So I was having a discussion with another experienced player regarding reffing and rules in general and it occurred to us that a ref in the game of racquetball is at any one moment during a rally in the unenviable position of having to watch for a minimum of two and up to a dozen different rules at a time. Even at the serve there are several different foot faults, fault serves, screen serves, safety zone violations....all of this in the few seconds it takes to serve and return a ball. One person is expected to understand, watch for and recognize when each of these rules has been violated. At the classic pro tournaments and the IRT tournaments there are no line judges allowed.

In almost any other sport there are a minimum of two people officiating and in tennis there are as many as seven. (maybe more?)

Does anyone think that there should be more officials at higher tournament levels or does this make the game more interesting? Is the game too confusing for people to watch because of the problems with officiating? i.e. when play is stopped for some reason and no point is scored. (Replay hinders) In most other sports there is no replay....when a play is deemed over or dead ball it results in some kind of point for someone. (Exception: The new review procedure in tennis.)

Any input is appreciated!

Acesymmetrically speaking.

Posted: 08/20/08 in Racquetball Talk. Score: 0 Reffing and Line Judges 15 replies

In the first ranked event of the season the Classics tour will stop in Salem, Oregon for the Capitol City Challenge at the Courthouse Athletic Club. This promises to be great event for player and spectators as some of the top players on the tour will be competing.

Keep checking the ORA schedule for a sign-up sheet to be posted soon and sign-up early as entries will be limited and turnout is expected to be higher than normal.

Looking forward to a great season ahead!

Posted: 08/17/07 in Classic Professional Racquetball Tour. Score: 0 Classics Tour Coming to Salem In October 0 replies

Sorry if this questions has been beat to death but.....

The basic USRA rule for a screen serve does not clearly define what types of serves can and cannot be called screen serves.

Official USA Rulebook
Rule 3.9 (h) Fault Serves Screen Serve
"A served ball that first hits the front wall and on the rebound passes so closely to the server, or server's partner in doubles, that it prevents the receiver from having a clear view of the ball. The receiver is obligated to take up good court position, near center court, to obtain that view."

Most illustrations only show straight drive type of serves as being true screen serves.

If anyone has ever watched Jeff Stark (A top open player out of the Northwest) a lefty.....he hits a drive-Z where he stands on the drive serve safety zone line with his back to the wall (to the right as you are facing the front) and hits a cut drive-z into the far right corner and the ball passes back through the middle. Being a left-hander I have tried this serve and it is extremely effective but many poeple complain that it is a screen serve. Even though it rarely comes close enough to my body to qualify as a screen it is very hard to pick up because you really don't see it hit the corner and you only start to see the ball as it is passing by the body of the server.

I had been told at one point that only a drive serve could be called a screen and I have seen drive-z's hit from the middle that have passed between the servers legs and not be called a screen.

I think Otto would be the man to answer this one.

Thanks!

Posted: 07/20/06 in Racquetball Talk. Score: 0 Drive-Z Screen serve? 13 replies