Match Administration

The Match Administration starts when you are appointed to a game.

Plan your journey to the venue.

• Check the road map - check for major road works
• Check the train journey for engineering works and diversions

Try and get hold of the Rules for the Event - they are often on a Website.

Before you depart, check you have all your kit with you.

On arrival get changed in time to be at courtside at the start of the warm up.

Introduce yourself to the home team Secretary / court Manager.
Supervise the erection of the posts and net.
Find and welcome the scorer - they are part of your team.
Ensure the scorer is aware of their duties - all too often they are not.

• If necessary educate the scorer - only delegate this to a known competent person.
• If you have a competent 2nd referee ensure that they know, to closely supervise the scorer.

Check the team lists are entered correctly.

Check player registration cards - if necessary get assistance from the teams to recognise and validate the players.

• Photographs should be checked
• Registration numbers should be recorded
• Ensure the correct number of players recorded. Check the shirt numbers are correct.

Identify and greet your line judges. They should be briefed in how you want them to work.

Try and make the toss in accordance with the match protocol - 12 mins before the booked start time.

However, if the net, scoresheet, team arrival or some other matter is not going to allow the game to start on time, advise the captains of the reason for the delay, and ask them to agree to it, in line with the Rules for this match.

Record any reasons and agreed timing on the scoresheet.

Matters to be agreed, and communicated at the toss.

• Are the captains happy with the conditions.
• Are they ready to start at the booked time.
• Are they going to share the net warm up, or take it separately.
• Who is going to serve.
• Who is taking which end.
• How many Line judges you will have.
• If you have a 2nd referee or not.
• If you are going to use a 3 ball system.
• Any remarks that you will be recording / have recorded on the scoresheet.

Ensure that both captains and coaches sign the scoresheet.
[ This is to ensure that only these people can request time outs and substitutions, and not other personnel. Do not accept requests from other people, because the signatories, might disagree!]

If you have a Commissioner present from the Organisation which is running the match, ask them for permission to start the game.

If a player arrives late, you need to take the opportunity between sets to check them against their registration card, and that they are recorded on the scoresheet, before they can participate.

If there are any problems, interruptions to the game, ensure that they are recorded on the scoresheet as soon as possible.

At the end of the match, thank the rest of your team for their efforts. Always remember these are volunteers, so look for something positive to say to them; that shows you appreciate them.

Check the scoresheet shows the correct Result and ask the Captains to sign. If either Captain has registered a complaint, ask the scorer to record the words the Captain wants recorded. If the Complaint is against any of the Officials, advise the Captain of the League rules about such complaints. If either Captain refuses to sign the scoresheet, enter that in the remarks box.

Ensure any League administrative matters are carried out and recorded on the scoresheet.

Check the details of the scoresheet, with the scorer. If there are errors, explain them to the scorer. If there are actually errors in the recording discovered during the checking, which may have affected the game, ensure that a remark is made to that extent, preferably with the consent of the scorer. The wording should be clear and not accusing. Eg. Scoresheet incorrectly completed during set 2 - rotation missed.

Sign the scoresheet to state that the Result recorded is correct.
If you are unwilling to sign the scoresheet because it shows the wrong result, or there are other matters which you are unhappy with, you have a responsibility to communicate these in writing to the Event Organiser / League Organiser.