be an understatement but would have been corrected or confirmed had there been an official on the near sideline.  Again--that's a good place to put the officials who are doing nothing but watching a deciding match.

Linespeople are regular fixtures at all Big 12 matches, SMU, Rice, University of Houston, UTA, UNT, A&M, and numerous other universities in Texas and Oklahoma--so now its time for the NCAA to get on board.  In fact, at the Big 12 tournament this year the deciding match in the semi-finals had linespeople on every line.  Its an easy decision and stops a lot of things that shouldn't be happening in a deciding match.

To go a step further, the above-mentioned universities and conferences use a far linesperson in all doubles matches since there are three officials who are not working during the doubles point.  Why not put them to work and help make sure the match is fairly officiated.

There must be some arguments against having linespeople in doubles and deciding matches but I'm not sure what they are.

Waiting to hear your thoughts on this huge issue...


26 comments:

Phred said...

The NCAAs only used 'badged' officials. We all know they never make mistakes (in their own minds). I had to laugh watching Rios play his match against USC. A balled rolled under his feet and he continued to play, the point ending in a four point rally. When Rios questioned the "pro" chair umpire why she didn't call a let, SHE stated she didn't see the ball under his feet. Really????? If she didn't see it, then where in the hell was she looking. That is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE, yet she continues to get selected to work these elite NCAA events. Maybe the NCAA decision on who they select as Referee should be questioned.

Anonymous said...

Not sure where they got those officials but they are sadly lacking. Even the Baylor officials would be better than this.

Anonymous said...

No qualified ITA official in their right mind wants to work matches at Baylor. Just look how bad they treat Big 12 officials. I heard Baylor housed the NCAA umpires in a trailer house. How fitting since most of their fans are trailer trash to begin with. Maybe Baylor got one of their fans to loan them their house for the tournament. Wouldn't surprise me.

Anonymous said...

All of the garbage that goes on at Baylor stems from a former Big 12 official was fired a few years back. His money talks down there for sure.

Larry said...

Interesting observation on the use of officials in last remaining or deciding matches. Since the NCAA can't seem to grasp that concept, then why are they using line persons on all lines starting w/semi's or qtrs.?

Anonymous said...

One would think he could get his teeth fixed, but then again they are proud of their trailers.

RM said...

I didn't know they were using lines people in the latter rounds. Guess they have seen the light--a little too late for TCU and OU.

Larry said...

Randy, the line officials come in the last 2-days of the individual competition. None are used during the team event. Maybe that's because they bring the top-tier solo chair officials. Or maybe because it's just the way they have always done it. Also, fyi, the NCAA pay scale is below what is paid for any Ole regular season dual match. Just saying!

RM said...

Just imagine how much money you could make if they paid Big 12 or SEC rates for a dual match...

Anonymous said...

Many places use the glorified opinion givers that are being called linespeople. Many of them don't pay attention and are surprised when you look at them or ask for their opinion. Plus why wouldn't you want someone who was actually trained and or at least somewhat proficient at calling a line there if you had to have one. Also I don't see there is extra pay for those people to stay around to do this which is another way to continue to let officials be devalued and everyone accepts it. We have been trying to fight for legitimate pay and condition increases and this just lets the schools and conferences take more advantage because tons of people will just do it without question. If you want them pay for them and have someone there that knows what they are actually doing that would be a bonus!!!!

RM said...

In a dual match doubles point its actually more fun doing lines than just sitting around doing nothing. In the singles deciding match, all of the officials are still there (and being paid quite well) so they should do lines without question. Personally, I love having them if I am in the chair; and if not, its fun doing them.

Anonymous said...

