Umpire &

Service Judge
Instructions
May 2018
Umpire/SJ Instructions

Introduction
These Instructions have been produced with
the aim of providing all Umpires across the
World with guidance to aid their
development, enhance the presentation of
badminton and create consistency in their
officiating whatever the tournament or
competition at whatever the level.
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 Umpire/SJ Instructions

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 Umpire/SJ Instructions

Uniform:
 Appearance at all times is important.
 Always wear your BWF uniform or that
provided for all Umpires at a tournament.
 Black trousers/skirts if preferred by female
Umpires – not jeans or casual wear –
together with smart black shoes must be
won.

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 Umpire/SJ Instructions

 Umpire, Service Judge, together with the

Line Judges and court attendants if
available, should assemble, generally 15
minutes before the start time of a match,
at the designated point.
 Umpire should ensure that he/she has a
full complement of Line Judges and if
applicable court attendants.

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 Umpire/SJ Instructions

 Each court will have designated entry and

exit locations which will have been made
known at the pre-event briefing.
 Ensure that all members of the technical
officials team are aware of these
locations.

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 Umpire/SJ Instructions

 Prior to walking onto court with other court

officials and players, ensure that the
players’ clothing complies with the
tournament regulations as instructed by
the Referee at the Umpires’ main briefing.
 If you have a mobile phone, be sure it is
switched off.

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 Umpire Instructions

 To assist you with the correct

announcement of players’ names you can
ask a coach/team member or umpiring
colleague prior to going onto court.

 You may write the names on the score

sheet in your own language.

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 Umpire/SJ Instructions

 Under the instructions given, the Umpire

should lead their team of officials onto the
field of play (FOP).
 Order onto the FOP will generally be
Umpire, players, Service Judge, Line
Judges and court attendants.
 Walk at a pace that others in the team can
follow, bearing in mind those who may
find it difficult to walk fast.
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 Umpire/SJ Instructions

 Walk on to the court professionally at the

designated entry point and stand on the
singles line of the court with your back to
the Umpire’s chair. Umpire to stand with
their feet either side of the short service
line and the Service Judge to stand
nearest the net.

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 Umpire/SJ Instructions

Hands can be
clasped as
shown on
picture or
behind your
back.

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 Umpire/SJ Instructions

 After the Umpire and Service Judge have

shaken hands with the players prior to the
toss, the Service Judge immediately goes
across the court on the opposite side of
the net and stands in front of the Service
Judge’s chair and has a shuttle(s) ready
for the players’ warm up.

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 Umpire Instructions

 To conduct the toss the Umpire takes one

further step into the court.
 Ensure players do not warm up while
doing so particularly in doubles and that all
the players are on the Umpire’s side of the
court
 Do not turn around and face the Umpire’s
chair whilst conducting the toss.
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 Umpire Instructions

 Do not let the coin drop to the floor.

 Clearly indicate who has won the toss.
 The Umpire should get into the Umpire’s
chair immediately after the toss. Do not
touch the players’ bags or boxes.
 The 2 minute warm-up starts when you sit
on the Umpire’s chair and ends with “love
all, play”.
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 Umpire/SJ Instructions

 Take a moment to look around the court

to ensure that everything is correct.
 The Service Judge should only sit down
on their chair once the Umpire is in their
chair.

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 Umpire Instructions

 You should have your stopwatch ready to

record any interruption of play such as
injury, suspension of play, etc.
 Do not have your stopwatch hanging
round your neck. A wrist watch is
preferred.
 Your yellow and red cards should not be
visible.
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 Umpire Instructions

 In singles matches, when scoresheets are

used, only write the « S » on the score-
sheet for the server but write a « 0 »
score for both the server and the receiver
for all games.
 In doubles matches, when scoresheets
are used, write the « S » and the « R »
on the score-sheet to indicate both the
server and the receiver and also write «0»
score for both for the start of all games.
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 Umpire Instructions

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 Umpire Instructions

 At 90 seconds call “Ready to play”-this

indicates to players and spectators that
the match is about to start.
 Check that players’ equipment, bags,
rackets, water bottles, towels, etc. are in
boxes or baskets near the Umpire’s chair.
Nothing is to hang out of their boxes or
over the A boards. It is however ok for a
spare racket to lie on top of their box.

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 Umpire Instructions

 Sit straight in your

chair.
 Do not cross your
legs or feet while
sitting in the
Umpire’s chair.

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 Umpire Instructions

 If a female Umpire is wearing a skirt, it is

then permissible for the Umpire to sit with
their ankles crossed.

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 Umpire Instructions

 If your match is on TV, make sure, if

instructed by the Referee, that you receive
a signal to start each game at the proper
time.
 Confirm before going on court if intervals
are mandatory. – this should have been
covered at Umpires’ briefing.

