If you are interested in becoming an ITA collegiate tennis official we are making 35 ITA matches available for your training ground. Here are the requirements:
1. You must be a USTA certified official. You may even be a provisional official but all levels are eligible.
2. You must be serious about your commitment to work. You will be assigned matches just like the regular officials and expected to attend and do your job.
3. You must have an ITA green shirt or similar green shirt.
All of these matches are in the DFW metroplex and are Division I ITA dual matches so be prepared for some great on-court training! You will do either chairs or roving depending on your level of experience.
Your participation in this training program will also enable you to be considered for the 2011 Chair Academy which will be held in Plano in May.
You will not be paid for this training but it is invaluable experience that will enable you to work matches in the future.
If you are interested and would like a list of the matches, contact:
Randy McDonald
214 796 7402
rmtennis@yahoo.com
14 comments:
Is lunch provided?
Of course not. That's only in USTA tournaments. However, I will take you to a great place where you can buy your own lunch and mine too if you so desire.
Was this a Karl suggestion?? Sounds like his way of getting some FREE officials. Let's hope he doesn't jump on them too hard and the newbies decide to quit before they get started.
Great idea to train new ITA officials, but
good to remember the matches between the schools and conferences and coaches are not
for training, but for real in their records, their standings and their bonuses at the end of the season.
So who supervises the trainees when they mess up, since they are roving;
is this a good idea on the coffee table, not fails the smell test in every day reality?
This was not a suggestion by Carl at SMU but the coaches at SMU, UTA, and UNT are the only ones I know of in Texas who are willing to give our new officials on-court training. Perhaps we need to be more appreciative and less critical when we get something this valuable.
The coaches are both made aware of the new trainees and have always been very understanding and cooperative. They understand the need for training in the life of a new official and it has to happen somewhere.
If someone thinks this is a bad idea I would be open to hearing how they think a new official is going to get the on-court training they need to do ITA work. The Chair Academy and the Live-Fire Training in Waco are great but they have to have some chair experience before going to those two events.
There's no substitute for the real thing.
NOTHING BEATS BAPTISTISM BY FIRE… BUT, Here is an idea... let local tournaments and leagues (USTA and non-USTA) have chairs for the finals ONLY if both USTA players agree. DISREGARD the USTA idea of INTERFERRING (correcting clear errors) and let the players request help if they disagree like the ITA. Allow a newbie to work a 14's or 3.5 semis or final. The competitors will love the attention. However, some of the players, coaches and fans at the college level can be intimidating. Especially if you make it mandatory that the newbie goes on their court.
HOWEVER, don't try and tell us that Carl doesn't mind the free stuff!!!!
BTY - Wal-mart has tennis balls on sale for 1.87.
Carl does love having free officials but then so do they all...
I love your idea about using USTA tournaments as a training ground but as yet, we haven't had any referees or tournament directors willing to step up and volunteer...
LOL...the picture of the Jarheads training is slightly over the top.
But training for new officials is always welcome.
The jarheads were the only training pic I could find. Maybe I'll take some of our new trainees and have them in my files for future publication.
I heard Randy gets paid for the newbie officials and then pockets the proceeds, like Ms. Jones used to do until she was BUSTED.
Well, whoever you are you heard WRONG. I have received nor taken a penny for training new officials. I also did the Chair Academy for 5 years without receiving a penny for that too. For you to even suggest it is a bit repulsive to me to be honest...
You don't need no stinkin training. I remember when the USTA would find some brand new official at one of their training clinics at a satellite tournament in the spring and then sign them up for the U.S. Open in September. While waiting at the court for the next match to arrive, I remember asking someone how many events he had done this year before the Open. He replied: one. He said Richie liked him and wanted to bring me in for the big show. This honest to goodness happened!! Do they still do that?
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