Evaluating The USTA Tests

Since we as officials are evaluated regularly by everyone who has even hit a tennis ball, played in a tournament, had a child who played, or watched a match on TV, perhaps it is time for us to openly and honestly evaluate the new USTA and ITA tests.  In their effort to overcome mediocrity and to become "relevant", the USTA has gone entirely to the internet--and a minimum of five tests for every official (new or older).  That doesn't include additional tests for referees, chief umpires, line officials, and chair officials--and some of these won't even be ready until 2017.

Since everyone in our officiating world should have taken all of the required tests by October 1, 2016, we would welcome your thoughts, comments, and evaluations of the new tests.  Not that our opinions really matter or will be received, its sure fun sharing them...

Here is our evaluation of the USTA tests:

FIRST IMPRESSION AND OVERALL PRESENTATION deserves an A-.  The videos are done professionally and well with the voices and actors doing a good job.  The presentation didn't come across as aggressive and provided a fresh, new approach.  Excitement was at a high level in the beginning presentation or two but soon faded about the 5th hour in front of the computer.

In any internet test or presentation, the EASE OF NAVIGATING THE SITE is important.  While the site gave good explanations there were a tad too many clicks on each page to access different information.  Overall though it was fairly easy and deserves a B for a good effort.  Sometimes there were so many clicks required that you got lost in the process.

CONTENT is always important in any presentation and the tests provided good content.  They got a little slow when they kept asking you to click on the pages from the Friend at Court.  Noone has eyes good enough to read that!

TEACHING TO THE TEST is always a good thing to do when you have a minimum requirement of 90%.  There was much information from the Friend at Court that wasn't covered in the presentation but then we don't have a year to sit in front of the computer.  One of the attributes of the old schools was that different scenarios could be discussed in conjunction with a rules discussion and maybe that's what we lose when going completely to the internet.

LENGTH OF TIME to take the test and watch the video presentation was biggest drawback to the tests.  The first five tests took around 5 to 6 hours to complete and if you add in the referee test, you are talking about an inordinately long time in front of a computer.  Perhaps the length is due to the fact that many in leadership felt that the schools were getting too short and that more instruction time was needed.  Making an official sit in front of a computer for this length of time is not the solution and will probably drive off new officials in the future.  I cannot fathom a new official being told that he/she will have to take a 6 hour test before working being excited about joining our ranks. This length of time will probably prove to be our undoing in recruiting new officials--but we can only hope that it won't...

OVERALL GRADE of "B" seems appropriate for the new tests and their implementation.  Hopefully things will improve in time.  Most of the experience was good but the length overshadowed everything and all of the required tests should have been ready to go when the new requirements were initiated.  Poor implementation of a new program is never a virtue.  Thank goodness for the redemptive traits of smoothness and professionalism in the presentation.  They saved the day!

Our BIGGEST QUESTION is what we do require when it comes to shadowing and real-life training? Just taking a bunch of online tests isn't enough but then I guess that is left up to the local associations. The only problem we encounter here is that there are not enough valid local organizations in Texas to implement much of this kind of training and teaching.  A newly certified official is not going to respond too positively when we tell him/her that they have to work a shift or two for FREE and then take additional training if someone feels they aren't ready.  Maybe its time for more emphasis on on-court teaching and training and a tad less on book learning...