Wow, a few things here are just wrong.
1. Not all of the current crew at the NCAA's are badged officials.
2. In the TCU/OU match Alverez called the ball out and did not change his call...tinwas also there and saw the whole tiebreak.... Chappels out call was blateny bad and was retalitory in my opinion and he should've been overrued, coded for his 3rd overrule and then coaxed again for a retalitory call...the chair umpire for this match is highly qualified, very experienced and in fact played for a DivI feam...no he is not badged, but he is at all, ALL of the College National Championships because he is so qualified.
Incidently he also agreed that Chappel had mlre than earned a code for the retalitory call on that serve. He decided against it because he didn't want to insert himself into the match...meaning he knew when to get out of the way.
Questionble call?...not even close

As far as having the linespeople...I understand the logic, but how many Big 12 matches have peeps on lines that are horribly unqualified to call that line...Yes, to be a good linesperson it takes practice and effort, not the usual scorn from alot of those in Texas College tennis umpiring

Probably better to know a little something beyond one's own assumptions about things before one spews forth their opinion and removes all doubt that they are almost 99.9% wrong and almost as clueless

RM said...

I was at the TCU vs OU match and I saw Axel signal out and then good. Simple fact because I was looking right at him.

Four very experienced officials were looking right down the line when Chappel made his out call and they all agreed that the ball was clearly out.

Just goes to show that we can all see the same thing and come up with different conclusions. That doesn't diminish the fact that the NCAA needs to using linespeople in their dual matches. They aren't doing anything else so why not put them to work???

Anonymous said...

Wouldn't it be nice if most of this information was actually used in a constructive way? Wow what a concept! Instead you have tons of misinformation by many bitter, undereducated, jealous, petty gossiping officials from both collegiate and pro tennis who would rather generate some type of controversy and animosity rather than come up with some compromises and solutions to many of our current and previous issues. This is a unfortunate but common theme in most all of officiating. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone would just grow up and stop acting like a group of dysfunctional grade schoolers. We all can make mistakes last I checked everyone is still human. Well I guess some say there may be some aliens sprinkled in. LOL joke. Many believe they are much more knowledgeable just because they have been officiating since before dirt but this alone doesn't mean they are great or horrible. It goes both ways. But please stop trying to talk smack about others to try to make yourselves look better than someone else or prop yourselves up. Worry about your own improvements and legitimately help others and all of us will become better. I have yet to see a perfect official at any level or one that cannot learn something more. If you are one of these types we feel sorry for you maybe someday you will understand this is just a game and not real life or maybe you are one of the aliens. I don't know maybe this is all too much to expect of the human race.

Anonymous said...

Four expeirence umpires who don't see well?

Axel called the ball out...twice I can understand with how he did it, that some confused this for changing his call, but a one finger extended is universally recognized as out...regardless of his double pumpkng it or not...both times he had his finger oit, and when the chair asked him if he changed his call, Axel said no...BTW the ball on question was out.

Sorry ro burst your bubble, but I know the four umpires your speaking of, and they are not half as good as they think, or tell everyone who will listen, they are...yourself included.

Anonymous said...

Lets remember something stuff here... the "lines people" are NOT calling balls out or in - they are verifying calls ONLY when asked by a Chair - THE CHAIR DOES NOT HAVE TO CALL ON THEM!!!?? In my experience - if you have people verifying calls on the lines - the players tend to call a little "better" line.

FACTS ARE FACTS 1) these line verifiers do not make bad calls often... 2) If you put the Officials on the lines - they only gain experience 3) they help the chair do a better job. and finally 5) VERY RARELY does a line verifier get called by the Chair - BUT WHEN THEY DO...the CHAIR SHOULD ALWAYS ACCEPT THE CALL PERIOD!

Seems pretty silly that they do not use the Officials that are sitting around... actually - it is a waste!

BACO

RM said...

Amen Baco! Preach on.

Anonymous said...

You can bet the May 23rd 3:56 post is from one of the useless Baylor officials. They never get used for a reason.

Anonymous said...