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 Umpire Instructions

 Do not start your announcement before

the players have finished their practice
serves and they are in their respective
courts ready to play.
 In singles, as a part of their practice, the
players, if they wish, may serve twice -
once from each service court.

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 Umpire Instructions

 When starting your announcement, extend

your right arm, pointing it downward to
indicate and announce the player(s) on
your right.
 Extend the left arm pointing it downward to
indicate and announce the player(s) on
your left.
 No extension of the arm is necessary to
announce which side is serving.
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 Umpire Instructions

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 Umpire Instructions

 While making any announcement keep

your head up. You may raise the score-
sheet to announce but do not cover your
face with it.

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 Umpire Instructions

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 Umpire Instructions

 Do not begin your announcement at the

start of a match if another announcement
is being made. Make sure there is a pause
between « love all » and « play ». Only
say « play » when the players are ready.
 Delay your announcement of the score
until the crowd noise subsides unless it will
delay the start of the next rally.
 All announcements must be correct, clear
and audible.
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 Umpire Instructions

 As soon as the service is delivered, have a

quick look at the Service Judge. The noise
of the spectators can be so loud that it is
the only way to know if a service fault call
has been made.
 After a quick look at the Service Judge
then follow the shuttle in play.

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 Umpire Instructions

When writing the score onto your scoresheet,

do it quickly so that you are looking at your
court and players most of the time. Do
exactly the same if you are using an
electronic score pad.

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 Umpire Instructions

 Have a quick look at the scoring device

located at ends of the court every time in
between rallies to be sure scores are
correct.

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 Umpire Instructions

 If it is wrong, ensure that it is immediately

corrected or, if this cannot be done quickly,
ensure the players know it is no longer
being used and inform the Referee of it
accordingly.

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 Umpire Instructions

Change of shuttle:
 If both players agree, acknowledge by
making a «yes» sign with your head or
extend an open hand towards your
Service Judge. If one player does not
want to change the shuttle, you need to
give your decision without asking for the
shuttle to be brought to you. Note that a
player, whether serving or receiving, may
ask for a shuttle change.

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 Umpire Instructions

 Players should not test a shuttle without

your permission.
 You should follow the Referee’s instruction
at briefing with regard to tipping or
changing the speed of the shuttle.
 If mopping is needed, say « wipe the
court ».
 Do not point to the spot but get the
player(s) to indicate where the court needs
mopping.
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 Umpire Instructions

 During mopping allow the players to towel off

or to have a drink, if the situation permits.
 Players should be back on court as soon as
mopping is finished.
 It is permitted for players to have a quick
towel down between rallies provided there is
no delay of play.
 Ensure that one side is not allowed to be
consistently slow in preparing to
serve/receive.
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 Umpire/SJ Instructions

 At the intervals, immediately after

announcing the score, request the
mopping of the court – do not waste time
as there are often feathers and sweat on
the court.
 During the two-minute interval at the end
of a game, the Service Judge walks to the
Umpire’s chair, stands beside it and faces
the court.

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 Umpire Instructions

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 Umpire/SJ Instructions

 If you or the immediate area around the

Umpire’s chair is wired with microphones
for the media, be careful about what you
discuss with your Service Judge at
intervals, after a game or with a player any
time during a match.

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 Umpire Instructions

 During intervals at the end of a game, do

not ask players in doubles who is going to
serve or receive in the next game. You
should not assume that it is the same as in
the previous game.
 Note that the interval is there for coaching
purposes. Best practice – identify
server/receiver by observing their
positions only.

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 Umpire Instructions

 Keep the interval time correctly.

 During the intervals, always be aware
where the players are. Speak to player(s)
if coach is not leaving the courtside after
the call of « 20 seconds »
 Also be aware of possible "Service Court
Errors" after a break in play, e.g. intervals,
towelling down and change of ends.
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Umpire Instructions

 Immediately following the last rally of the

game, call: «Game».

 Make sure to record the end time of the

match.

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 Umpire Instructions

 Your announcement at the end of a match

must be done after you shake hands with
the players. Smile if appropriate.

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 Umpire Instructions

 After your final announcement get out of

your chair as soon as possible and with
your Service Judge walk to the exit point
of the court.
 Wait with your Service Judge at the exit
point of the court for your Line Judges
and court attendants and then exit the
court and FOP as a team.

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 Umpire Instructions

 Thanking of court officials at the end of a

match should be done after you have left
the court and its surroundings.
 Complete the score-sheet, if you have
used a paper copy, after leaving the court.
(e.g., adding up the shuttles used, time
elapsed for the match, etc.)

