Dual Match Procedures

Question 1

Prior to match day a Referee should contact the home coach or game day manager to confirm four items:

Answer 1

a. Confirm venue
b. Confirm match start time
c. Confirm parking for officials
d. Confirm inclement weather procedures

Question 2

Prior to match day the Referee should contact other officials who are working the match to communicate four things and collect what:

Answer 2

a. Location of the courts
b. Directions to the courts
c. Parking
d. Report times
e. Collect the officials membership numbers

Question 3

For pre-match procedures the Referee should do the following two things and for what reason:

Answer 3

a. Be aware of inclement weather
b. Communicate with the home coach and officiating crew if a delay or cancellation may take place
c. Both of these reasons avoid wait time, trave, and expenses

Question 4

For pre-match the Referee should do the following three things:

Answer 4

a. Arrive at least one or more hours before the match
b. Arrive 90 minutes before the match if unfamiliar with the site
c. Establish an officials’ area

Question 5

Pre-Match: Other officials should arrive at least 45 minutes early and check the following seven items.

Answer 5

a. Court equipment
b. Match balls
c. Singles stick
d. Scoring devices
e. Players’ benches/chairs
f. Umpire chairs
g. Walkie Talkie

Question 6

Pre-Match: During the pre-match meeting with the coaches the Referee should do the following four things:

Answer 6

a. Check to see if the visiting team has arrived.
b. If the visiting has not arrived, check with the home coach to see if the visiting team or coach has communicated with them.
c. If the visiting team is going to be late have the two coaches agree on the start time of the match and start of the warm up.
d. If the coaches do not agree the referee should apply the ITA lateness regulations.

Question 7

Pre-Match: During the pre-match meeting, the Referee should secure the following three things and for what reason:

Answer 7

a. The match line up and make sure all players are listed including the #4 doubles team.
b. To receive a hard copy of the completed home scorebook page.
c. a picture of the home scorebook page with your cell phone is an alternative.
d. The purpose of the scorebook page is to make sure that the correct players are on the correct court.

Question 8

Pre-Match: The Referee should establish the following three items for bench players and trainers:

Answer 8

a. Allowable areas for the bench players.
b. Identity and location of the trainers.
c. Check to see if the trainers know the ITA Medical Timeout and Bleeding Timeout procedures.

Question 9

Pre-Match: Referee: What is the bathroom breaktime for Division I and Division II? What about other divisions?

Answer 9

a. Five Minutes for Division I and II.
b. Other Divisions: Referee determines “reasonable time” prior to the start of the match.

Question 10

Pre-Match:
1) The Referee should identify who are the _____”
2) discuss what with the officials,

3) remind the coaches that,

4) and find out if there is:

Answer 10

a. Identify the assistant coaches and designated player assistants.
b. Discuss the officiating: Roving, chair doubles, rove doubles, etc.
c. Remind coaches that you will collect and distribute lineup changes , if any, within two minutes of the completion of the doubles point.
d. Find out if there is crowd control assistance (game day manager, campus security)

Question 11

Pre-Match:
1) Pre match music?
2) Special events?
3) Are the officials legit?
4) and are there…?

Answer 11

a. Will the National Anthem be played
b. Any special presentations between doubles and singles (awards presentation, senior day) that will require extending the break.
c. Provide officials’ ITA certification numbers to the home team coach for the scorebook
d. Ask the coaches for questions.

Question 12

ITA Cases and Decisions: The temperature is 45 degrees at match time. There is no indoor backup The visiting coach wants to postpone the match because it is not 50 degrees. What is the rule and what is the Referee’s responsibility in this decision.

Answer 12

Explain to the coaches that since there is not indoor backup the ITA rule regarding temperature and wind does not apply. The match shall only be postponed in this case if both coaches agree to do so.

Question 13

Duties for the Umpires (6).

Answer 13

a. Secure match balls
b. Check the condition of the court(s): measure nets, check net tension/condition, remove trash
c. Umpire chair direction,
d. Make sure that the chairs/benches are on the same side of the net as the umpire chairs if the court layout allows
e. Insert singles sticks
f. Set up scoring devices.

