IMPORTANT UPDATE ON ITF WHITE BADGE REFEREE SCHOOL
At this time we are uncertain of the date for the next school. It appears that the ITF cannot schedule a 2009 October school this fall. We hope that the ITF will schedule this referee school during the first quarter of 2010. When that school is officially scheduled, we will send you an ITF application for that school. The application should be filled out completely and returned to the USTA Officials Department. Applications should be available in November or December for a 2010 school that hopefully will be scheduled during the first quarter.
In the meantime, we encourage all interested applicants to study referee procedures and gain as much referee experience possible during the remainder of 2009. Only referees with on site experience and knowledge will be ready for the school and able to tackle a demanding written exam consisting of referee procedures and on court situations. At many ITF events, referees are required to come onto court and settle any questions of law and/or any chair umpire procedures that need to be implemented. Those referees with minimal experience in these areas will have difficulty achieving a passing grade at this ITF referee school as has been experienced at previous referee schools.
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
The ITF Seniors Department and the USTA Adult/Senior Competitive Department have agreed to meet the new ITF Seniors Regulation stating the Referee shall be a minimum White Badge Official Standard at USTA/ITF sanctioned events. This requirement is currently in place at selected USTA/ITF junior and wheelchair events. The USTA will be hosting an ITF White Badge Referee school which is a new ITF certification category. We encourage officials with referee experience and interest in referee assignments at these selected USTA/ITF events (who currently do not hold any ITF certification) to apply for this school by completing the (click here for application ) USTA OFFICIALS DEPARTMENT ITF WHITE BADGE REFEREE SCHOOL INTEREST APPLICATION. All applicants who complete this interest application will receive the ITF certification form for completion.
edPlease complete the form and send it directly to:
USTA Officials Department
Attn. Julio Echavarria
70 West Red Oak Lane
White Plains, NY 10604
or
E-mail: officiating@usta.com
Fax to: 914 696-7008
These are the factors contributing to the ITF and USTA selection decisions for the applicants for White Badge ITF Referee School.
- Ability to handle a rigorous curriculum and pass a difficult examine required to gain the certification.
- Referee experience
- Current work record as a referee
- Recommendations from Adult/Senior Competitive Play Department and Officials Department, National Chair of Officials, Section Chairs of Officials, National Trainer/Evaluators and Tournament Directors
- Knowledgeable and competent officials with minimal referee/deputy referee experience
- Referees/deputy referees with experience living/working in the proximity of adult/senior national events and wheelchair national events requiring ITF certified Referees
- Adherence to the USTA Officials Code of Conduct
This application will be an Equal Opportunity Policy and will not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, sexual orientation, age, or disability.
We, the United States Tennis Association, recognize diversity as essential to achieving our mission: to promote and develop the growth of tennis. For us, diversity refers to differences of culture, ethnicity, race, age, gender, beliefs, religion, social and economic status, sexual orientation, family status, physical ability, appearance, and ideas.
We are committed to achieving greater diversity throughout the sport and fostering a tennis environment that is more inclusive.
Pursuant to its overall diversity policy, the USTA hereby promulgates this statement on diversity in umpire assignment, selection, certification and training. Please address any questions concerning this statement or the requirements for assignment, selection, certification and training contained in this statement, by email to the USTA Officiating Department, at officiating@usta.com.