Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Tennis Official?
· A referee, chair umpire, line umpire, or roving umpire who ensures that a tennis match is conducted under the fairest possible conditions.
Why be a Tennis Official?
· Contribute to the sport of tennis.
· Gain a greater appreciation for the game.
· Build relationships within the tennis community.
· Be part of a team of officials who make a tennis event successful for players and spectators.
How can I become a Tennis Official?
· Be a current member of the USTA
· If you are not a USTA member or your membership has expired, you can sign up or renew it online or by calling 1-800-990-USTA (8782) Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to midnight and Sunday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Eastern Time).
· Attend an annual school and pass the written test appropriate to the desired type of officiating. Schools and training will begin as early as January. So check the USTA Missouri Valley Schools Schedule and/or the USTA Officials page for available dates of the schools
· Register in NUCULA online system which:
· Confirms passing test scores.
· Lists on-court work and tournament administration assignments for the past year.
· For on-court officials, verifies you have 20/20 corrected or uncorrected vision (physician or optometrist statement required for every odd year).
· Get your USTA background check.
Where do tennis officials work?
Tennis officials work in many different areas and perform a variety of duties. Examples include:
· Roving official watching over many courts at a USTA and MO Valley events.
· Roving/Referee at a college dual meet or tournament.
· Chair umpire at USTA and collegiate dual meet or tournaments.
· Line umpire at professional events.
Which school must I attend?
· All new attendees seeking certification may attend a Provisional school or a USTA Sectional School for certified officials with 0 – 3 years of experience.
· Take and pass a Provisional Test available on-line using the Friend at Court (FAC) rule book. This is an open book test. New FAC is usually available in the middle of January. You can purchase the book through the USTA bookstore or call them at 1-888-832-8291.
Do I get paid, or is it volunteer work?
· Each tournament fee is determined independently.
· Your chief umpire or referee will know the fee schedule.
· Some tournaments may be staffed with volunteers.
· While in training, you may be unpaid, or paid but at a lower rate than when fully qualified.
· Most officials have another income besides officiating.
What are my tax consequences?
· You are an independent contractor. You will declare your income as self-employment income and you may need to pay federal income taxes as well as social security self-employment taxes.
· Be sure to keep track of all your officiating expenses (uniform, stop watch, food, etc.) and mileage as they can be tax deductable.
Where do I get my uniform?
· For USTA events, you should wear the USTA official’s shirt (blue and red), available at www.honigs.com/usta. Please see USTA Official Uniform for additional information.
· Other parts of your uniform shall be Khaki pants or shorts, white shoes and socks, and khaki web belt.
· For outerwear and hats, refer to the www.honigs.com/usta web site.
Do I qualify to just work local tournaments?
· You are eligible to work at any tournaments in the United States. You must contact the chief of umpire or referee for each tournament.
How often must I work?· You may work as much or as little as your available time allows. To get credit for day work, you should work a minimum of 4 hours per day, depending upon the tournament worked.
· If you wish to advance in your officiating capabilities, you should work as much as possible.
What should I bring to each match I work?
· You should bring the following items when you come to work:
· Handheld stopwatch – a stopwatch on your wrist watch is not acceptable.
· Tape measure – a minimum of 36" in length.
· Small notebook to keep notes.
· At least two pencils (mechanical pencils are best).
· Large size coin.
How do I become eligible for collegiate matches and tournaments?
· New officials generally are not eligible to be certified as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) official. The following year, you may attend an ITA school.
· To qualify for ITA certification, you must pass both the USTA and ITA exams to be certified to work at all collegiate matches and tournaments.
· You will need additional training.
How do I become eligible for professional tournaments?
· To become a line umpire at a professional event, one must attend a line umpire clinic held at specific Futures or Challenger tournaments that is available across the country as well as in the Missouri Valley Section.
· Traveling to tournaments will be at your own expense. If the training session is successful, you may be asked to stay and work part of the qualifier or the early part of the main draw. By working this event, you will acquire work history which may allow you to apply for later events during the year.
· The schedule of these tournaments or clinics are available on the USTA Professional Tennis and the Missouri Valley Official pages.
How do I advance in the officiating ranks?
· Each year, officials may get evaluated at various events when a Trainer-Evaluator is present. If your evaluation at the event is better than expected, then you are allowed to progress to the next level.
· Officials should work at events with a trainer-evaluator is present if they wish to advance in the officiating ranks.
· The levels and requirements are covered in detailed in the reference book Friend at Court. Also refer to USTA Official Certified Career Guide.
How do I get to work at the US Open?
· The officials who work the US Open are selected from a large pool of officials who apply. They all need to have prior experience in working professional lines.
· The US Open staff list is selected from among the best-qualified applicants.