Tim’s Verbiage - Master
Sheet
Pre-match - ITF
Verify names before pre-match. Try to
identify players before they arrive to court. In a pinch ask
how to pronounce last name.
See who answers.
Number of Balls
Ball Change Pattern
Explain Chair responsibilities (baseline,
etc)
For second round matches, need only
mention “Conditions are all the same.”
“Heads or Tails?” – Ask player on
opposite side of net.
“Heads”
“Tails”
Look at the winner of the toss and repeat
his/her choice: Player says: Serve. You respond:
Serve.
Clay Court Pre-Match -
ITF
If you want to question a call you must
stop play immediately. Ask me to get out of the chair and
I’ll get down and take a look at the
mark.
USTA Solo Chair
Pre-Match
Verify Age Group and Division
“You will be calling your own lines, no
matter how obvious the call is.”
“I will only overrule clear mistakes.”
“Your calls should be immediate.”
Number of Sets and Tie-breaks, New Balls,
Ball #
Warm-up Time
“Any Questions”
“Heads or Tails?”
“Heads”
“Tails”
ITA Solo Chair Pre-Match
Verify Position
“Please make your calls verbally and
visually, so both your opponent and I can see or hear
them.”
“Appeals must be audible and immediate.”
New Balls, Ball #
“Any Questions”
“Heads or Tails?”
“Heads”
“Tails”
Roving – USTA Only
Verify Age Group and Division
2
“I will be enforcing all the rules of
tennis.”
“Please make your calls verbally and
visually, so your opponent can see and hear them.”
“If there is a doubt, the ball is good.”
Number of Sets and Tie-breaks, New Balls
Warm-up Time
“Any Questions”
“Heads or Tails?”
“Heads”
“Tails”
Warm-up
“2 Minutes”
“1 Minute”
“Time”
Introductions
Keep head up and turn if the crowd is
behind you.
Start introduction at 20 to 30 seconds before
time is called, depending on singles, doubles, and
crowd size.
“Ladies and gentlemen this _____ round
match will be the best of three tie-break sets. To the
right (point hand) of the
chair from ____, name. To the left (point hand) of the chair,
from
_____, name.”
“name
won the toss and chose to serve/receive.”
“name
to Serve”
“Play”
Verbiage for next
server.
“name to Serve.”
Start of second set. “2nd Set”, “name
to Serve.”
Start of final set. “Final Set”, “name
to Serve.”
ATP Doubles Announcement
(Modify for USTA Add Scoring)
Ladies and gentlemen this match will
consist of two tiebreak sets with no ad scoring. A 10-point
match tiebreak will be used
at one all.
At Deuce
Deuce, deciding point, receivers choice.
After The Second Set
A 10-Point Match Tiebreak will now be
played to decide the match.
At One Set All Before First Ball Is Served
Match Tiebreak.
Score Announcement
“Game name, 1st Game”
“Game name, One Game All”
3
“Game name, Two Games All”
etc.
“Game, name, name Leads
2-1”
“Game name, 1st Game Second Set”
“Game name, 1st Game Final Set”
“Game and 1st Set Jones, 6 Games to 4”
“Game and 2nd Set Jones, 6 Games to 4, One Set All”
On even games only announce set score. On
odd games announce set score and set if scoring
devices are present. For
example, “Game Jones, Jones leads 2 games to love” or “Game Jones,
Jones leads 2 games to 1 first set.” If
scoring devices are not present add the winner of the first
set to the odd game second
set announcement. For example, “Game Jones, Jones leads 2 games
to 1 second set and one
set to love” or “Game Jones, Jones leads 2 games to 1 second set, first set
to Smith”. If spectators
cannot see the scoring devices the score should be announced in full.
“15 – Love”
“30 – Love”
“40 – Love”
“15 All”
“30 All”
Tie-Break
“Game name; 6-all, 1st Set Tie-break”
“Game name; 6-all, 2st Set Tie-break”
“Game name; 6-all, Final
Set Tie-break”
Use Zero Not Love in Tie-break
Announce Leader’s Score First, Then Name
“4-2, Jones”
Suspension/Resumption In Play
Announcement of
Postponement of Play – Darkness, Rain, Etc. The chair umpire may
stop play
for a short period of time.
The Supervisor or Referee is the only person allowed to suspend play.
Short Stoppage (No Coaching Allowed) -
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Play has been stopped.”
Suspension Of
Play (Coaching Allowed Off The Court) - “Ladies and Gentlemen, Play is
suspended.”
Use this announcement if a period of time
has elapsed or the spectators have changed since the
suspension of play.
“Ladies and gentlemen this the
continuation of a suspended _____ round best of three tie-break
set match. To the right (point hand) of the chair from ____, name.
To the left (point hand) of the
chair, from _____, name.”
“name
leads 4-1 in the second set, first set to name.”
“name
is serving at game score.”
“Time”
“name
to Serve”
“Play”
4
If the delay has been substantial
announce players names as they serve for the first time after the
delay.
Verbiage for next
server.
“name to Serve.”
End of Match
Score announcement is by set (2 sets to
Love or 2 sets to one) and then by games in each set.
