Omaha daily bee., 1911-06-25
American Tennis
I Hurt by Careless
Umpiring Of Faults
Foot Faults Are Too Much Neglected
in American Game, According
to British Expert.

NEW YORK, June 17.-English tennis ex-
perts say that majority of the violations
of the footfault rule has been caused by
the American service. How far the state
ment is true cannot be known. but 1t is
certain that little or no heed Is paid to
footfaults here. One can go to a, tourna-
ment every day In the week and only on
very rare cases will anybody hear the UNI
pire call footfault. The enforcement OF
this rule is something avoided by all UNI
pires. for 1t is the last thing any player
wants to have called against him. In
dealing with some reflections Of umpiring
A Wallis Myers says in part:
AT the outset OF another tournament
season It may serve a useful purpose II
some of the fraiities Of umpires are touched
upon and some suggestions offered to rem
der modern umpfring a more efficient art.
Let 1t be admitted that umpiring is far
more difficult today than it was decade
ago. The Introduction OF the American
service and other strokes which Influence
the orthodox flight OF the ball require
concentrated vigilance which was regarded
as less important Though theoretically II
was Just as importantly in former days.
For example, the function OF the so-called
lifting drive with its high Trajectory Is to
dive and rebound movements that. II they
are to be carefully followed. require the
keenest observation ON the part of the
umpire Oven when thus on his guard the
man in the chair cannot be entirely proof
against visual deception He Is sitting high
up, with his eyes at right angles to the
line OF flight
mo umpire. even the most experienced.
can when controlling a match single
handed, hope TO be intalibie In respect to
the Ear side line In such circumstances
the need for line umpires especially where
championships are In the balance, requires
no emphasis. Unfortunately organizers or
tournaments experience great difficulty in
supplying this demand Either they car
not secure enough linesmen or the lines
men they do press into service are NJ,
above criticism. The mistakes Of COURSE
are not consciously Committed but The,
are sometimes so fragrant as to change ~
whole issue OF a match. 1t Is the duty
the umpire rather than the duty OF th
committeeman TO select linesmen and III
greatest care should be exercised TO enrci
only those men who, apart from the,i
knowledge OF rules, can be relied upon {,
give prompt and accurate decision.
Nor should an umpire fail 10 rememr
as he often does, that some lines are mo
important than others The service liss
-or example, Is generally filled last II
Is filled az all, and the last gentlema
who Is requisitoned from the crowd is no.
infrequently--his PREVIOUS reluctance {,
come forward may have advertised the
fact-the least efficient Now the service
line Is. OF course. more IN commission. 20
far as an umpire's work Is concerned. than
any other line. II is the initial point or
attack; with the side line. center line and
net Il completes and Is the limit OF the
rectangle which forms the service court.
Decisions on the service lire Cand ON the
two lines which join IT. are therefore Of
vital inportance; scarcely a tournament
tie takes place In which a blunder. in some
cases TO = gross character. Is not com
nitted. The effect az these mistakes Il
not to alter the result materially. Is IN
doubtedly TO disturb the moral equanImity
OF the compositions Of the server no less
than the striker CIT; fur II the server.
taking p4fns 10 pitch tie han At snzna spot
within ths caUst thai Win s4rprise hiz op-
pousnt or to1eh akn al hss uc<ksst spot
suapsees that he kaps within the prs-
scrfbsd f0umiaries sd ais suspicion Is
counuzl&d ~ sha stdruda Of the striker
ou4 sn aaVensa decnHbzn eaunot tan 10 in-
! naan1a ah furure 1erfrA~