Referee
Overview
The Referee is the final on-site authority for the interpretation of the Tournament Rules and Regulations, the Code of Conduct, the Rules of Tennis, and for all other matters that require immediate resolution at the tournament site.
Responsible for :
- The Referee is responsible for managing all Court Supervisors throughout the day, including but not limited to court ratio, appropriate breaks, support and communication
- The Referee is responsible for all aspects of play, including, but not limited to, the conduct and actions of players, coaches, parents, and umpires
- The Referee decides any point of Tennis Law that an official is unable to decide, or which is referred to them by appeal from a player
The Referee will ensure a fair and enjoyable environment for everyone.
Roles
- Authority and Interpretation: Act as the final authority on-site for interpreting tournament rules, regulations, and procedures to resolve any immediate issues
- Evaluation: The Referee can evaluate the performance of Chair Umpires if appointed by Tennis NZ
- Court and Equipment Compliance: Ensure that all courts and equipment meet the event specifications and are maintained properly
- Match Conditions: The Referee will make decisions on play conditions, such as weather, surface conditions, and changes to match formats
- Draws and Scheduling: If requested the Referee can assist the Tournament Director in scheduling matches, ensuring suitable rest between matches, and the completion of the tournament
- Court Preparation: Ensure all courts are prepared before matches checking surface conditions, net heights, singles sticks, and any other clear and obvious anomalies
- Match Management: Decide if courts are playable and determine if and when matches should be moved or postponed due to conditions such as weather
- Code of Conduct: Investigate and enforce Code of Conduct violations.
- Presence and Role: Be on-site and visible during matches to support, manage, and educate Court Supervisors
Attributes
- Be a current member of Tennis NZ Officials
- Knowledge of the Rules of Tennis
- Able to remain calm, personable and approachable when under pressure
- Be able to make quick, accurate decisions
- Be able to take responsibility and accountability for their actions
- Be able to calmly resolve conflicts
- Has experience in public relations and communication
- Has sound organisational, planning and prioritisation skills
- Has self-awareness in all situations
- Has effective interpersonal skills with the ability to work well with all stakeholders
- Is able to lead the Officiating team to achieve desired outcomes
- Can maintain a positive professional image throughout the tournament
Qualifications
Referee Pathways
Any NZ Official that would like to attend a National Referee Course needs to complete a Court Supervisor Course first. It is recommended to have at least 6-12 months experience as a Court Supervisor before applying for a Referee Course.
Once a Referee has obtained their National qualification and sufficient experience, they can register on the ITF Officiating Portal and start uploading their work experience.
Prerequisites:
Any NZ Official that would like to attend a White Badge (Level 2) Referee Course is required to pass a National Referee Course.
NZ Officials are to contact Tennis New Zealand about registering on the ITF Officiating Portal to start uploading their work experience.
It is essential that Officials are actively officiating to a high standard. Ideally the Official has a substantial amount of experience in National and ITF Junior events to increase their chances of selection.
Once a Referee has obtained sufficient experience and National qualification, officials can keep an eye on the portal for upcoming courses and apply online. Your application will be reviewed by Tennis NZ and if endorsed, it will be sent to ITF Officiating for consideration.
Prerequisites:
- Court Supervisors Course
- National Referees Course
Once an Official has successfully completed a White Badge Referee School and obtained a White Badge Referee certification, an Official is then eligible to apply for a Silver Badge Referee School.
It is essential that Officials are actively officiating to a high standard to help with their selection for a Silver Badge Referee School.
Promotions to Gold Badge are discussed during the end of year re-certification meeting by the panel, comprised of members of the Joint Certification Programme (ITF, ATP, WTA and Grand Slam tournaments).
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