What’s it like to umpire for the oldest and most prestigious tennis championship in the world? I can’t compare Wimbledon to other matches. It just has a certain kind of feel – there’s an incredible buzz, an incredible atmosphere. It’s tough to compare it to anything else.
My career highlight was being involved in the final match between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick in the 2009 Wimbledon final. I worked as a line umpire for the game and it was an unforgettable experience – a particularly exciting final to be involved in.
I’ve always been a tennis fan. I played at county tennis championships when I was young and as a child I even dreamed of winning Wimbledon, but of course I never made it that far. I started umpiring in 2005, after being encouraged by the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) as a junior player. I’m a huge tennis fan – so whatever way I can get involved in the sport and stay involved I will.
I never lose concentration. It’s easy to stay focused because you’re so involved in the game. As an umpire, it’s only after the match has finished that you realise you feel tired. During the game you’re consumed with anticipation and adrenaline.
To work as an umpire, you need to thrive under pressure. It takes a certain type of person to do this. The work can be intense, particularly during a high-profile match, as there are around 15,000 people watching the game at the stadium. You need to be able to handle that pressure.
The matches can get heated and intense, so you also need to be thick-skinned. The games are tense, even just while watching, but when you’re officiating there are millions waiting on your decision. At times you can come under criticism, but it’s an incredible experience.
You also need to be able to communicate well. You need some empathy, you need to stay calm and you need to not be overbearing – essentially your role is to help the game run as smoothly as possible. It’s important to stay relaxed while on a match.
The role of an umpire is always changing. In 2006 we introduced Hawk-Eye, an electronic line calling system to help track the ball. It’s great – and often backs up the umpire’s decision. It also helps to calm down the players when there’s a disagreement on pitch. In future I think this technology will be used more widely in tennis, once they’ve brushed out the cobwebs.
There’s never a relationship conflict between you and the players. Your personal relationships with players can never influence the match. It’s a respectful but a professional relationship, nothing more. You have to be completely impartial when officiating the match.
Umpiring is usually a full-time career. I’m lucky to be able to fit this around other work, but most umpires travel all round the world officiating matches – from Wimbledon to the Grand Slams in the US. During the season, I umpire one to two matches a day – the early matches run until the afternoon, but other matches start as late as 6pm in the evening.
If you want to become an umpire, you need to be enthusiastic and committed to tennis. ABTO (Association of British Tennis Officials) runs a recruitment programme and they are always looking to take on young umpires. You’ll need to have a real enthusiasm and commitment to the game. First, start out by umpiring smaller matches, then build up from there – gradually officiating bigger and higher events as you progress in your career. Essentially, it requires a big enthusiasm for the game.
Alex Bosshardt is a manager for Deloitte’s sports business group, and uses its Time Out flexible work scheme, which allows employees to request a block of four weeks unpaid leave each year, to work as an umpire for Wimbledon.
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