Chair Umpire Procedures

Question 1

Chair Umpire Procedures: Before arriving at court, gather all required equipment which includes the following: (Seven items-similar to the USTA)

Answer 1

a. Stopwatch
b. Tape measure
c. Flipping coin
d. Pencils
e. Sunscreen and sunglasses (if needed)
f. Plastic ties (for repairing broken nets)
g. Appropriate uniform (ITA, conference, NCAA, etc.)

Question 2

Chair Umpire Procedures: Meet with the Referee to go over details such as: (four items)

Answer 2

a. Match format
b. Time allowed for a bathroom break
c. Scoring devices in use (electronic, flip cards, PDA, scorecard, etc.)
d. Required radio reporting if being used (information to be conveyed, frequency, etc.)

Question 3

Chair Umpire- Before arriving at the court. (three items)

Answer 3

3. Check the layout of the courts.
4. Locate the bathrooms.
5. Receive your match assignment(s) and match balls from the Referee.

Question 4

Chair Preparation: Court Preparation (four items)

Answer 4

1. Put in singles sticks for singles matches; remove singles sticks for doubles matches.
2. Check the height and tension of the net.
3. Clear the court of all old balls, used towels and trash.
4. Open the can of balls and check the balls are in good condition (good pressure, don’t rattle, etc).

Question 5

Chair Umpire Procedures: Pre-Match (two items)

Answer 5

Pre-Match:
1. Check that you have the right players on your court, and how they pronounce their names. If you have the wrong players, notify Referee immediately.

2. Move to the center of the court, facing the players’ chairs with balls and coin in hand.

Question 6

Chair Umpire Procedures: Center Court Meeting, address six items.

Answer 6

a. “Make sure your opponent and I can either see or hear your call.
b. I will overrule incorrect out calls and service lets.
c. I will not overrule upon appeal.
d. I will only call lets for balls coming in if I see you are endangered,
d. you may call a let for other balls that
come into the playing area.
e. Any questions?”

Question 7

Chair Umpire Procedures: Center Court Meeting, coin toss procedure… (seven items)

Answer 7

a. Ask either player to call the toss.
b. The selection by the player should be made before you toss.
c. Repeat the selection loud enough that the caller can correct you if you misheard.
d. Toss the coin.
e. Announce the result with your arm in the direction of the player who won the
toss, and say to the winner of the toss, “Your choice.”
f. Once they have made their choice (serve or receive/end/defer),
g. repeat their choice to make sure you heard correctly. Then turn to the other player to get their choice. Only then hand the balls to the players and pick
up your coin.

Question 8

Chair Umpire Procedures: Center Court Meeting. After the coin toss of a dual match. Announce the following (three items)

Answer 8

a. In a dual match, immediately announce the result of the toss:
b. “Team A won the toss and chose to serve.”
c. When both players are ready, say, “Miranda Jones to serve for Team A. Play.”

Question 9

Chair Umpire Procedures: Individual Tournaments after the coin toss…

Answer 9

6. In an individual tournament there is a 5-minute warm
   up.
   the Referee requests that after
   the introduction of the servers, the players be referred
   to by the school they represent rather than by their
   individual names.