Tennis Topics: Essential Points In Umpiring Reviewed

Chronicle (Levin), 10 March 1949, Page 7

Tennis Topics: Essential Points In Umpiring Reviewed

"Volley")

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An important event in local lawn tennis will be the holding of the Southern Manawatu championships this next weekend. At the time of writing the entries have not been dis- ! closed, but it is to be hoped that the entrants will be repre-1 sentative not only of the Manawatu, but of the districts. A| few observations on matters connected with such. a tournament may be of some use.

Firstly, there is the all-import-ant matter of umpires. Everj competitor must be ready to take his turn at umpiring." It is unfaii that this duty should be lef t to the willing few, and yet not every player is fitted to be an umpire Umpiring requires close concentration, good eyesight, a rapid decision and an absoLutely unbiased attitude towards the game in progress. Sympathy must not influence decisions. The umpire is in a far better position to see a bal'j than is the player, and no playei worthy of the narne will questior the umpire's deeision. That decision should be given instantly and audibly. Both the players anc spectators should be given the seore clearly and distinctly. If a fault is serve'd, the decisior should be given in a split second— and "fault" called distinctly. I] there are line umpires, it is theii duty to call — al§o instantly — anc their deeision is final. The umpire merely registers the score, callini in accordance yvith the line umpire's deeision. If the umpire cannot give a "deeision, he must say so and ordei

the point to be replayed. On no account must he leave the deeision ; to the player or accept the iplayer's ■ advice'. He. not the player, is in control of the game. If a service strikes the net, but . falls into the service court, the umpire will call out, "Net ball, one ■ (or two) to go." If a player fails l to return a ball, there is no call — ■ the failure .is obvious. So the call Ithat is so frequently, heard, "Not tjup," is quite wrong. A ball is "not [ up" when it is returned after ijstriking the ground twice. The l| player is often uncertain whether -Ihe has reached the ball before it r|has struck the ground the secon'd Utime, and the umpire, following j the ball closely, is able to decide and should call, "Not up." This isi i j the only time this call is used. TOj -'hear this called afer every shot isj f irritating to the players as well as the spectators. I After each stroke the score i should be called clearly, and at the >• end of each game, "The score is ; 3 — 2 (say), Jones leading." Crisp, clear and ' decisive calling - helps the players. Uncertainty :;irritates them.