For Those Who Like to Pontificate About Tennis Officials' Salaries

 In our world of tennis officiating and in the midst of the rise of NIL money and the demise of collegiate tennis programs, there are those among us who love to postulate about how much we tennis officials make and how evil it is because they think we make too much.   

All too often in their haughty pronouncements they fail to consider what NCAA football officials are paid.  When you compare them to tennis officials we are grossly underpaid I can assure you...

Just a word of wisdom:  Before you pronounce judgment upon tennis officials perhaps you should stop and consider the truth that is staring you in the face...

University of Arkansas shocks the collegiate tennis world...

 In one fell swoop, the University of Arkansas sent shock waves through the collegiate sports world when they announced they would be cutting both their men's and women's tennis programs after this year.  This bold action certainly ignited the fires of debate, criticism, speculation, and deluded arguments throughout the collegiate and sports world.  

I would never presume to offer an opinion about how to fix this problem but I would suggest some things for us to consider:

*  It is estimated that Arkansas has NIL payroll totaling $26.2 million (22nd highest in nation). Sad to see them cut two sports teams with a combined budget of less than 10% of that. Perhaps at least some of the blame might lie at the feet of those who distribute NIL money in our universities.

* What does it mean for the future of the tennis programs in schools that have just a fraction of the financial resources that the University of Arkaansas has at their disposal?

* Is collegiate tennis a dying sport and this is just hastening its demise?

I've heard a plethora of speculations about this entire issue--including one where someone said that what we charge as tennis officials has caused this problem. I will respondo to that and say simply, "You've got to be kidding if you actually believe that." I know of numerous tennis programs that spend literally thousands of dollars taking their players on pleasure trips all over the country--and it goes from Division I to Division III so please don't try to put the blame this fiasco on officials...

My tendency is to think that most of the blame for this fiasco lies at the feet of the NIL money that has permeated all levels of collegiate sports. Perhaps there should be more oversight and accounting in an unregulated sea of cash...

We would welcome  your thoughts and comments on this issue...

Things Not To Say To Your Collegiate Coordinator

 

When an official starts their career in collegiate tennis officiating they will undoubtedly meet with a coordinator to hopefully be scheduled to work their matches.  This can be an intimidating and daunting experience but here are some things NEVER TO SAY when you are being interviewed by your coordinator:

*  "How much do I get paid?"  Don't ever let this be the first thing out of your mouth or you can be sure you won't be working at that university.  

*  "When do I get paid?"   This is one of the great variables in collegiate tennis.   It can range from 2 days to 14 months so don't hyperventilate over this issue. 

*  "Do I have to do doubles as well as singles matches?"  This is so stupid it doesn't deserve a response.

*  "I come from a total USTA background and I'm widely considered to be one of the best in America."    First of all, if you say that, you're done and second, I don't know of a poll where they select the best ones in America.  

*  "At USTA events all the parents come to me and tell me I am the best official they have ever seen!"  Please spare me that kind of ego...

*  "I expect to get mileage for every match I do and if its over 40 miles from my house I will need a hotel the night before."   Ain't gonna happen and you need to adjust your priorities...

*  "I expect to always do line 1 or 2 singles and I never do doubles."   Probably best to find another career because you ain't gonna make it in this one...

*  "I'm not intimidated by anyone and I excel in areas of stress management."   Obviously your ego is inflated and you have never encounted an irate collegiate coach.  

Does A Screaming Coach Really Matter?

 

As officials we often see players, coaches, spectators, and other officials at their very best--and their very worst.  Today I want us to consider coaches and how they treat their players and leave the other areas for a discussion at another time.  

As an official we are tasked with maintaining order on a court during a match but we also see (and hear) coaches as they interact with their players--and sometimes this behavior is questionable at best and appalling at worst.  Its always a joy to work with a coach and players where the coach maintains the personal integrity that is required of their position and treats their players with the respect and dignity that they deserve.   As a parent, I also respect the fact that parents have given that coach the authority over their son or daughter--and expect him to honor that privilege...

As officials, there is very little we can do about abusive and unethical behavior by a coach in their interaction with a player--but it happens more times than we would like to admit...  Just this week I listened as a coach berated his entire time with vulgar, crude, unethical, and evil words that should never be uttered to another human being.   If I had been the parent of one of these players I guarantee you that he would never play another point for that coach.

So, what do we do?   First, if it is illegal and violates a rule, then we code it.   If not, there's not much we can do except maintain a higher standard of ethics when we are around that coach and second, pray that the Lord protects those kids from his abusive behavior.  This is serious business when we are dealing with the lives and upbringing of young people so let's all do our best to see that we give our kids the very best...

