The SDA THREE-REFEREE SYSTEM
• The Three-Referee System uses a Central Referee (CR) and two Line Judges (LJ).
• The CR, who is also the Marker, controls the match and alone decides all other matters eg. time-periods, player conduct, injury, court conditions, etc., NONE of which may be appealed by the player.
• For all matches (except Semifinals* and Final matches) players are responsible for refereeing matches according to the following schedule:
Two players from the losing team and one player from the winning team are required to referee the match directly after their One player from the losing team is required to be the central referee. All three players must be in place and ready to start officiating the match within five minutes of completion of their match.
For the first match of each round, the players from the last match of the day in that round are responsible for refereeing. Two players from the lower-seeded team and one player from the higher-seeded team need to be in place and ready to start officiating the match at the scheduled match time. One player from the lower-seeded team serves as Central Referee.
• For main draw Semi-Final and Final matches the following schedule applies: First Semifinal: Central referee will be the On-Site. One member from each team from the second semi-final is responsible for line judging. Second Semifinal: Central referee will be the On-Site The two losing players from the first semifinal are responsible for line judging.Final: On-Site Rep will act as center referee and is responsible for finding two LJs
* for Challenger event semi finals, players are responsible for reffing
• Where possible, the two LJs should be seated behind the back wall in line with the inside line of the service box on each side.
• When a player requests a Let, all three referees must decide simultaneously and independently. The CR announces the decision of the three referees without revealing the individual decisions or whether it was a unanimous or a majority decision. (Note: In the event of three different decisions, the final decision will be Yes Let)
• The following hand signals are to be used:
Let = Thumb and forefinger in the shape of an “L”
Stroke = Clenched fist
No Let = Hand held out flat, palm downwards
Ball Down/ Not Up / Out = Thumb down
Up/In = Thumb up
• When a player appeals against a call (or no call) of Down, Not Up, Out, or Fault by the CR, all three referees must decide simultaneously and independently. Decision is announced by CR.
• If the CR or either LJ believes a ball to be down, out, or not up, they shall raise their hand. If the CR sees two of the three hands raised, they shall stop play and the call will be determined instantly using the hand signals listed below.
• Players may not address the LJs. Dialogue must be kept to a minimum, and decisions may not be debated. LJs do not need to respond to players on the court.