STARDOM
(International Recognition)
or
‘How to attract flack at a higher level’
by Graham Horrex

(Here’s an article that appeared in the TSO many years ago – but its content is still valuable for any level of officiating – ED)

Preparation
The whole process starts long before you take your seat behind the court. Give yourself a chance so that you will not be flustered. First of all, arrive in good time and report to the Tournament Referee who will thank you for this because, if you have been in that position yourself before, it helps to know that the Referees scheduled for the first matches are actually there.

Get acquainted with the surroundings, especially where you will be sitting as sometimes it can come as quite a shock when you find out where you are expected to officiate from. Make sure that the court is in playable condition before the start of your match (This is a task that should have been done by the TR). Is there water available? Where are the courtside attendants? Where can first aid be obtained? Is there a Doctor / Physio on call? Who is your marker? Make sure he/she knows what you want from him – strike up rapport. Make sure that you are fully equipped. Have a pen in reserve. Have a least three balls – if one breaks then you still have a spare.

Special rules
You must be fully aware of any rules that apply to the tournament. Does the 10-minute rule apply – if not, what action do you take – who has the power to give a walkover? What is the dress code?

Your appearance & demeanour
Look the part. Wear an approved uniform, including footwear. If you do this the players will assume that you are qualified and know what you are doing – until you prove otherwise. If you look scruffy, the players will assume the opposite and you have got to prove to them that you are capable.

Make sure that you are not appointed to a match where there is a conflict of interest and especially if there have been difficulties in a previous match. Inform the TR before the schedule is completed if possible. When off duty, always keep in touch with the TR. You never know when he/she might wish to reschedule a match. Never leave the building without the TR’s knowledge. Never consume alcohol before you have the permission of the TR. Do not visibly enthuse over one player’s performance as this may rebound on you later as showing bias towards that player. Display yourself as being neutral at all times. Apart from common courtesies, do not fraternize with any of the players however well you know them for the same reason.

Look after your personal hygiene – on tours you will probably be sharing a room. As a Marker or Referee you will be standing or sitting close to a colleague. Don’t make it unpleasant for them. Don’t criticize your colleagues – it’s surprising how quickly word gets back to them and this does not help to promote a happy tournament. Don’t talk to the media about controversial incidents without the permission of the TR. Accept any match, whether Referee or Marker, with the same amount of enthusiasm. For the players, it is very important.

The details
Now, you may think that all of the above is obvious. Most of it should become second nature thereby avoiding little bits of pressure you don’t need. I have known International Referees who have shown by their actions that they are a bit above some of the above. This undermines the important jobs being done by tutors. They get the retort: "So and so never does that". You may also wonder how any lack of the disciplines are spotted by an Assessor. Little deficiencies are noticed and they all go to make up the whole picture. The application to the WSF also has to be supported by the home nation and they will certainly be aware of them.

Let us now concentrate on what the Assessor is looking for on court. It is taken for granted that the Referee must have an excellent knowledge of the Rules and is fully up to date with them and their application. Once a decision has been given, the Referee should be able to give a quick, short explanation, if and only if required to do so. I once witnessed a Referee give an incorrect decision and when queried, could have got out of a sticky situation by giving a plausible explanation. He had given a ‘No Let’ and his explanation was that the ball nicked and rolled. This it certainly did not as it bounced up almost knee high. A quick ‘get out’ could have been to say that the player went for his opponent rather than the ball. Make sure that any explanation you are asked for fits the situation. The short answers can usually be found in the ‘Referee’s Line of Thinking’ diagram. Remember there is no room for a discussion and certainly none for an argument.

Establishing control
An International Referee has a good sense of what tactics are being employed on court. He/she is quick to spot any potential problems and put a stop to them before they are able to develop. Any lack of discipline such as abuse of equipment or bad language should be picked up immediately. Often a common four-letter word is uttered out of frustration after playing a bad shot. I would not come down like a ton of bricks on this first offence, but I would certainly let it know that I heard it and a ‘friendly’ reprimand is usually enough and is respected.

One ex world champion would try the Referee out by asking for a very ‘soft’ let early on in the first game. If he got it, he had set the parameters for the rest of the match so that he could organise a let when he wanted it. It is very important to get the ‘No Let’ in immediately, regardless of who he was, otherwise there would be too many stoppages.

Player tactics
One can pick up certain vibes from the players regarding the difficulties they meet when playing certain opponents. The Perspex/Glass Court can be of great assistance here as you can study the players from different angles to see if there is any substance in what they are saying and usually there isn’t. Some accused Jansher of blocking when he played a drop. Often, he addressed the shot somewhat languorously and as his opponent knew that the ball was going to be very tight, he would be all over the back of him before he had come out of his shot.

When off duty, take the opportunity to study the players – don’t just watch them. You will then know what to expect and then know how to deal with a problem immediately. Never, however, go in with the idea that it’s going to happen, otherwise you might over react.

Communication
When addressing a player, do so in a friendly manner but with an underlying confidence. Remember an appeal is made to the Referee, and as such you should speak to the player with eye to eye contact, but with a smile in your eyes. Avoid confrontation. Players may abuse you but you must not join in. You have Rule 17 in your armoury and don’t be afraid to use it rationally. Never be sarcastic. When I am off duty as an Assessor, I try to take up a position where I am able to see the Referee’s face. It is then possible to advise him how he/she comes across to the players. Does the face exude confidence or pressure? This in itself will determine how some players will react to the Referee.

A Referee must also be a first class Marker. Apart from the usual attributes of having a clear voice, etc, etc, he/she must be able to call the play accurately and instantly. The rally must be stopped immediately any fault occurs. So many Markers only announce what has happened long after the rally is over. Players like to know that the officials have spotted the incident instantly and the Referee does not want any problems on his/her plate caused by poor marking. When asked what match he had been allocated, I heard an International Referee exclaim: "I have got a good one. It’s ------- versus ------- but I am only marking". A Marker can take a great deal of pressure off a Referee but a bad one will put a lot more on to him/her.

Lastly, I judge the reaction of a Referee when being debriefed after an assessment. The Assessor is there to assist – not to destroy. I usually ask the Referee in the first instance, how they felt the game went. If they have made several mistakes and had little control but felt that they had done well, I know we have problems. But if they can identify one or two decisions that they would like to change and they fit in with my own notes, then I know we have some very promising material.

A short while ago there was an International Referee named Mike Picken who was quite a character. He was and still is a good friend of Jack Flynn and myself. I assessed him on one occasion, and when I debriefed him, his first words were: "And how many did you get wrong?" The same person agreed to do an assessment on Jack and sat immediately behind Jack’s left shoulder. The first decision was a straightforward ‘Yes Let’, only to hear coming from behind – "Oh dear, Oh dear, Oh dear!" As I said, we are there to encourage, not destroy!