Get to Know: Official Kevin Ware

Kevin has been a very active member of the NorCal officiating community. He has officiated at the US Open, Wimbledon, Australian Open as well as in many local college and pro events. He is a member of the NorCal Officials Committee and is very active in raising the standards of officiating in NorCal by giving generously of his time to one-o

n-one coaching and leading clinics.

Q: What was your path from getting started to where you are today?

A: It's been an incredible journey. I worked my first tournament, a junior event, in Lafayette CA. Back then, I never imagined that I'd be doing what I'm doing now: first as a line umpire, and now as a chair umpire. From Junior and Adult NTRP, to calling lines at grand slams, to now being a badged chair umpire, it's all way beyond what I ever imagined my life would look like as a tennis official. But it's also been a steady 14-year progression that has included hard work (and a little luck) while continually trying to be better with each new day on court.

Q: What has kept you passionate about officiating over the years?

A: The desire to be the best official that I can be has always been my

greatest motivator. No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. We're all human. But what I CAN do is to make sure that I prepare myself as best as I can in order to be of maximum service to my players and their match. My line calls, my rules knowledge, my communication. There's always something I can work on to be a little bit better everyday.

Q: What achievement are you most proud of in your officiating career?

A: I've never measured my success (or failure) as an official with certifications, awards, or work at any particular tournament. The thing I'm most proud of is the reputation that I've built over my time in officiating. One day, a competitor's mom came to talk to me while I was on a break at a college tournament. I'd worked many of her son's matches since he was a junior player. His mom told me that I was one of his favorite officials. He may not have always liked my rulings, but he always knew that I would be fair. Hearing that meant the world to me... and still does today.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges tennis officials face, and how do you handle them?

A: Tennis officials are one of the few officials in sport that are tasked with keeping score AND watching the time while also being the primary rules enforcer. It's certainly not an easy job. But there's nothing insurmountable about what we do. With practice, you can learn to do all of these things successfully. However, I would concede that officiating in weather extremes can sometimes be a tremendous challenge. It could be 50 degrees, or it could be 105. Maybe even all in the same day. We still have to do our best, no matter what. It makes you become really good with clothing layers and sunscreen. :-)

Q: What do you wish players, coaches, or fans better understood about officiating?

A: I think most players and coaches already understand that we do what we do for the love of the game. If you ask any tennis official at any level, they won't ever say that they do it for the money, or for the notoriety. We all do it for the love of the game, and the desire to help players have the fairest match possible. If we do that, the fans will benefit as well by seeing the best match possible.

Q: How has officiating shaped you outside of tennis (skills, mindset, etc.)?

A: I feel that I've become more thoughtful, and much less emotionally reactive. As an official, I don't have the luxury of letting myself get emotional to situations on court, even if the situation is extremely emotional. It's my job to keep play continuous and fair, with the greatest amount of neutrality I can muster. And that has certainly spilled over into my off-court life.

Q: What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a tennis official?

A: Be open to those trying to help you, be humble as you strive to improve, and try learn as much as you can from as many sources as you can. But more importantly, have fun. This is literally one of the coolest jobs you could ever have. So enjoy the journey!

Q: What would you say to encourage more people to consider becoming officials?

A: Good question. Whenever someone asks me about becoming an official, I always tell them that it's the best seat in the house. You get to watch amazing tennis from a perspective that nobody else gets to see. AND you make a bit of money for having that great seat. But I also stress the fairness aspect of the job. As officials, we get a chance to ensure that the game is played fairly. It's a great feeling when that happens.