There's an old saying that says "the proof is in the pudding" and that is absolutely true with coaches.  The quality of their ethics and program will always manifest itself in the way they conduct themselves with others and in the play and lives of their players.  

Let's hold to a higher standard and trust the Lord for the results...

UIL Officials Needed For This Spring Season

 

We are in dire need of UIL (University Interscholastic League) officials to work this spring tennis season.  Basically these are all the high school tennis tournaments around the state--and there are a lot of them!

You may be asking what is required to be a UIL official...   All that is required is that you are a USTA certified official and that is a very doable certification.   You can check out the requirements for USTA certification on the right hand side of this page.  

Once a person is USTA certified they can begin to work UIL events.    There is no specific requirement for being UIL certified other than your USTA certification.   If you are interested in working these spring tournaments all you need to do is contact me and we can get you started...

The spring season basically consists of the high schools' district tournaments which are held over a two day period and are like all other tennis tournaments.   The pay is exceptionally good and here it is:

Pay Scale:  $34/hour with an 8 hour minimum pay each day plus meals and mileage if the tournament is outside the Metroplex.  

My contact information is listed above so if you are interested in working this spring, contact me as soon as possible and we can get you going...

A special sidelight is that if you do UIL and like it and want to progress to ITA officiating it is an easy transition and we can help with you the requirements and the training!

NIL Money: What Think Ye?

 

NIL money is the latest thing in collegiate sports--and especially in tennis.   Let us hear what your thoughts might be on this controversial subject...   Just click the link below and leave your comment.

Calling all interested parties... We have a place for you!

 

If you are interested in becoming a UIL tennis official or an ITA official, you have come to the right place!  We are in desperate need of more officials in these two areas and joining up is fun and fairly simple.   

 If you are on this site and are a prospective tennis official, the steps are very simple.   Simply go to the right hand side of this page and click on the sites that deal with becoming an official.   There is information about how to become a USTA official and also an ITA official.  

One of the biggest areas of officiating these days is UIL (high school) tennis officiating.   Its very similiar to ITA but way more fun...   Plus, it pays extremely well.   If you are interested in this, you must become a USTA official but that is the only requirement.  In the spring, we staff over 50 tournaments and in the fall we staff over 150 dual matches so you can see there are opportunities for everyone...

The only requirement to work UIL events is that you are USTA certified.  The requirements for ITA are that you are USTA certified and then pass the exams for an ITA official.   There are literally hundreds of ITA dual matches in the Metroplex that need officials so come on our and join us!

If all this doesn't make sense, just give me a call at 214 796 7402 and I'll walk you through it.   We would love to have you on our officiating team and in our officiating family...

We're open to your suggestions...

 As our blog moves closer and closer to one million views, we are always open to suggestions about how to make it better and better...  

If you look to the right you will see a section entitled "Officials Information Sites".   I've tried to include everything that I think would be beneficial to an official but if you can think of anything else, send in a comment...

We're currently working on setting up a training class at one of the universities in east Texas to enlist and train UIL and ITA tennis officials.   It looks like its going to happen so we'll update you on all the details as they are finalized.

Answering our call to be "officials of integrity."

 

As tennis officials at every level of officiating there is one thing that is true and constant--we are called to be men and women of integrity.   That means we do that which is right no matter what the circumstances and no matter who is watching or not watching...

We work in an environment where we see spectators, players, and coaches at some of their most stressful moments in life.  We watch them during moments of elation and moments of defeat and frustration but through it all, we are still called to be men and women of integrity...

As officials, we quickly learn which players and which coaches are people of integrity.  Sadly, we often see cheaters, liars, manipulators, and deceivers on full display--but even with that, we are still called to be men and women of integrity...  

Integrity doesn't come about by simply learning the rules of tennis.  It comes about by having a strong personal ethic and holding true to it no matter the circumstances.  It may  not always be popular but in the end, it will garner respect from your peers and those you work with.  

Since I schedule over 300 matches a year, I am constantly looking for opportunities to enlist new officials--and especially new officials with integrity who will be an asset to our calling.   When interviewing a prospective official, I always take them out to eat in either a one-on-one setting or with another experienced official.  Most of that first meal is not spent in talking tennis--its spent in talking about them and their lives and families and jobs outside of tennis.  Just listening to them share will tell you a lot about how they will be as an official.  A key point to always observe is how they treat the person who is waiting on your table--its a fantastic gauge of their possibilities as a new official...

In our world today, there is an obvious lack of integrity--but its also a fantastic opportunity for men and women of integrity to stand and be counted.   Will you be one of those???