Jorge,
Another note in addition to all the great things you mentioned in this video tip is, many players just do a bad job at calling the lines. This relates to a player who has a bad serve or backhand. They’re not making bad calls intentionally, they just don’t do a good job at making accurate line calls. Other players want close shots out so badly that they actually see a close call, out.
The player you mentioned,” the jerk”, that is tough to deal with is the one who makes intentional bad calls in retaliation. This can definitely get out of hand. As you mentioned, a line judge, when available, is the best way to solve the problem. Unfortunately, they’re seldom available.
The ability to make good line calls take years of practice, like any particular shot you hit.
I tell many of my students that a shot hit close to a line is subject to be called out so be prepared to deal with it in a way that keeps you from losing your temper or the match.
I think a good tournament director, who sincerely cares about the overall quality of his/her tournament, would:
– have an umpire’s chair on every court,
– a group of umpires, from age 8 to 80, in order to have *someone* up in the chair for all matches if necessary. You don’t need to spend huge money on USTA-trained umpires. Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic!
-Reward kids [with something tangible], who know in advance that they will NOT require a chair umpire, and mutually request that no umpire be provided.
This notion of having a roving umpire to cover 8 or 10 courts, all by him/her self, is nonsense IMHO.
Its is tough when there is not a line judge. Its one of the things that makes tennis uniquely difficult compared to other sports. I tell my payers to do whatever they can to keep it civil. I have found that escalating things almost always make my player play much worse. This means asking the opponent if they are “SURE” about their call in a non-threatening or angry manner as supposed to flipping out.
Any advice on what to do if you play in a small community and have to repeatedly play someone who is a known cheater. We have one boy and one girl in our area who have both been suspended but continue to cheat anyways because I think our refs are literally “sick of talking to you them”.
That is a shame and bordering on malpractice from the officials. I would suggest filming the players as they make bad call. You would need to make sure filming is approved by the TD, but I have heard of a few examples where this has worked and the -layers was suspended based in the video evidence. The fact i, there is not defense to use against a blatant cheater so if the refs do not do other job, I literally would refuse to play. To much drama and hassle to allow it to happen and take a loss when it is not necessary.
You can also invite them to clay courts where all the marks are there and give them a spanking.
Love it…
Jorge,
Another note in addition to all the great things you mentioned in this video tip is, many players just do a bad job at calling the lines. This relates to a player who has a bad serve or backhand. They’re not making bad calls intentionally, they just don’t do a good job at making accurate line calls. Other players want close shots out so badly that they actually see a close call, out.
The player you mentioned,” the jerk”, that is tough to deal with is the one who makes intentional bad calls in retaliation. This can definitely get out of hand. As you mentioned, a line judge, when available, is the best way to solve the problem. Unfortunately, they’re seldom available.
The ability to make good line calls take years of practice, like any particular shot you hit.
I tell many of my students that a shot hit close to a line is subject to be called out so be prepared to deal with it in a way that keeps you from losing your temper or the match.
Thanks Jamie…
Thanks for the vid !
I think a good tournament director, who sincerely cares about the overall quality of his/her tournament, would:
– have an umpire’s chair on every court,
– a group of umpires, from age 8 to 80, in order to have *someone* up in the chair for all matches if necessary. You don’t need to spend huge money on USTA-trained umpires. Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic!
-Reward kids [with something tangible], who know in advance that they will NOT require a chair umpire, and mutually request that no umpire be provided.
This notion of having a roving umpire to cover 8 or 10 courts, all by him/her self, is nonsense IMHO.
Thank you, Jorge, for yet another fabulous video.
Thanks Chuck. I wish all tournaments could have that.
Suggestions for when there is no line judge—-say a USTA Match or club match?
Its is tough when there is not a line judge. Its one of the things that makes tennis uniquely difficult compared to other sports. I tell my payers to do whatever they can to keep it civil. I have found that escalating things almost always make my player play much worse. This means asking the opponent if they are “SURE” about their call in a non-threatening or angry manner as supposed to flipping out.
Any advice on what to do if you play in a small community and have to repeatedly play someone who is a known cheater. We have one boy and one girl in our area who have both been suspended but continue to cheat anyways because I think our refs are literally “sick of talking to you them”.
That is a shame and bordering on malpractice from the officials. I would suggest filming the players as they make bad call. You would need to make sure filming is approved by the TD, but I have heard of a few examples where this has worked and the -layers was suspended based in the video evidence. The fact i, there is not defense to use against a blatant cheater so if the refs do not do other job, I literally would refuse to play. To much drama and hassle to allow it to happen and take a loss when it is not necessary.