WITH the XL Bermuda Open set to start on April 14, local umpires and lines officials are getting in some training to assist the overseas officials at the Coral Beach courts.And veteran umpire Allan Simmons said that they are always looking for more officials — not just for the XL tournament but also to help out with the numerous tournaments held in Bermuda throughout the year.

“We are always looking for more officials,” said Simmons. “We do have a number of people who like the idea of coming out and doing it but when they get into actual action some can get a little timid.”

Head of the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association, David Lambert, said: “We are seeing more and more tournaments being played in Bermuda and more players competing. And the standard of play is getting better so we at the BLTA want to the see more umpires helping out as well.”

And both Simmons and Lambert said that at the moment it is usually only at the finals of a local tournament that will see umpires taking part. “We would like to start getting umpires for the semis and quarter finals,” said Lambert.

While Bermuda officials will be helping call the lines at the XL Bermuda Open, all the chair umpires will be professionals from overseas. “They have to be specially trained and umpire at so many tournaments,” said Simmons.

“Also the players at the XL Open are playing for their living. Bad calls can cost them money and important ranking points.”

Simmons said that Bermuda will probably supply between 15 and 17 lines people for the tournament.

“We also have lessons with some of their trainers who give sessions — particularly with new lines people. We also want to have a level one or two session in Bermuda whereby an official from the ATP or USTA will come down to teach.”

Mary Beth Anderson, one of the organisers of the XL Bermuda Open, said of the local officials: “They give us a lot of help — 50 percent of the lines people are local. We also want that local flavour.”

Anderson said the overseas officials who come down for the XL Open give the local umpires a review after the tournament so they can see how well they did. “Also it is not out of question for them to ask our local officials if they would like to go to other tournaments. In the past we have had our local officials go outside of Bermuda to work at other events and that is a nice complement. It says a lot on how seriously they take their job.”

Simmons said that when someone decides they want to learn to officiate, the first thing they get is a book called Friend at Court. “That is a book which is used by all umpires — it is the bible of umpires,” he said.

An official will slowly work his way up from calling the lines to going in the chair. And although lines people never talk to the players, a chair umpire does especially when a player gets angry over a call. “Players can get upset in the heat of the moment. Nowadays officials are taught to be friendly to the player although the chair umpire also keeps a close eye our for profanity on the court...verbal and otherwise. But we are here to help the game.”

One thing a lines person must be able to do is make a call quickly and confidently. “There is a certain technique to calling the lines,” said Simmons adding, “and the balls are being hit harder and harder these days. You really have to concentrate and be on your toes.”

These days some calls are being made more by machines and Simmons said: “They are useful — there is no doubt about that. But I feel that you have to have people in there as well.”

Umpires train ahead of the XL Bermuda Open