Accidental Official Steve Webb

Steve Webb didn’t really plan on becoming a tennis official. But now, 15 years later, here he is, officiating and serving as USTA Missouri Officials Vice Chair.

“I sort of fell into it by accident,” Webb said. “I was tournament directing quite a bit on the weekends and had worked with some really good officials from all over the midwest — and a few that were not so good. I decided to attend one of the old certification schools to better understand the differences in responsibilities between tournament directors and officials or referees.”

And he definitely got a good look at those differences. Maybe not in the way he expected.

“After being mentored by experienced officials and trying my hand at it a few times after that, I found I liked it a little more than running a tournament desk because it got me closer to the action, and allowed me to be more physically active,” Webb said.

There are more than 100 USTA Certified Officials in the Missouri Valley, including seven in the Missouri section. They play an important role in tournaments at all levels, from local community events to professional events, but ensuring fair play and sportsmanship. They serve as Roving Umpire, Line Umpire, Referee or Chair Umpire.

They also make some incredible memories.

“One that comes to mind is when I run across young players that exemplify the term sportsmanship no matter the circumstances,” Webb said. “It’s becoming increasingly rare across all sports, but those are the athletes that win or lose, you have no doubt will achieve greatness and leave the world a better place, regardless of what path they choose. They’re the players that respect their opponent at all times, maintain a positive mental focus throughout an entire match while leaving it all on the court, and when it’s all said and done they thank you as an official for giving of your time to be there.”

And that’s just one of the great things that come with serving as an official at USTA events.

“Being outdoors, meeting people from different walks of life, and learning more and more about the game,” lists Webb. “And having the opportunity to watch a lot of good tennis live and up close.”

The USTA has a six-step process that all aspiring officials must go through, including online courses, Safe Play certification and two days of on-court training and shadowing. And don’t worry if you don’t know the rulebook inside-out right now. That’s what the training courses are for.

“Officiating is just like the game itself, there’s a lot of diversity and different life experience among officials that make it interesting, and help us better relate to players,” Webb said. “It’s definitely a plus if tennis officials are patient with thick skin, have good communication skills, and are knowledgeable or willing to learn about the rules of the game.”

All newly-certified officials receive a welcome gift from the USTA Officiating Department. It includes on-court supplies such as a tape measure, flipping coin and a pocket notebook. You’ll also get a uniform polo and hat. And you’ll gain more than just a knowledge of the sport when you start officiating. 

“It won’t make you rich or famous, but it’s a great hobby and a way to discover more about yourself and others than you might expect,” Webb said. “And if you love the game, you won’t get much closer to the good stuff unless you’re playing at a really high level yourself.”

For more information, visit the USTA Officiating website.