Duties Before Match
- Read The Rules of Tennis.
- Make sure you have the necessary equipment:
- A hand-held stopwatch
- Measuring tape
- At least two pencils with erasers
- A coin to toss - the size of a quarter or larger
- A clipboard to hold the scorecard
- A copy of The Rules of Tennis
- Optional items - a hat or visor, sunglasses, sun screen, seat cushon
- Arrive at least 20 minutes before the match is to start. Pick up the
scorecard from the referee or tournament desk and check the conditions for the
match. If no blank scorecards are available, here is a printable USTA Official Scorecard.
- Name of the tournament
- Division (men's/women's, singles/doubles, etc.)
- Round number
- Best of how many sets
- Names and residences of players, including pronunciation
- Court number
- Tie-break to be used
- Number of balls (and if ball change)
- Fill in this information on the
front of the scorecard.
- Begin filling in the inside of the scorecard
by printing names of players.
- Check the court.
- Remove debris and loose balls.
- Measure net. It should be 36 inches at the centre strap and 42 inches at
each end. Adjust the strap if necessary.
- Check for adequate number of new balls, used balls of different degrees of
wear (to replace lost balls), and water.
- Open balls for beginning of match. Check for pressure by squeezing and
shake to check for breakage. Note the number on the balls and record on
scorecard at top of set 1.
When the match has been called, go on to the assigned court. Meet the players
for a pre-match conference. Be brief but informative.
- Bring players together at the net.
- Check if you have a question regarding pronunciation of their names or residences.
- Tell them the number of balls in play and if the balls will be changed.
- Remind them that they are to call their own lines and you will overrule only
clear mistakes. If there is doubt, the ball will be considered good.
- Tell them anything unusual such as extended warm-up period. (The normal length
of warm-up is five minutes, and sometimes ten minutes if there are no ball persons.)
- Ask if they have any questions.
- Ask one player or team to call the coin toss (heads or tails). The player or team
winning the toss may choose to serve, to receive, choose end, or defer choice to opponent(s).
- Give the balls to the players and prepare to time the warm-up.
- Note on the scorecard who won the toss and the players' choices.
- Start your stopwatch when both players have struck their first
warm-up shot.
- Climb into the umpire chair. If there is none, stand at the net post or on
a chair at the net post.
- Finish preparing your scorecard.
- Open the scorecard and fold the front to the back so only Set 1 is showing.
- Print the last name initial of the server for game 1 in the left-hand space
(as demonstrated in the section on marking
score) if the server is to the left of the chair umpire, or in the right-hand
space if the server is to the right of the chair umpire.
- Fill in last name initial of server for game 2 under that of game 1. Change
sides for games 3 and 4, again for 5 and 6, continuing on through game 12.
- Fill in last name initial of players in part of scorecard under
"Tie Break".
- In the first set of this match between Jane Stuart and Mary Warren, Stuart will
be serving first to the right of the chair umpire.
Click to view inside of scorecard now.
- When two minutes remains in the warm-up, announce "two minutes". The
players should begin taking their practise serves. When one minute remains,
announce "one minute". Begin the pre-match announcement:
Let's pretend this is a ladies' semi-final match between Jane Stuart and Mary
Warren. This is how the announcement would go:
Ladies and gentlemen, this is a semi-final round match, best of three tie-break
sets. To the left of the chair from Charlottetown, PEI, Mary Warren. To the right
of the chair from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Jane Stuart. Stuart has won the toss
and chose to serve.
- When time is up announce: "Time, prepare to play." Then direct the balls to the server's end.
Mark on the scorecard time started.
- Glance to see that the players are ready. Announce "Jane Stuart to serve ...
play!"
