How To Make "Training Workshops" Work And Not Become A Fiasco

Social interaction and bonding is the key to success!

After reading through the information put out by the USTA for the new certification requirements and introduction of "training workshops" I am cautiously optimistic that it might work but realistically unsure about effectiveness.

First of all, the "training workshops" are not required of officials but will be offered on a sectional basis--and we all know full well that officials don't attend much of anything if its not required.  We are promised a fleet of instructors but the bottom line is that they may be instructing an empty room.

Surely the USTA can come up with a more well thought out plan to implement these new changes.  Many of the instructional materials aren't even ready and some won't be available until 2017!  What kind of effective business in America changes the entire certification process of their workforce and then not present a finished product to implement that change?  None.

The online testing is a much welcome and needed change and should be effective but there's a lot more to officiating than just knowing a bunch of rules.  We have to find ways to instruct our officials in anger management, handing disruptive people, learning how to work with other officials, communication, and simply learning how to implement the rules they know.  That won't and can't be done on an internet testing program...

Theoretically the "training workshops" are a great idea--if and only if you can get people to attend them.  Just having instructors ready and waiting isn't going to cut it--YOU HAVE TO HAVE PERSONALIZED CONTACT IN ORDER TO GET PERSONAL ATTENDANCE...

Here are some suggestions:

*  Make sure there is a specific coordinator in every localized area of the state.  Be sure to get someone who is committed to growing their area and all of their officials.

*  Have the coordinator appoint a person who is specifically asked to grow the training workshops.

*  Focus on "one on one" enlistment.  When people feel wanted they will come.  Call them, write them, encourage them, and let them know they are important to the officials family!

*  Learn to use "social gatherings" to grow the group.  Its much more than just announcing a "come and drink/eat party"--it involves personal involvement to encourage people to come, learn, and share.

*  Use social media, texts, and emails to keep all officials well informed.  Once we get officials certified we usually pitch them out there to learn on their own.  Its time to be sure they know where to work, how to get hired, and what they need to do when they get to work.

*  Use "officials teams" made up of two or more officials to meet together regularly and share their experiences together.  This sharing teaches new officials more than any class ever could.

*  Most of all--DEVELOP A SENSE OF FAMILY among your area's officials.  Make them feel welcome, needed, and appreciated and then you'll see the training workshops grow and new officials begging to come and join us!

These are just a few thoughts about the upcoming changes.  We would welcome your thoughts and comments...

Follow Up To Blog Post About Attack on Officials

Ex-Coach Mack Breed

We originally did a blog post on September 15, 2015, about the attack on a football official by two players who were encouraged to do so by their coach.  Here is a link to an article today sharing the outcome of the coach's trial.

Congratulations to our legal system for working.  Perhaps he got off a little light but at least some legal action was taken.

http://usatodayhss.com/2015/former-john-jay-coach-pleads-guilty-in-assault-on-blindsided-official-charges-against-players-to-come

"Former John Jay (San Antonio) assistant football coach Mack Breed has been sentenced on misdemeanor assault charges in a plea agreement with the Burnet County (Texas) Attorney’s Office for his role in two Jay players blindsiding official Robert Watts during a Sept. 4 against Marble Falls.

According to a statement from the Burnet County Attorney’s Office, Breed turned himself in to Marble Falls police on Monday after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Breed pled guilty and was sentenced to 12 months in county jail and a $3,500 fine, but the sentence was suspended and he was placed on probation for 18 months and will be required to permanently surrender his Texas Teaching Certificate, complete an anger management program, perform 120 hours community service, and pay restitution to Watts.

The charge was assault causing bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor.

The attorney’s office said charges against the two players — Michael Moreno and Victor Rojas — are expected to be filed shortly. The statement said assault and aggravated assault are under consideration. Because Moreno is older than 17, any charges will be handled by the adult criminal system. Misdemeanor or felony charges against Rojas would be held in juvenile court. The statement from the county attorney did not name Rojas because he is a minor.

Rojas and Moreno are both serving 75 days in the district’s alternative school for their role in the incident. Jesse Hernandez, who represents both players, was unavailable for comment.

Breed initially told the school principal that he instructed the players to hit the official but later recanted in a statement given to the school district’s human resources department. In the second statement, Breed wrote that he took the blame to protect the two players from being expelled from school. Breed resigned from his position Sept. 23."

2016 Certification Requirements, Clothing Information, & Friend at Court Information

Everyone in our officials world have been wondering about the new certification requirements and they have finally come out with at least some of the details.  Listed below is the latest edict concerning education, certification, clothing, and Friend at Court Information.

