Who are the officials in soft tennis?
A · Advanced · Conduct, officials and events · 6 of 6Each match has a chair umpire and usually a vice umpire, with two linesmen if needed. The chair umpire runs the match from the chair, calls the score and gives final decisions. The vice umpire stands by the net post opposite and judges serves, lines and faults. A referee advises umpires and decides appeals.
How it works
- The jury: the referees and umpires; one referee is the chief referee.
- Per court: four umpires in principle; organisers may use fewer, or players as umpires.
- Chair umpire: seated in the chair; runs the match, calls scores and fills in the score sheet.
- Vice umpire: opposite the chair, 60 cm outside the net post; moves to the service line to judge serves.
- Linesmen: seated at least 5 m outside the sideline, in line with the base line.
- Signals: the vice umpire and linesmen signal line calls and call other decisions aloud.
- Start: greetings at the net, a coin toss, a warm-up of up to one minute, then "Ready" and "Play ball".
- End: "Game set", the result announced at the net and closing greetings.
- Unforeseen cases: the chair umpire rules after consulting the referee.
The glossary has the jury (soft tennis), the referee, the chair umpire, vice umpire and linesmen, the umpire's signals and calls, the start and end of a match and the score sheet.
Tricky cases
Can an umpire be replaced during a match?
Only if they become unable to continue, or if player-umpires would hold up the event.
Who fills in the score sheet?
The chair umpire, marking each point won and lost.
What does "No time" mean?
The chair umpire's call to restart play after a break.
How long is the warm-up?
Usually no more than one minute; the referee may cut it to keep the schedule.
Why the rule exists
A second umpire on the far side sees lines and serves the chair umpire cannot. Formal greetings at the start and end reflect the sport's roots in Japanese etiquette.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full crew | Chair umpire, vice umpire, two linesmen | ISTF U 5 |
| Small events | Players may umpire | ISTF U 2.3 |
| No vice umpire | Chair umpire covers all lines | ISTF U 8(3) |
From the rule book
International Soft Tennis Federation, Technical Rules (web text, site snapshot of 30 January 2024): Rules for Umpiring, articles 2 to 11, 22 to 24; Rules for Competitions, article 45; Rules for Operations of Competitions, article 24. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the ISTF Technical Rules, published on the federation's website.