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 Umpire Instructions

 If a warning and/or fault has been called

during the match, report details at bottom
or on back of score-sheet and advise the
Referee.
 As quickly as possible, have your score-
sheet signed by the Referee.
 If an electronic scorepad has been used,
then only collect the printed scoresheet if
there has been an incident(s) which has to
to be brought to the Referee’s attention.
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 Umpire Instructions

 Informally (or formally if flagrant) warn

players where there is:
• Undue delay in play;
• Throwing sweat onto the court surface;
• Leaving court without permission,
except during intervals.

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 Umpire Instructions

 Listen carefully to a request/complaint and

make a quick decision
 Call loudly and authoritatively (even if
nervous) at all times
 Make clear any decision by using the
relevant call/vocabulary (e.g. “you touched
the net” or “ change the shuttle”) and
where appropriate use clear and firm
gestures
 Sit alertly in the chair
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 Umpire Instructions

 If you disagree with a line call, immediately

after the line call, overrule the call by
saying “Correction IN” or “Correction OUT”
followed by “Service Over” as appropriate,
then the new score.
 Where IRS is in use, any challenge made
by a player must be done immediately.

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 Umpire Instructions
Vocabulary that must be used for result(s)
of IRS challenge:
 Challenge successful then call “Correction
IN” or “Correction OUT” (as appropriate)
followed by “Service over” as appropriate,
then the score, and finally call “Play”.
 Challenge unsuccessful then call
“ Challenge unsuccessful”(“one” or “no” as
appropriate) challenge remaining”.
“Service over” as appropriate, then the
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score, and finally call “Play”.
 Umpire Instructions

 If the result of a challenge is “No decision”

then the original, challenged decision
stands.

 If following a call of “Unsighted”, by a

Line Judge, IRS gives “No decision” then
a “LET” shall be played.

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 Umpire Instructions

 A player should not be allowed to influence,

whether by calling or gesture, any line
calls.

 A player should not be allowed to protest

or dispute a call OR argue with a Line
Judge without at least an informal warning

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 Service Judge Instructions

 It is no longer necessary for the net to be

measured before the start of a match.
 Should the net appear to be low then the
arena staff can be called, preferably during
intervals to adjust the net height.

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 Service Judge Instructions

 Do not cross your legs or feet

while sitting on your chair.
 Your hands should be rested
in a comfortable position in
front of you.
 If a female Umpire wears a
skirt, it is then permissible for
the Service Judge to sit with
ankles crossed.

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 Service Judge Instructions

 Do not hand out warm up shuttles until all

players have exercised their choice(s)
arising from the toss.
 Do not keep the tube of shuttles or a
shuttle in your hands during the match.
 Place the tube next to your chair and just
pull out a shuttle when needed.

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 Service Judge Instructions

 Always receive the used shuttle before

issuing a new one to the player who is
serving.

 If shuttles need to be tipped – do so

discreetly and have no more than 2 or 3
ready for use. Do not tip the entire tube.

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 Service Judge Instructions

 When watching the server, do not follow

the shuttle to the other side.
 Keep your eyes on the server for only a
moment after the serve has been
delivered to see if the serve is legal; then
look at the Umpire (eye contact) and then
you may start to follow the shuttle in play.

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 Service Judge Instructions

 When calling a service fault, the «fault»

should be called loudly with the
appropriate signal being made and held
long enough for the Umpire and players to
see.
 Normally a player should not go to the
Service Judge after a service fault call.The
player must ask the Umpire’s permission
to speak to the Service Judge.

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 Service Judge Instructions
 Work as a team with your Umpire.
 Discreetly assist the Umpire with line calls,
double hits, keeping score, etc.
 At the end of each game, wait for the «game»
call before standing up.
 After the Umpire’s announcement walk to
place the interval indicator (if one is used) in
the middle of court under the net and then go
and stand beside the Umpire’s chair facing
your chair on the side of the Referee’s table,
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unless advised differently.
 Service Judge Instructions

 Only speak with the Umpire if it is

necessary.
 At all mid-game intervals, the Service
Judge should remain in his/her chair.

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 Service Judge Instructions

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 Service Judge Instructions

 At the end of a match, stand up to shake

hands with the players. Do not shake
hands while sitting on your chair. Smile if
appropriate.
 Do not place one or two shuttles on mid
court under the net at the end of a match.
 Once your Umpire has made their final
announcement walk across the court to
join Umpire to leave the court.
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 Umpire/SJ Instructions

 You should refrain from being too friendly

with players or comment on players on
social media.

 All these instructions are of course

subject to any specific directions given by
Referees at their briefings.

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Thank you