Anyone with any experience knows that one of the hardest calls to make is on the near sideline by the chair. Had the chair given a code violation for a retaliatory call on Chappel you would have seen a fan revolt from the TCU fans. Right or wrong, when a call is that close it sure as heck isn't a retaliatory call.

RM said...

Sorry about not putting the last comment up but unfortunately you don't even know how to spell. You might want to go back to school in between calling lines in Africa.

Anonymous said...

I heard they offer elementary reading and spelling at Baylor for their football players. I'm sure they would let a tennis linesperson in with no problems.

Anonymous said...

Forgive me for my poor spelling in the last post, responding from an iPhone isn't the best for grammar or spelling.

First off to address the individual who believes or would bet that I'm a Baylor umpire, you'd loose your money.

To address BACO's four points, but numbered as five?
-putting people out there on a line who have little to no experience, or who haven't called a line in a decade or so isn't what I'd call giving them proper experience....would you through someone in a chair like that, meaning without any type of training other than "go out and do it?"

Bottom line, you want line experience sign up for a futures assignment...learn a different aspect of umpiring, like all others it takes a willingness to learn, and effort.

Randy many of the commentators and yourself take pot-shots at Pro-umpires, completely disregarding them, the time and work they put into their craft...and it always boils down to three core things....you think your better (pride), the money is better in college (mammon), and you and quite a few others in Texas college tennis and the Big 12 have failed at the Pro levels (pride of life)..yeah I read that book too...so you mock those that pursue or prefer the Professional avenue, passing judgement and scorn on them.

It troubles me that you allow this, and yet would code a player for yelling Jesus Christ out of frustration, as you have stated a few times here in your blog....how "christ-like" of you....I don't profess to be a Christian, but your walk and your talk don't mesh.


Did I spell that correctly?

RM said...

Its good to see you fixed your spelling. First of all, I don't care how much pro officials make or do or learn--they are usually very weak collegiate chairs. The difference in ITA is that the line official is only "observing" the line and making a call if asked. Our collegiate officials have plenty of experience so when pro officials look down their nose at us, they are barking up the wrong tree. Besides, collegiate officials make a whole lot more money than pro officials.

Thanks for writing though. If you print up your name we might even consider hiring you to do some collegiate work someday.

RM said...

In fact, I'll make our disgruntled reader a deal... If you come out and tell us who you are publicly I will let you write a guest article on the blog about pro line officials. I'll be waiting to hear from you...

Anonymous said...

As a retired ITA umpire/referee, I read with interest the comments made by Anonymous 5/25 9:04. To answer Anonymous's question, no, you didn't spell that correctly. Either your spelling is poor, your grammar is lacking, or you don't proofread well. But, I digress.

I had numerous occasions to work with and observe Professional umpires working in ITA Dual Matches during 10+ years as an ITA Official. My "takeaway" from most of those occasions was that the "pro" officials brought the same arrogance and condescending manner to fellow officials at the ITA level that they exhibited on the "pro" level. Yes, I worked pro events early in my career, but stopped because many of the "pro" level officials I worked with were, quite simply, obnoxious.

At the ITA level I noticed either a lack of knowledge of ITA rules, or blatant disregard for those rules by "pro" officials. Frankly, it was surprising to see this in the first dozen, or so, instances I observed. Then I came to realize that "pro" officials just don't get it when it comes to ITA rules. It seemed their arrogant/condescending attitude was "This is the way we do it at the pro level, and therefore, the way it will be done at the ITA level!" That's a heck of an approach to take. I also noted that, for the most part, when it came time to do NCAA Regional playoffs, and Regional tournaments, the ITA Referees didn't hire "pro" officials.
As written earlier, I don't officiate anymore, so I no longer have skin in the officiating game. As a casual reader of this blog, I do have opinions.

Anonymous said...

LET ME GET THREE THINGS STRAIGHT - guy that corrected my numbering...

1. THANKS FOR CORRECTING ME - we should learn from our mistakes...
3. GOD LOVES YOU

love, BACO