POLICIES OF CHICAGO TENNIS UMPIRES COUNCIL, INC. (CTUC)
Membership – Governing Conditions
As an independent contractor, a member of CTUC may accept invitations, solicit work, or perform officiating duties at any sanctioned or non-sanctioned tennis event outside of the Chicago and Northern Illinois Districts.
Within the Chicago and Northern Illinois Districts, a member may work as a USTA tennis official only at a tennis event approved by CDTA and NITA; a member who is directly asked to provide officiating services shall immediately notify the CTUC scheduler. A member’s failure to conform to this policy may result in disciplinary action, including suspension or termination of membership.
Certification and Pay Rates
The promotion of a member of CTUC from Foundation 1 to Foundation 2 is by action of the USTA Midwest Section Chair of Officials. Promotion of a Foundation 1 member is conditional on (a) the member’s satisfaction of Minimum Work Requirements and (b) the USTA District Chairman’s judgment that the member met all other qualifications of a Foundation 1 official.
Services of a Foundation 1 official while in the CTUC development program, will not be billed to the tournament, but that Foundation 1 official will be paid by CTUC for umpire services at one-half the pay rate of a regular Foundation 2 official up to 50 hours.
A member of CTUC who has completed the Foundation 2 and has demonstrated proficiency may receive full pay for umpiring services if that member has, in the judgment of the District Chairman of Umpires advised by the CTUC board, the essential qualifications of a Foundation 2 official.
A Foundation 2 official or higher, who works alone shall be paid for a minimum of four hours per day. A Foundation 2 official or higher, who works with another official shall be paid only for hours actually worked. If a tournament requires more than three umpires and lasts more than three days, the assigned referee on duty shall be paid a premium up to 15%.
Minimum Work Requirements
In order to be credited with working an event, a member with Foundation 1 certification and in the CTUC development program, must have worked as an umpire at least one full day at the event. If the day of an event has fewer than three matches, the credit is working one-half an event.
Dress
Every CTUC member shall wear the currently approved USTA uniform, with shirt fully tucked in trousers, at all times while working as umpire. The CTUC dress code is dictated by the uniform requirements of the USTA.
CTUC Services and Fees
Ordinarily, the CTUC scheduler appoints an Assigner of each event and the assigner staffs that event by assigning officials in accordance with the request of the event’s director. If an assigner of an event, for any reason, cannot fully staff that event, he/she shall give notice to the scheduler as soon as possible, so that they can help the Assigner fill the event.
In making assignments of umpires to USTA-sanctioned events, CTUC will give preference to National tournaments, then to Sectional tournaments, then to Local tournaments.
The CTUC collegiate coordinator is the Assigner for ITA-sanctioned events. In making assignments of umpires to college matches, the CTUC collegiate coordinator may give preference to members who officiate at a substantial number of junior and adult tournaments.
Fees for tournaments shall be charged and allocated as determined from time to time by resolution of the CTUC board. If a tournament is staffed with at least three umpires daily and lasts at least three days, the assigned on duty referee shall be paid a premium of 15% on the referee’s total fees for the tournament, including such fees as may be payable to a referee. Each adult/junior tournament shall be charged a minimum of four hours’ umpire service per site (in any instance where tournament play at a given site lasts less than four hours).
If an adult/junior tournament cancels its request for umpire service less than 72 hours before the start of the tournament and if the umpire assigned to provide that service does not get a reasonably equivalent assignment, the club or organization producing the tournament will be invoiced a cancellation fee equal to the minimum pay for one umpire for one day (i.e., four hours’ service). If, at least 72 hours before the start of the tournament, the assigner is notified that the request for service is canceled, there is no cancellation fee.
If an umpire is to be compensated for miles traveled to and from an event, the calculated distance shall be twice the number of miles stated by the online GPS system for the shortest route between the event’s venue and the registered home address of the umpire.
Fees for adult/junior tournaments shall be charged and allocated as follows: (a) $17.00 per hour per roving or line umpire with CTUC retaining $0.00 per hour; (b) $18.00 per hour per referee with CTUC retaining $0.00 per hour; (c) $50.00 per chair umpire with CTUC retaining $0.00 per hour; (d) if a tournament requires more than three umpires and lasts more than three days, there is a premium of 15%. An umpire is eligible for fees at the referee rate only if (a) the tournament is Level 1 or Level 2 or District Qualifier, (b) the tournament has requested three or more umpires for two or more days, and (c) the director of the tournament has agreed in advance to pay an umpire at the referee rate. Each adult/junior tournament shall be charged a minimum of four hours’ umpire service per site (in any instance where tournament play at a given site, lasts less than four hours).
Fees for college events shall be charged and allocated as follows: (a) dual-team meets, three doubles and six singles, $155.00 per umpire with CTUC retaining $5.00; (b) other events, $35.00 per umpire per hour with CTUC retaining $1.00 per hour.
CTUC Billing and Payment
Each bill shall show a due date for payment 30 days after the bill is issued. A fee of $25.00 shall be assessed for payment after the due date.
If a tennis facility has a bill due and unpaid after 60 days, CTUC shall decline to provide umpire services to any further tournament of that facility unless the overdue payment is made. If a tennis facility has more than once been late in paying CTUC’s bills, CTUC may, as a condition of providing services to a tournament of that facility, require payment in advance of all or part of expected umpire fees.
Eligibility and Criteria for Performance Awards
At its annual meeting, CTUC recognizes members who are selected for their outstanding performances during the year. Eligibility and selection criteria for each of the awards are as follows:
1. Rookie of the Year Eligibility:
- Has completed the CTUC development program.
- Successfully worked as a USTA official at 5 or more events during the first year.
- Certified at Foundation 2 level.
- Has adhered to the USTA Officials’ Code of Conduct.
Criteria:
- Has shown improved knowledge and skill over time.
- Is willing to learn, willing to be trained.
- Punctual, prepared, and professional in dress and attitude.
- Has received positive comments regarding work from various sources: veteran officials, players/parents, event personnel/clubs, etc.
- Demonstrates a “team” attitude.
2. Chair Umpire of the Year Eligibility:
- Certified as a Foundation2 or higher level official for at least 3 years.
- Successfully chaired at least five USTA or ITA matches in CDTA/NITA districts during the year.
- Has adhered to the USTA Officials’ Code of Conduct.
Criteria:
- Demonstrates confident match/player control. Uses a clear, audible, well projected voice.
- Has minimal score card errors. Uses correct/appropriate USTA/ITA/ITF verbiage.
- Maintains good court awareness, with minimal attention to scorecard.
- Effectively and efficiently communicates with players.
- Illustrates proper chair umpire techniques and procedures as defined in FAC.
3. Roving Official of the Year Eligibility:
Certified as a Foundation 2 or higher level official for more than one year.
Successfully worked as a roving official for 10 or more events during the year.
Has adhered to the USTA Officials’ Code of Conduct.
Criteria:
- Demonstrates a high level of skill, ability, and knowledge of tennis rules/procedures/techniques applicable to officiating as a roving umpire.
- Works well with other officials, event personnel, players, parents, coaches, etc.
- Professional in dress, attitude, and behavior.
- Effectively and efficiently anticipates and resolves problems/conflicts on court. Consistently and fairly applies/enforces rules of tennis. Exercises good judgment in spending time where an umpire is needed.
- Educates/disciplines players as appropriate to their level of experience and that of the tournament event regarding tennis rules, The Code, and the Point Penalty System.
- Encourages, educates, and mentors Foundation 1 officials who are in the CTUC development program.
The directors of CTUC shall select such annual awardees as they, in their discretion, may deem deserving.