“Game, Set, Match, Jones; score”
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Smith is unable to
continue do to injury. Jones wins; score, retired.”
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Jones wins; score,
default.”
Miscellaneous
Announcements
“Ladies and gentleman,
as a courtesy to the players, no flash photography.”
“Seats quickly.”
“Wait, Please”
“Let, Replay the Point”
“Correction, the ball was good, replay
the point (or give the correct score).”
Ball Kid Communication
Have the best kids at the net. Talk to
net kids and let them know what’s going on. Inform them of
ball changes and keep one on
each side of the net. Praise them!!!
“Halfway please”
“All the way down.”
Code Violations
C-O-R-N
C=Code
O=Offense
R=Result
N=Name
Delay “Delay of Game”
Not resuming play after a medical
time-out.
Not resuming play after treatment on a
changeover or Set Break.
Not playing within 20 seconds of having
been directed to resume play.
Passage of 20 seconds
after any time violation.
Leaving the playing area
for an unauthorized reason.
Not resuming play after leaving the court
on his/her “own time”.
Conduct
Visible or Audible Obscenity
Abuse of Racket, Balls, or Equipment
Verbal or Physical Abuse of a Player or
Official
Abusive Conduct by a Player or a Person
Associated With A Player
Coaching and Coaches (behavior)
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Penalties - ITF
Caution first if the offense is not
serious. This should usually happen on a change over.
First Offense Warning
5
Call Supervisor
Second Offense Point
Call Supervisor
Third Offense Game
Fourth Offense Game
Penalties – USTA
Caution first if the offense is not
serious. This should usually happen on a change over.
First Offense Point
Second Offense Game
Third Offense Default
Medical Time-out
“Ladies and gentlemen, the trainer has
been called to the court.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, Mr./Ms. Jones is receiving a Medical time-out.” (The medical
timeout
may occur off court and
this should be added to the end of this sentence when appropriate.)
Announce times and “Treatment Complete”
to trainer, player, and supervisor/referee only.
“2 Minutes”
“1 Minute”
“30 Seconds”
“Treatment Complete”
“Time” (Wait for player to put on shoes
socks, etc before announcing to the crowd)
Rule #9 - Choice of Ends
and Service
1) Serve or Receive
2) Choice of Ends
3) Allow Opponent to Choose
Rule #22 – The Let in
Service
“Let, First Serve”
“Let, Second Serve”
“Fault”
Rule #24 – Player Loses
Point
“Out, (give correct score)”
“Touch”
“Not-Up”
a) a ball in
play touches a player “Touch”
b) a player
touches the net “Touch”
c) a player
invades the opponent’s court “Invasion”
d) a player
strikes the opponent’s return before it has passed the net “Invasion”
e) a not-up
(double bounce) occurs “Not-Up”
f) an illegal
carry, double-hit or other illegal stroke is made “Foul Shot” “Illegal Stroke”
g) a ball passes
through the net “Through”
6
Rule #13 – Ball Touches
Permanent Fixtures
“Touch”
Rule #25 – A Good Return
“Through” – In doubles, a ball passing
below the net cord and between the net post and the edge
of the net.
Rule #29 – Continuous
Play
“Time”
“Time Violation – Warning – Name”
“Time Violation – Point Penalty – Name”
“Let’s Play”,
Show the stop watch being started.
“15 Seconds” – Use only as a caution on a
change over.
Equipment Maladjustment – No announcement
if it is obvious what the delay is for. Always
inform the opponent.
Rule #30 – Coaching
If Unsure - Soft Warning - Announce only
to the player and the person coaching.
If Sure – Code Violation
Rule #3 – Ball Change
“___ Balls in Play”
“Ball Change”
“7 and 9”
“9 and 11”
“11 and 13”
“New Ball”
“Like Wear Ball”
“Ball Change”
Rule #14 – Order of
Service in Doubles
“Advantage servers name”
Rule #15 – Order of
Receiving in Doubles
“Advantage receivers name (ad
side)”
General
We communicate with the players in a way
that’s good for them, not for us.
First and foremost say nothing if
possible.
Say “OK”
Say, “OK, I’ll handle that.”
If you need to start a discussion be sympathetic.
Start Out
“Hey Mike, I know it’s hot… Speed it up a
bit”
7
“Hey Mike, I know you’re frustrated… It’s
too much.”
“Hey Mike, the racket…”
“Hey Mike, the time…”
Respond
“OK, then I may have to…”
“Guys we have a problem and this is how
we are going to solve it”
“It’s not a phrase for the tennis court”
“Leave it with me”
“Let’s talk, but not like that.”
“Too much with the
language.”
“I told you to watch your language. Now
I’m going to give you a code.”
“So it’s his point?”
“That’s not the way I saw it”
“I didn’t get that.”
“I haven’t got a good answer for you.”
“You say I missed it, OK.”
“Look, we’re not going to agree. It’s not
going to change the situation.”
“Careful”
“Ladies”
“Gentlemen”
“Wait, Please”
“Let, Replay the Point”
“Correction, the ball was good, replay
the point (or give the correct score).”
“I saw the ball good.”
“I agree with the call.”
“It was very tight
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