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 NETUA News: GETTING STARTED: |
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GETTING STARTED:
Dear Prospective NETUA Member:
On behalf of NETUA, I am delighted to know of your interest in becoming a certified tennis official! NETUA is the organization that represents New England tennis umpires with the United States Tennis Association ("USTA") and coordinates all work assignments, including intercollegiate activity, for the New England area. You can start familiarizing yourself with the USTA website for officials, which can be found using the following link: http://www.usta.com/rules/default.sps?iType=923
Both NETUA and USTA desire to promote the game of tennis by ensuring that all players at officiated matches have the benefit of playing under a uniform set of rules, which are contained in the 2007 edition of the USTA handbook of tennis rules and regulations known as the Friend of Court. As a new official, you will need to be knowledgeable about all the rules of tennis, and be prepared to enforce them without becoming an adverse influence on the match you are officiating. The weblink to this important book is the following: http://dps.usta.com/usta_master/usta/doc/content/doc_13_15617.pdf?1/8/2007%203:56:37%20PM
To become an official you need to join the NETUA by filling out the attached membership application and returning it to me, along with a check for our annual dues in the amount $25. The check should be made payable to "NETUA". Also, you will be required to join the United States Tennis Association, which can be done at their website, www.usta.com.
When we receive your application, we will send you a current copy of Friend At Court. You will also need to print a copy of the Provisional Umpires Exam from the USTA website (on the Rules/Officials page) and complete it. We will then provide you with the names and contact information to enable you to contact NETUA trainers. You will also need to complete the exam and attend a Provisional Umpire clinic. This will prepare you for on court training. Your NETUA trainer will assist you in partnering with a certified umpire to learn how to conduct yourself at a match. You should plan to shadow a certified official several times before you receive your first solo assignment.
At training, you will be given a copy of the NETUA Handbook which will include directions for contacting our coordinators to be assigned to a match.If you have any questions, please contact me at the phone or e-mail address below.
Thank you again for your interest,
John F Jasionowski, NETUA 2008 Membership Chair
Email: j.jasionowski@att.net
Phone: Home 401-723-3547 Cell 401-965-3462
The USTA is the governing body for tennis in the United States. It is a member of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), which is the ultimate governing body for tennis worldwide. The USTA is comprised of 17 Sections, each representing one or more states. Some of these sections have created Districts that represent specific geographic areas within the Section. Some umpire associations may require an annual fee while others have automatic membership without fees. All certified tennis officials must be members of the USTA. No additional membership fee is required to belong to the National USTA Officials Council, of which you will become a member once you are certified.
To become certified umpire, individuals must attend an annual training course and pass an annual written test appropriate to the type of officiating you plan to pursue. The Sectional or District contact person (you can find the list of Sectional Chairman with contact information at the end of this packet) can tell you when training courses will be held throughout the year. You can also access this information on the USTA officials web page at www.usta.com.
The entry-level official is termed a Provisional Umpire. You will want to be certified as a Provisional Official as soon as possible. Provisional Umpire is the only certification that does not require prior attendance at a USTA training course. To become a Provisional Umpire, you must be a USTA member, pass the Provisional Umpire’s test (which can be found on the USTA officials web page at www.usta.com under the heading “Training and Education), obtain a data card from your sectional chairman, fill out the front of the card, make a copy of this information, send it to your sectional chairman for his/her signature and have the copy forwarded to the USTA Officials Department.
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