Umpires are named for the lines they call such as Long line, Base line, Service line, etc. A match can have two, three, four, or six long line umpires. It all depends on the number of available line umpires, so the crew chief decides how to use them. Like everything else, to be good, you need to do the task many times, and doing lines once or twice a year isn’t good enough.
CTUC officials were asked to participate as line officials at the 2018 Boys National B14 Indoor tournament at Midtown in November. This exercise introduced some officials to performing line duties for the first time. Following are the observations and directives from Joy Duerr, a seasoned line official:
- For doubles, we used two long line umpires, one at each end. When on the server side, the umpire called the outside service line, and once the serve was over, called the entire line for the rest of the point. The umpire on the receiver’s side called the center service line, and immediately moved to the other long line, not covered by the opposite line umpire. When there was a change-over, the umpires took their seats. When both players stood up to start the next game, or when the chair umpire called “time,” the long line umpires got up, and quickly moved to their positions. They are doing exactly what they were doing before they sat down for the change-over. If on the server’s side, he is again on the server’s side. If on the receiver’s side, he is again on the receiver’s side. It is important to know where you are supposed to go before you get up. It does not look good to be moving back and forth from one position to another to get to the correct spot.
- For singles, we used four long line umpires. In this format, each line umpire only calls half of the line, up to the net. Someone else calls the rest of the line on the other side of the net. When on the server side, the umpires cover the outside singles lines. The line umpire on the receiver’s side cover the serve, and then the one covering the center service line moves to the singles line not covered by the other three umpires. The umpire covering the outside service line may stand outside the line, and forward toward the court, and look at the line from an angle, or he may stand inside the line and look at an angle. Few may choose to crouch low to see below the receiver’s legs. This format is usually called chair + 7, because there is service line umpire, two base line umpires in addition to the four long line umpires. Again, on the change-over, umpires sit down, and then when “time” is called, they get up, and they are doing exactly what they did before they sat down. If on the server’s side, they will again be on the server’s side.
- Umpires must play their own position. If you are intent on getting someone else to the correct position, you may miss your own call. So make sure you are in your correct position yourself. Most umpires are pretty confident that they are correct. They often try to tell others that they are incorrect. Often, this creates problems unnecessarily.
- As a line umpire, you are not the ball person. If a ball goes behind the curtain, do not go retrieve it. If the player asks where it went, you may tell him. If you go retrieve a ball, and players have two balls, a point may start and you may not be in your position to make a call. In pro circuits, they often play with 6 or more balls, so one missing ball isn’t going to delay the start of a point.
- Chairs for the base line umpires should be set up on the baseline, but facing the corner between the singles line and the service line. That way, you don’t have to turn 90 degrees to watch the ball in play and then get back to your baseline before the ball lands. Unlike spectators, baseline umpires don’t follow the ball completely. They follow the ball until it passes the net toward their baseline, and then their eyes go immediately to the baseline, in the area where the ball is likely to land. Their eyes should be still, ahead of the ball bouncing near the baseline so that you can easily determine if the ball is in or out. On the changeover, the baseline umpires may stand up, to change from their sitting position during points.
- The service line umpire calls the serve and manages the ball change if any, for example a ball change at 9 & 11 (after the first 9 games, and then after every 11 games until the match is over.) For a ball change, the service line umpire opens up enough cans for the number of balls in use, and has them ready to distribute several games ahead. If it will occur on the change-over, then he asks the ball runners to bring in the old balls, and then distributes the new balls. If it will occur on a non-change-over game, he will usually have all the new balls at the correct end baseline umpire, so the baseline umpire will distribute the new balls, while the service line umpire collects the old ones. The service line umpire also checks the net at the start of each set.
- For all line umpires, when you make a close call, and signal safe, look at the chair umpire. He will often acknowledge your call with a nod. Don’t keep looking, as the point continues, and you need to watch your line. You should make safe signs when the balls in 12-18 inches or closer – not just few inches inside. You need to let the chair umpire know that you saw the ball. When making an out call, your voice stops play first. This is a twostep process. First your voice, then your hand signal. Don’t combine them into one. Even if you don’t make the hand signal, the point should end. Stay low when making the out signal. Don’t automatically stand up. You will have time to stand up when the point is acknowledged with the score. For an out signal, your hand should have all the fingers together, and the thumb down, and the arm should be straight out from your body.
- When the ball is way out, you still need to make a call. The point isn’t over until some call is made. You don’t need to shout, but it needs to be made. If the ball goes way up, and needs to come down, perhaps over the fence, you still need to wait for it to land before making the call.
- If you want to move up in the line umpire world, these things will matter. Most people will be able to make the correct call. You also must look professional, move positively to your correct position without needing to adjust back and forth, and need to be aware of all the things that are happening on the court.
- On the change-over, the chair umpire should make eye contact with all the line umpires, assuring them that they are doing a good job, or asking some people to switch positions, etc. So the change-over is a time for line umpires to look at the chair in case the chair needs to convey some information to you. Once you’ve been acknowledged, you can then rest until “time” is called.
- When the match is over, and the players shake hands, then line umpires can move to their seats for the next match.
Suggestions for moving forward in doing line duties at professional tournaments.
In the Midwest, the person who hires most up and coming umpires is Lynda Hinshaw from Indiana. She has been a Silver chair umpire for the USTA, and has years and years of experience. She has also been a national umpire trainer/evaluator. She is the chief of many of the lower level pro circuit tournament in the Midwest. She is always looking for new recruits, and people give her names of possible people to use. Recommendations can come from anyone – so you are being viewed by lots of people no matter where you are. So don’t burn your bridges. There are people who are natural – they just get it, and impress people with their skills. They move up quickly. But most people need to grind their way, working up from Satellites, to Challengers, etc. They used to have people learn to do lines at Winnetka Challenger, but they didn’t do that this year. I think the USTA is hoping to find the people at the in-person workshops. I do not know what their current plan is.
If you get asked to work a satellite or challenger, make every effort to go and work, although you may need to pay your own way. Typically, when they are looking, the chief is short-staffed, and they are trying to fill it. If you go and do a good job, you will have a foot in the door. You will be seen by others who may also be looking for line umpires. But if you decline, you aren’t necessarily going to be on their list the next time. They will have new names to invite. So try to go if asked. My own experience: I was told that I was doing very well, and I should apply to work Cincinnati. At that time, I was working, and I said I can’t take time off, so I blew that opportunity. It took me 4 more years before I got a chance to work New Haven and US Open, and I probably could have been there earlier.
If you do go the line umpire route, be prepared to travel a lot, and mostly on your own money. You have to have enough line duties in your work record to move up, and since you don’t have a choice on where to work, you take the jobs that are offered. So people sign up for all tournaments, and go where they are invited. Just be aware that that is what everyone else is doing. And you are competing with those who can travel (some are independently wealthy, or have spouses who work for the airlines, many are retired from armed forces, and there are tons of foreign young umpires).
Recent Comments