On Monday 19th March three British officials travelled to Rome, Italy, to sit one of the hardest exams known to tennis officiating.
The level three course, which is set up jointly between the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) was attended by 16 chair umpires and five chiefs all hopeful of passing and gaining the international certification.
The course consists of three days in the classroom before commencing an exam combined of multiple choice, oral and written questions covering all circuits of tennis. Passing the course for chair umpires means they gain their Bronze Badge Certification and for chiefs, where there is no Bronze Badge, they gain their Silver Badge Certification.
British officials Alex Bosshardt and Josh Brace attended the course as chair umpires, whilst Essex based Gavin Ewart attended as a chief of officials.
26 year old Bosshardt, who is originally from Linlithgow, Scotland, commented: "The learning of every single rule there is was the hardest! I have a full time job so the toughest part was getting in all the revision required before the school."
In Alex’s other life he is the Broadcast and European sponsorship manager for the WTA, which fits in nicely with his officiating commitments. "Before the school I was on holiday with my Irish girlfriend in Copenhagen. There was a delay in my return flight so I missed my connection to Rome and ended up arriving at lunchtime on the first day. I was so nervous already, so to miss the first morning was very stressful. I had to knuckle down extra hard and luckily managed to catch up."
Alex and Josh were part of the White Badge Development Chair Umpire Group in the UK and now, after gaining their Bronze Badges, bring the British officiating chair umpire total to three golds, five silvers and seven bronzes.
Josh Brace, who is a full time tennis official from Redditch, commented on his experiences on the prestigious umpire course: "It’s definitely something you need to be prepared for. You have to be on the ball the whole day and don’t have time to switch off. You have to be ready as questions are being fired at you and you can’t hesitate, you need to be able to answer under pressure."
The three day course, which takes place on average twice a year in various locations throughout the world, comprises of video scenarios, role play and continual questioning until the tutors are convinced you are ready to gain the qualification.
Brace said: "It was emotional when I finally got the badge. This sense of pride at the achievement came over me and I couldn’t be happier."
Tournaments can’t be without a Chief of Officials and Gavin Ewart, who currently assists in the Wimbledon Chief of Umpires Office, attended and passed the course. Chiefs are responsible for organising the umpires, assigning matches and dealing with the day to day needs of the officials. They are often put under pressure with changing weather conditions, opening additional courts and rearranging plans to meet the needs of the officiating at the tournament. As there is no bronze qualification in chiefing, Gavin has now gained his silver badge and brings the total of International Certified Chiefs in the UK to seven silvers and six golds.
Congratulations to all three on their achievements and good luck with their future officiating!