After looking at the picture above I imagine that many of you would say, "There's no way that I could ever do that!" And you're probably right....
However, that's kind of the way that a lot of new officials look at us when they climb up into the chair to do their first match. Fear, trembling, apprehension, sweat, tears and many other emotions are typical--but they are also part of the learning process.
Noone just jumps up into a chair and does a perfect job--even those teaching pros and 5.0 players that think they know it all. It takes study, time, study--and lots of practice in order to do a good chair. One of the most difficult things in training is to find the right balance between learning the rules and actual experience. Its kind of like the chicken and the egg argument--you can't separate the two.
We all hear horror stories from around the state of mistakes and blunders made by all officials. When its really a grievous error we hear the cry for "more teaching" as soon as the tournament finishes. The only problem is that the vast majority of officials have a very good grasp and understanding of the rules--they are mainly lacking in actual experience. Its similar to someone telling you all the facts about how to swim but you never really learn to do it until they pitch you into the water...
In Texas, I would venture to say that we do a fairly good job of teaching the rules and regulations of tennis but perhaps we are lacking in on-court experience. There's nothing wrong with letting a new official "shadow" an experienced official and its usually the best way to get them started--but at some point we need to let them loose and learn to swim on their own. The only problem is that a lot of parents, spectators, and coaches aren't willing to give them time to learn... Let me share a few basic observations and then open it for your comments and discussion.
* A good official must have a strong understanding and knowledge of the rules. This has been diluted with the open book tests and lack of accountability. When a person knew he/she had to pass a test or they wouldn't be certified, the learning level was much higher.
* There is no substitute for on-court experience. Learning may come sooner for some than others but we are all on a "learning path" when we go on the court. Just when we think we have seen it all--we discover that we haven't.
* Maybe there needs to be more training in the psychological arena. Things such as learning personality types and how to deal with them; anger management and how to recognize it and cope with it; overbearing and dominant parents and what to do with them are just a few important areas in which we all need training.
* As shown by events this summer, we need training in how to deal with a physically threatening individual, how to diffuse an explosive situation, and how to maintain control in a difficult arena.
* There needs to be a good understanding of the different personality types among officials. Not everyone is a type A or type B and its imperative that we learn how to work with each other more effectively. Becoming "comfortable in your own skin" goes a long way toward a person becoming a good official.
We would welcome your thoughts and ideas of how to improve both our teaching and training here in Texas...
9 comments:
Amen Brother. One of the biggest hurdles I've faced is some of a arrogance from the new officials, stating they already know everything, or better yet, they respectively disagree with the feedback they are being told. Some of these statements come from the new officials that have been working lines at pro events. For some reason, it makes them think their abilities are better than they really are. One thing to remember - officiating is a learning experience and their is ALWAYS room for improvement, no matter how good you think you are.
Here is an idea...
Ask the TD's to allow "chaired" semi and/or finals of most of their events (adult and juniors). If the Texas Section would encourage it - we could have better chair official sooner.
Maybe allow some of these league matches to have chairs... sounds like to you needed one with cell phone guy (that was a league match right?) - talk about leaning under fire!!!
Here's another idea... do some chair "situations" in our yearly mandatory certification schools. There is nothing worse for a new chair Official to sit there and have a non-eventful "supervised" match and then be released to experience the devilish behavior of a cell phone thrower or a 12 year-old satanic monster!
One other idea...publish common problems from the chair on this blog that deal with basic things that happen in the chair... IE. time infractions, bad language, coaching, allowable number of over-rules before the chair codes the player... that kinda stuff. You may know how to handle those situations - but, other may need the learning!!!
Its better to read that and not stuff about the sad meal problems - you guys have there in Dallas!
BACO
I read an interview with a (now retired) Gold Badge Chair Official. He said before every match he re-read the rules. Since there are now so many variations on scoring for Jrs. and various medical time outs, bathroom break rules, etc. for ITA depending on the gender or division, one almost has to re-read the rules for the event about to be worked and that is for an experienced official. Heaven help the newbies. However, I have found that being able to quote the rule and quickly find it in the book, goes a long way toward an official’s creditability. One absolutely must know the rules. Applying them correctly takes experience.
To handle an irate parent, player or coach, you MUST to remain calm yourself, listen to what they have to say (blow off steam for a reasonable time) and acknowledge that you heard what they had to say. “I heard what you have to say, but (this is the rule & explain, I saw it in/out, I blew the call, I can’t rule on something I didn’t see, I was blocked by the player, explain why you ruled the way you did)". Your response must be quick and confident and then stop the conversation and do not delay the match.
Problem solved!!
Why doesn't someone just tell one of those guys in the pic to just stand the tire up and then 'roll' it down the street??
think most tournaments of a Sectional Level should at least chair SF/F of the 16-18s for training.
Also agree with Sharpie that new officials who think they know it all are irritating and need attitude adjustments. Would think Referees would like for officials regardless of experience asking questions on certain rules and use as training examples to grow. Officials can always learn more and more as long as they keep an open mind.
A mentor program for new chair umpires Each person is assigned to an experience chair umpire or referee who they can go to for help and receive positive feedback. It should be a program to include lots of experience on the court at adult and junior tournaments as suggested in previous comments.Written evaluations after each match with suggestions as to how to improve. The more experience and feedback you get at this job the better you will be.
The mentor program is great and usually falls on the referee for evaluations. The new officials want to get paid as soon as they take their provisional test so its hard to get them to do much training without complaining or not signing up. If we require a great deal of training with pay the tournament directors rebel against that...
The comment by Anonymous (9/24 at 10:25) reminded me of something that occurred at an OU match several years back. I was sitting in the stands an hour prior to the start of the match reading my "Friend at Court". I was nowhere near a Gold Badge in my status, and realized that there was always something to learn from reviewing the rulebook. A long term official approached and told me to put the FAC away. He was agitated and stated that no coach should see an official reading the rulebook, because the coach would think the official wasn't qualified to officiate the match. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I replied to him that I was reviewing the rules and had no intention of stopping. I asked him if he ever felt the need for review. He replied by tapping his forehead with an index finger and stating "I don't have to, it's all right here". This same individual was known, at the time, as the "Thomas Edison" of ITA tennis for his ability to invent rules favoring his local university during their home matches in another part of the state. Months later, at a tournament at Baylor, a Colorado based official bragged of not having to consult the FAC because she had committed the entire book to memory. So, between matches we asked her some simple rules questions. Needless to say, her memory was incorrect on a number of rules.
It's pretty obvious that the "Thomas Edison" referred to above has been running with a 'burned out' bulb for many years.
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