SPECIAL NOTE:  Be sure to notice that under the "Clothing" information that there is a link to the apparel guidelines.  There is also a link to order USTA clothing on the upper right hand side of the blog.

Education

Online Courses

Over the next two years, we will be replacing traditional USTA in-person certification schools with online education modules.  We have partnered with the USTA Learning and Development Department and E-Path to develop these online modules, which will be rolled out as they are completed.  

In the past, the USTA National and Sectional TEs held 1-2 day in person training schools.  The online modules are more convenient, allowing Officials to complete them at any time and at their own pace.  They are cost effective for both the Sections and the Official.  In addition, the teachings are consistent regardless of where the Officials are located.

By delivering the education via online, the USTA Sections can now use the resources that were allotted to National Schools to conduct specialized and localized officiating training.  In-person training can focus on putting Officials in the field and enhancing their skills (more on that below). 

The modules being developed and their projected completion dates are:

In-Person Sectional Training

By moving the initial training to more robust and consistent online modules, we can now take the in-person training to a new level. The new approach will allow the Sections to maximize the funds allocated to training Officials by holding training workshops for specific disciplines.   Based on the officiating training needs of the Section, they will have the power to decide when, where and for which discipline to hold trainings in.

The in-person training workshops are being developed with the help of the USTA Learning and Leadership Development Staff and Subject Matter Experts for each officiating discipline. The USTA will provide training materials for each course. Through an application process we will identify, train and approve Officials to teach specific workshops across the country.  By the end of the process, we will have a network of trainers that will be locally available to all Sections.  

Certification

In an effort to have a National Standard, USTA Officiating is focusing more time on the requirements a person must complete before becoming a Certified Official.  This will ensure consistency and more than adequate training before a provisional Official goes on court.  This will help Sections focus further training on these Officials as they progress in their disciplines.  The three basic requirements to become an Official have been slightly modified to reflect the new online modules:

1.     Be a USTA Member.

2.     Complete the online Safe Play Training, which includes passing a criminal background check.

3.     Complete the Introduction to Officiating, Rules and Regulations modules, and Roving Umpire 1 (once available) to complete the testing requirement for Provisional Certification.

As we previously mentioned the online modules will be available in January. Until they are launched, we ask that you have any of your new recruits go through the SafePlay Training and Background Screening, which in some cases can take 10-business days to complete.  The USTA Officiating Website will have the new 2016 Friend at Court as well as supplemental documents for all Officials to get acquainted with the rules prior to completing the courses.  

In order to maintain their certification, all Certified Officials will be required to complete the following courses by October 1, 2016:

• Introduction to Officiating
• Rules and Regulations 1
• Rules and Regulations 2
• Rules and Regulations 3
• Roving Umpire 1

The Sectional Chairpersons will be given access to the names of all Officials who have completed the online modules.  We are in the process of determining how those records are transferred into the individual NUCULA accounts so that Sectional and District Chairpersons can also view the information in NUCULA during the re-certification period.   

Clothing Program
(Be sure to check out the link below to the clothing guide)

We are about to launch the USTA Umpire Clothing Program next week.  This has been a long process, and we appreciate your patience as we worked out all the details.  We are confident that the Officials will be happy with the items we have selected, the website created, and the high customer service level S&H provides. In preparation for the launch, we have also created a clothing guide that includes pricing, size chart, and any additional information about each item. Click here to view the clothing guide. 

As we mentioned before, the roll-out will be tiered.  We have prioritized the Pro Circuit Officials working in January as the first group to receive the link for the Clothing Program Website.  Those Officials will have one week to place their order before the rest of the USTA Certified Officials receive the link.  This will ensure that they will receive their uniform before their first assignment in January. The clothing information and link will then be sent to all Certified Officials on December 16th.  

Friend at Court

We anticipate the Friend at Court to be mailed to all Certified Officials at the end of the month. In preparation for this, we will be pulling the mailing list from NUCULA on December 15th.  Please remind all the Officials in your Section to make sure their mailing address is correctly displayed in NUCULA. Also, remind them that if they are listed as uncertified, they will not receive the 2016 Friend at Court. We appreciate your help in coordinating the mailing.

As you know, the Friend at Court has been revamped.  Some comments, the majority of Regulation VII, and ITA Regulations have been moved online and will be available on the Rules page of the usta.com/officiating website or USTA resources page at http://resources.usta.com/category/usta-rules--regulations .  

The Value of A Local Officials Association

Anytime you recruit a new official you also have to explain all the hoops they need to jump through in order to become a certified official in America--and that's not all bad because we want to have the very best officials in the world.  As new officials begin to wade through the different levels of certification and training they often turn to the local officials associations for their help--and thank goodness they aren't disappointed.

