Stephanie ZhangFrom the recent Oscar-nominated movie Marty Supreme starring Timothée Chalamet, there has been a heightened interest in table tennis, bringing many people into the sport. As interest grows, it’s important to recognize that table tennis isn’t just a recreational sport — there’s a serious competitive side to it as well.
Over winter break in January, I umpired at the USA Table Tennis Junior National Ranking Tournament in San Jose, Calif. This was a five-day tournament and one of the few tournaments where athletes have the chance to make the national youth team. It was a great learning experience as I was able to meet experienced umpires and gain more umpiring experience.
How It All Started
My journey in table tennis began when I was about 11 years old, thanks to my younger brother. He was interested in the sport, and I joined him simply to get some exercise. Over time, what started as a fun activity turned into a genuine passion. I eventually began competing in tournaments and fell in love with the competitive side of the sport.
A few years ago, while competing at Nationals, I was introduced to umpiring. I admired how the officials kept matches organized and running smoothly, and I became curious about the logistics behind their work. One thing led to another, and that curiosity grew into action — ultimately leading me to become an umpire myself.
Background: Selection of the Youth National Team
The Youth National Team Selection Process marks the first of three opportunities for junior athletes to compete for a spot on the Youth National Team. Only those in the top eight rankings of their age category are selected and officially join the national team.
At this tournament, there were more than 300 athletes competing in 10 events. Due to the high stakes, umpires were required in the final stages of each event to ensure each athlete followed the rules of table tennis.
The Selection Process for Umpires
To be selected for these types of events, umpires must fill out an application related to their level of experience. The USA Umpire and Referee Committee for table tennis then reviews the applications and selects the umpires. For this tournament, only six umpires were selected from different regions across the United States and were flown to California.
Being selected is a significant honor. This was a five-star tournament — the highest level for table tennis tournaments — and a Youth Ranking Tournament. This means the level and intensity were elevated compared to a typical event.
The other umpires present had years of experience over me. As the youngest umpire, I had the opportunity to watch how they operate and deal with different situations. The senior umpires were all willing to help me and provided me with tips on how to be a better umpire.
An Umpire’s Duties
My main job was to control all activities within a single court. Before the matches started, I checked the net, table, and player rackets to make sure there was no faulty equipment. During the match, I kept track of the score, calling it out after every point and indicating the service order. I also watched for illegal serves and illegal coaching and made sure that both players were playing fairly and following the rules of table tennis. These athletes may represent the United States in international events, and it was important that we held their serves and sportsmanship to a high standard.
When I was not on the court, my task was to enforce the rules of the playing area. Due to the intensity of this tournament, it was common for athletes, parents, and coaches to get frustrated. Umpires not actively umpiring were required to keep an eye on the venue, making sure there was no crowding that could distract players in a match.
I also had the opportunity to work at the control desk, assisting the referee with posting the draws and assigning tables to the players. This is where my pharmacy skills came into play, specifically my communication skills in accurately delivering information. The control desk was one of the few and quickest ways people could see the draws for the events. Kids and coaches would swarm the desk minutes before the start of an event to check in and ask questions about what to do if they were to advance. Afterwards, parents came to the desk to ask the locations of their children’s matches. During these chaotic times, I had to make sure to iterate the correct group, table, and opponent to each inquirer.
Looking Ahead: The Growth of Table Tennis
What stood out most to me at this event was how quickly the sport is evolving, especially among youth athletes. It was not that long ago when I was competing as a junior, but the skill level that I saw during this tournament was higher than in previous years.
Every year, athletes get stronger at faster rates. I saw players under 13 placing in the top five of older age groups. This really demonstrated how quickly the sport is developing.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to see more people join the sport and enjoy it as interest continues to grow. Being at this tournament gave me a special perspective as an umpire, and I hope I will be given more opportunities to officiate at these high-level tournaments.