Question 14

Crew Meeting

Answer 14

a. Payroll (mileage and expenses)
b. Review Basics : Bathroom break time, match format, ball change, conference rules, new rules, hand out score cards
c. Identify who the coaches, Assistant Coaches, Designated Player Assistants and what the trainer situation is

Question 15

The Match, Doubles, before the match starts.

Answer 15

At two to five minutes before the match, officials should go to their assigned courts and complete their final court prep and opening balls.

Question 16

The Match, Doubles, what type of tennis ball do you need.

Answer 16

Make sure you have spare new balls and create used balls if there is a warm up.

Question 17

The Match, Doubles: What players are on the court?

Answer 17

a. Make sure that the correct players are on the court and notify the Referee if they are not on the correct court.

Question 18

The Match, Doubles: Pre Match Umpire Duties

Answer 18

a. Coin Toss
b. time warm up if applicable.
c. Follow ITA Roving and Chair Umpire procedures.

Question 19

After Doubles

Answer 19

a. Exchange singles lineup changes.
b. Coach has two minutes to present a line up or forfeits right to make singles lineup changes unless the other coach agrees.
c. Reconfirm an carryover penalties that will be applied at start of singles matches.
d. Find out if any coaches or DPAs are being re-designated.

Question 20

After Doubles (Referee Duties)

Answer 20

a. Referee should time the five minute break and impose lateness penalty when necessary.
b. Referee should confirm court/match assignments and coaches/DPAs for other officials.
c. Adjust the score cards if needed.

Question 21

After Doubles (Other Crew Members Duties)

Answer 21

a. Reset scoring devices after the doubles point has been awarded.
b. Insert singles sticks, re-measure nets and re-check courts for trash and used balls
c. Referee should confirm court/match assignment for other officials.

Question 22

After Doubles (Less that six courts)

Answer 22

a. If playing on fewer than six courts, as a court opens coaches must notify the Referee within two minutes of any lineup changes for the the next match

Question 23

The Match, Singles (Umpire Duties; court and balls)

Answer 23

a. Two minutes before singles start, all officials should be on their assigned court.
b. Make sure spare new and used balls are available; Create used balls if there is a warm up.
c. Never leave match balls unattended on the tennis court.

Question 24

The Match, Singles (Umpire Duties)

Answer 24

d. Confirm players are on the correct court; notify the Referee is there is a problems.
e. Coin toss
f. Follow ITA and Chair Umpire Procedures

Question 25

ITA Cases and Decisions:
If the match begins with the wrong opponents playing each other, what should the Referee do?

Answer 25

Stop the affected matches immediately. The matches must begin from 0-0; no points, games or sets previously played count.

Question 26

ITA Cases and Decisions:
In a dual match, after an individual match has been completed, it is determined that they wrong opponents played each other. What should the Referee do?

Answer 26

The results of the matches completed in good faith stand ad other affected matches should continue to completion.

Question 27

After a singles; Do you reset the score board immediately after a singles match?

Answer 27

No. You do not reset the scoreboard for the purpose of fan friendly scoring.

Question 28

After Singles: What does a crew do if your courts have completed play?

Answer 28

Don’t leave, report to the Referee for reassignment. Only a Referee may release an official before the match is concluded.

Question 29

After Singles: The Referee my release officials when possible…

Answer 29

But don’t release all of them unless the overall match has been decided. One official must remain while the Referee remains off the court.

Question 30

Post -Match: The duties after the match for the Referee include:

Answer 30

a. Shake hands with the coaches
b. Debrief officials on questions and situations
c. Report gross infractions to the ITA Officiating Department.
d. Submit forms for: Ejections of players, coaches, and DPAs; Default of a player for misconduct; and Post-Match Code Violation;
e. and complete payroll reports

Question 31

Post Match: After a dual match has been completed you observe a player commit a Code Violation.

Answer 31

Announce the Code Violation then report the Code Violation
with any necessary details to the Referee, who then will report
the violation to the ITA Officiating Department within 24 hours
of the completion of the dual match. The form for reporting this
can be found at www.itatennis.com/ita/aboutus/officials.