ITF

The ITF's leadership in officia ng is two-fold: it enables us to maintain and apply consistently the rules and regula ons in place across our own major events and tours, and we also deliver the Joint Cer fica on Programme for officials working across the whole sport, in partnership with the WTA, ATP and the four Grand Slam tournaments. Tennis officials are chief umpires, chair umpires and referees. The Joint Cer fica on Programme ensures that every official's educa on, ability and experience is acknowledged by a cer fica on that is recognised by all of tennis's interna onal stakeholders. As well as providing the best quality officia ng – with ongoing assessment and recer fica on an important part of the process – the programme provides a pathway of opportunity for men and women to make their careers in this area. Officia ng schools ITF officia ng schools ensure that our member Na onal Associa ons and interna onal tennis partners have qualified officials for na onal and interna onal tournaments. We train and cer fy officials at four levels, from Na onal (entry level), through Green Badge, White Badge up to Interna onal (advanced level, working at major interna onal events). We held ITF officia ng schools for 286 people in 2024, with a 75% pass rate. Eight White Badge schools were held across four con nents, for 182 candidates. Two Green Badge schools were held for 37 candidates, and two Interna onal schools were held for 67 candidates. Our White Badge school in France was our first all-female school, as we work to encourage greater numbers of women into officia ng as part of our Advantage All programme (see page 58). As part of our con nuing efforts to improve the cer fica on and recer fica on process, we introduced exams, so that the en re content of officia ng schools at this level can be delivered online. ITF events Officials at ITF events serve the tournaments and help organisers to maintain and improve officia ng standards so that we maintain the highest levels of integrity. At Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge alone in 2024, we provided 629 assignments for officials to work across regional compe ons, World Group events, Play-Offs, Qualifiers and the Finals. To plan officia ng needs for events at all levels around the world, our ITF Officia ng Regional Officers work closely with our affiliated Regional Associa ons and ITF Development Officers and tailor plans and educa on strategies to that region. 2024 JOINT CERTIFICATION PROGRAMME 647 INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS 1,440 WHITE AND GREEN BADGE OFFICIALS 2,080 INDIVIDUALS CERTIFIED Up 22% on the previous year separate open book tests for Interna onal and White/Green officials in 2024, so that material is be er tailored to the events where officials in these two groups work. In 2025, we will introduce an open book test specifically for review officials, who oversee electronic line-calling systems. By the end of 2024, there were 2,080 individuals cer fied by the Joint Cer fica on Programme, an increase of 22% on the previous year (see graphic below). Na onal schools are the entry point for aspiring officials, and these are run by our member na ons, who manage cer fica on at this level. The Africa region provided the most training opportuni es in 2024, with schools held for 308 people across Angola, Burundi, Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania and Tunisia, and a year-end webinar for 39 Na onal Associa on Officia ng Managers. In Asia, schools for 241 candidates took place in Bahrain, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong China, India, Iraq, Jordan, Kyrgystan and Vietnam. In South America and Caribbean, there were schools for 135 people in Argen na, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico and Peru. ITF Academy powers training The ITF Academy plays a central role in the training and recer fica on of officials. In 2024, in support of our Na onal Associa ons, we made a basic Na onal Officia ng package, covering the rules of tennis, code of conduct and off-court officia ng, available for the first me on the pla orm. Na ons have the op on to host the course in person or online. Selected Green and White badge school ac vi es have been transferred completely to the ITF Academy, increasing access and reducing costs. Plans are being developed to use the pla orm to host open book tests and officia ng 33

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