Umpires at junior tournaments
- Thread starter adam180
- Start date
chalkflewup
Hall of Fame
The players keep score. You are responsible for calling balls in/out on your side of the net. Roaming officials are usually available at each tournament.
There is a score card on the net.
Why don't you go and observe a few tournaments first.
It might make it easier for you when you actually play in one,
as you will know the routines.
Good luck.
Frankenstine
New User
Good idea here ^. You may also want to consider playing a few practice matches in a tournament style format before the tournament.
tennisbuck
Hall of Fame
Tournaments are a very good thing for a young players game and there is a lot to learn from them so its good to get used to them. Here are some things i would like to tell you.
1. Players are supposed to call the score out. It doesn't have to be loud or obnoxious just clear enough to hear. If there is a scoring discrepancy the kids call the referee over and they each say what points they remember
2. Kids make the calls and the referees only overrule if the player asks them if they saw it. If they aren't asked they wont do anything so you can't complain.
3. There is a score card and kids are required to flip it although they won't be in much trouble if they don't. It is a good idea especially at the early levels.
1. Players are supposed to call the score out. It doesn't have to be loud or obnoxious just clear enough to hear. If there is a scoring discrepancy the kids call the referee over and they each say what points they remember
2. Kids make the calls and the referees only overrule if the player asks them if they saw it. If they aren't asked they wont do anything so you can't complain.
3. There is a score card and kids are required to flip it although they won't be in much trouble if they don't. It is a good idea especially at the early levels.
gplracer
Hall of Fame
Not always true. I have seen umpires over rule calls without being asked to do so. Some umpires take a much more active role than others. There should be more consistency.
In USTA officials must overrule before an appeal, if in direct observation. ITA is wait for an appeal.
So if an official sees a clear wrong call they have obligation to overrule call immediately without an appeal.
tennisbuck
Hall of Fame
Yes i agree but the rules are that the kids have to refer to them. Unfortunately there are some umpires who are just there looking to make an impact on the match and will overrule on their own.
woodrow1029
Hall of Fame
The rules are not that the kids have to refer to the official. The rules are that the umpire can only overrule immediately without an appeal from the player.
I mean, seriously, JLyon (another certified official) has already pointed this out, and the OP is obviously trying to learn something here, so why fill his head with incorrect information.
Now, here I am, another certified official saying the opposite of what you are saying, and you will probably come back and say again, "No, the rules are that the player has to appeal". LOL.
tennisbuck
Hall of Fame
Ok Im glad thats the way it is, because most younger kids seem afraid to ask the officail. I just hope they install it more because I have seen cases where an umpire will tell a kid afterward that he saw the call but didn't overrule. I guess i was just mistaken because i had never seen it that enforced. My bad on being wrong as you guys would obviously know over me.
woodrow1029
Hall of Fame
You also have to remember that a huge majority of the time, the call is not as incorrect or incorrect at all as seen by the parents or the player. The official can only overrule a CLEAR mistake, and a lot of parents think that their kids' opponents make a clear mistake, when either it is not a mistake at all, or maybe a wrong call that clipped the very very outside of the line, which is not usually a "clear mistake". Yes there are some bad overrules, and yes there are some clear mistakes that are not overruled, but if you went to some of these junior tournaments and listen to the parents, you would think every call that their kid makes is excellent, and every out call by their opponent is a clear mistake. Those are usually the parents that wind up threatening lawsuits against the officials that are correctly doing their jobs.
tennisbuck
Hall of Fame
Ya you are right that the parents are the main ones complaining about the calls. Thanx for providing me with some insight in an area that i was obviously clueless while trying to help.
Rattler
Hall of Fame
Those are my favorite type.
Sigh, sometimes umpiring at a grassroots tournament,emit can be a real drag
diamondie1
New User
I wish but.....
Umpires & refs would be lovely but would add to the cost of your tournament entry.
So teach your child to call the score loudly at each point, whether winning or losing, when serving.
If there is a discrepancy it can be sorted there & then. The kids aren't arguing about a call 3,4 points ago.
If their opponent doesn't call the score, get your kid too and make sure that they use the score boards.
If it is cheating/ hooking there are loads of threads on what to do.
Umpires & refs would be lovely but would add to the cost of your tournament entry.
So teach your child to call the score loudly at each point, whether winning or losing, when serving.
If there is a discrepancy it can be sorted there & then. The kids aren't arguing about a call 3,4 points ago.
If their opponent doesn't call the score, get your kid too and make sure that they use the score boards.
If it is cheating/ hooking there are loads of threads on what to do.