In Texas, there are well organized associations in the larger cities and less structured associations in the smaller cities but they all have a purpose.  Here are some of the good points:

*  They offer specialized training for officials.  In Houston and Dallas there are courses for new officials that help them adjust to their new calling in life as well as specialized training for those who want to go to the pro or collegiate ranks.

*  They offer a good advice resource for new officials.  Its always good to be able to ask questions of more experienced officials.

*  They watch out for officials in the area of pay, hours worked, and other details of the job.  Not all tournaments and tournament directors are nice to officials and will manipulate these areas if possible.

*  They offer a local standard for all officials when it comes to the pay scale and other benefits.

*  They offer a good resource for fellowship among officials.  Becoming "part of the family" is a necessary process for new officials to be happy--and get employment.

*  They take care of all your income tax requirement and do all the appropriate filing for you.  This is important to remember when choosing whom you wish to work for.

*  They make sure that you are paid the local pay rate.  It is the policy of the MTOA not to pay the referee's invoice when they are paying less than the local rate.

WORD OF CAUTION

We would be remiss if we did not caution officials about referees and tournament directors who by-pass the local associations and offer "special deals" and "special rates" for officials who chose to work for them.  Usually this means they want to ask you to work some of your shift for free and nearly always they will pay you less than the local standards.  Any official who is contacted in this manner should DEFINITELY clarify what they will be paid before agreeing to work for these referees and their tournaments.  I can assure you these these referees and/or tournament directors aren't cutting their rates for anyone.   

ALWAYS REMEMBER that a referee who goes out of the local association will have to do all your W-9 work and you sure don't want that to be done incorrectly (or not at all) when the tax man comes calling.

Just stick with your local association--they have your best interests at heart and are made up of officials just like you...

Metroplex Tennis Officials Association Elects New Officers

The Metroplex Tennis Officials Association (MTOA) elected new officers at their annual meeting on December 9th.  Here are the new officers for the coming year:

President:  Myron Krueger
Vice-President:  Randy McDonald
Secretary:  Terry Gatzki
Treasurer:  Randall Edwards

Tis The Season For Excuses

As we near the end of the collegiate football and professional seasons we see teams enjoying the ecstasy of victory and the agony of defeat--but this always spills over into their fans.  Sports Illustrated recently published an article naming the New England Patriots fans as the biggest crybabies in the NFL.  Even if you agree or disagree with their findings, its kind of fun to debate the question.

Now that we are approaching the beginning of the collegiate tennis season we are also hearing all the talk about "who will win", "who will lose", "who got the best recruits" and then we also hear all the preemptive excuses about why a team or players might not win.  Here are some of the excuses we frequently hear:

*  The courts were too slow and only pushers win on slow courts.
*  He hits like a girl and I can't play against a guy like that.
*  She must be a man.
*  Their crowd is out of control.
*  The sun was too bright.
*  The wind was blowing.
*  She cheats.
*  The official didn't like me.
*  My coach is inept.
*  My Mother stifled my creative development when I was growing up.
*  My Dad actually wanted me to play football but I am a girl.
*  Everyone knows she's not a 3.0 player.

I thought it might be fun to take a survey of our own.  Check out the poll on the top right and then register your vote.

Hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas...

Welcome To The World of Public Courts Tennis

Thought I would share my adventure of the day...

SCENARIO:  A foursome of us men were playing doubles on a public court at a city tennis center here in Dallas this morning.  We were on a court that was one of 6 in a row with no fences separating the courts.

We began play at 9:00 a.m. and had the court until 10:30 a.m.  As we began play we noticed that four women went down one court from us.  They were giggling and twittering and obviously looking forward to their upcoming league match that was to begin at 10:30 a.m.  Of course I'm not sure what they were going to do with a 1.5 hour warmup...

About 9:45 a.m. the ladies group had grown to about 14 excited women tennis players.  They had four players warming up on one court and 4 on another--so that left EIGHT WOMEN to warm up on the court next to us--and lo and behold, they actually did it!

To say it was a FIASCO would be an understatement.  They were hitting on the sideline next to our court and we rarely played more than 2 shots without one of their balls coming onto our court...

As we approached 10:30 a.m. (when they would get our court) they begin to loudly ask each other, "How much more time do these men still have left on our court?"  This went on for about 15 minutes before the bewitching hour struck at 10:30 a.m.  We were in the middle of a point when the hour came and 6 indignant women descended onto our court saying, "Your time is up so you need to get off our court."

The greatest miracle of the day was that none of us said a word.  We just grabbed our balls and left...

Welcome to the world of public courts tennis!