Rules Rule: So, You Think You Can Referee?

If you know anything about my father-in-law, Paul Gordon, you know that he can be authoritative and intimidating when he wants to be. (This, of course, made it oh-so-fun for me when I told him that I wanted to marry his daughter). Paul is a long-time racquetball player, having competed in several U.S. Opens and local tournaments. When I was in graduate school, I traveled with the University of Missouri’s racquetball team (MIZ!!) to a racquetball tournament designed exclusively for college players. I remember watching a match that afternoon on Court 5 with four teenagers who were yelling at each other after nearly every rally. The exasperated tournament director called Paul—who happened to be at the club that day—and asked him to replace the referee for that match. Paul immediately pulled all four players together (yes, mid-match) and made it clear to them—in that tone of voice that every parent who has raised four kids knows—that any more disrespectful behavior would result in a forfeit and being withdrawn from the tournament.  

The rest of the match finished without incident. 

The point of this story is that well-qualified, confident, and knowledgeable referees are critical to the sport of racquetball. This leads me to the crux of this month’s article:  (1) how you can improve your referee skills, and (2) the sport’s need for qualified/certified referees. 

Be Familiar with the Rules and Have Them Handy. It should go without saying, but everyone who referees a match should be familiar with the rules. Does this mean that you must have memorized each rule? Certainly not. But in 2025, the technology exists (i.e., cell phones) allowing you to have instantaneous access to the Official Rules of Racquetball at your fingertips. Indeed, USA Racquetball provides the Rulebook in two:  an online version and a downloadable version. In fact, you can find both HERE.

If your club does not have stable WiFi, you can always download the Rulebook to your phone and have it handy even when not connected to the internet. For example, every other year I travel with the Lindbergh Racquetball Team to the USAR High School National Championships in Portland, Oregon. Whether I am coaching at the Multnomah Athletic Club—where the courts are buried three stories below ground—or the Sunset Athletic Club (what’s up, Annie!!), I rarely have WiFi or data. So, before I get on the plane, I make sure to have the most up-to-date version of the rules downloaded to my phone. 

Importantly, it is advisable for anyone who is going to referee to take a few quiet minutes and briefly review the rules before the tournament begins. Focus on Section 3 of the Rulebook, entitled “Play Regulations,” as this section will cover 90% or more of any rules issues that may arise during the match. (Note:  If you are refereeing doubles, look at Section 4 of the Rulebook, which has rules specific to doubles).

Know Your Duties. As a referee, you have duties that you should be familiar with. Under Rule B.5(a), referees must:

• Check on the “adequacy of preparation” of the court, including cleanliness. Take a few minutes as necessary to sweep the court or ask someone to do so (although you should not ask the players to do it—their focus should be on match preparation and not cleaning). 

• Make sure that you have a new ball (or one in good condition), scorecards, and a pencil. It’s also a good idea to have a towel nearby in case it becomes necessary during the match.

• Ensure that if line judges are being used, they are ready and understand their roles and the procedures for appeals. 

• Conduct an on-court briefing with the players to introduce yourself, identify any designated and undesignated court hinders, and identify out-of-play areas (see Rule 2.1(a) for further details). 

• Randomly select which player or team has the choice of serving or receiving game one (e.g., a coin toss).

Be Confident, Yet Humble. As the referee, Rule B.5(b) says that you “shall make all decisions regarding the rules.” To that end, it is vital that referees exude confidence during a match. Speak loudly, slowly, and clearly. Enunciate. When you make a call, be confident in your call. 

Yet, as a referee, you should also be humble. Rule B.5(b) provides, “If both players in singles [or] three out of four in a doubles match disagree with any call made by the referee, the referee is overruled except for technical fouls and match forfeitures.” If this happens, do not take offense—after all, this is the players’ match, not yours. Plus, many courts force referees into positions where the players have the obvious sightline advantage. 

Do Not Be Afraid to Ask Questions. In my opinion, people too frequently equate asking questions with incompetence or ignorance. Not so. The rules of racquetball are complex and detailed. If the rules were simple, my role as National Rules Commissioner would be unnecessary. If you are unsure about a rule, do not be afraid to ask the tournament director. No doubt, the players and the tournament director would rather you ask about a rule to ensure you’re getting the call correct rather than go through the formal protest procedures outlined in Rule B.5(c). 

Consider Becoming a Certified Referee. If you are confident in your skills as a referee, consider becoming a USAR certified referee. Lynn Stephens, Chairman of USAR’s National Referee Certification Program and member of the National Rules Committee, has worked to develop a three-part certification test and maintains a record of nationally certified referees. Part One consists of watching a rules briefing presented by Otto Dietrich, followed by several multiple-choice questions. Part Two consists of 50 questions designed to test your knowledge of the rules. Part Three contains 25 short videos in which you must put yourself into the shoes of a referee and “make the call.”  

Lynn Stephens

In preparation for this article, Lynn described the impact of COVID-19 on the referee certification program. Before COVID, USAR had over 200 certified referees. Unfortunately, that number has significantly decreased, but the hope is that by publicizing the program, more players will become certified. As Lynn puts it, "Everybody that plays tournaments wants a great ref for their match.” Having at least one certified referee at every tournament ensures that the highest-level matches have well-qualified referees. Also, certified referees can be an invaluable resource to tournament directors who might need help interpreting and applying rules. 

For the tournament directors reading this, I understand that resources are limited. But if your tournament can support paying certified referees—even if only $10 per match—you will incentivize players to go through the certification process. That will mean you have nationally certified referees at your tournament, lending professionalism and making the tournament that much better. 

If you are interested in the referee certification program, click HERE.

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT!! Starting in mid-September, USA Racquetball will be publishing a series of short videos explaining and demonstrating several of the basic and more complex rules of racquetball (think foot faults, illegal drive serves, penalty hinders…YES…penalty hinders!). Be on the lookout for the #RacquetballRulesRule!

National Rules Commissioner Joshua Jones welcomes questions from members and will respond timely along with occasionally featuring a few in USA Racquetball’s Serving Up the News. Write to Josh at rulescommissioner@usaracquetball.com, and you may see your question in a future issue of this newsletter!