TENNIS UMPIRING.

Shannon News, 27 October 1922, Page 2

TENNIS UMPIRING.

(To the Editor.)

Sir—Arising out of the tennis match on Monday, some remaps have been made, and possibly more will be made, about the umpires, the players and the spectators. Under the circumstances a few remarks on umpiring on such occasions may not be out of place. In the first place, no reflection is cast on the umpires or the players, but, spectators for the time

being should 1 realise that they are only spectators and not all referees. In a country club we cannot expect to have only expert umpires who are infallible. Indeed, this can only be achieved in a last set with the aid of line umpires. It is sufficient in our case to have an umpire to keep the

score and decide doubtful points. When the umpire is in doubt, he should maintain silence till the end of the volley, when he should consult the players, or, if he thinks fit, a spectator who may have seen the point. If still in doubt, he should order the stroke to be replayed. An

umpire should never speak during the progress of a rally—such- calls as “good ball” or “right,” when imperfectly heard, could easily be mistaken for “fault” or “out,” It only requires a momentary halt of the player to lose the stroke. A golden rule is for the umpire never to speak unless to stop the game, and for the player to play on till he hears the umpire speak. With these simple rules and a disposition on the part of the umpire and players to work in harmony and help one another, there should be little left to be desired.—l am, etc., G.P.