“Refereeing is one thing I actually, actually take pleasure in. However it’s difficult, and may be bittersweet.”
Andrea Santamaria is without doubt one of the few feminine referees on the high of the sport. Final 12 months, she was simply one in all two ladies to have refereed at a Platinum occasion on the PSA World Tour. At present, the Yorkshire, England, primarily based official sat down with WSF media to share her recommendation for aspiring referees, in addition to the highs and lows of refereeing on the highest stage.
For Santamaria, who final 12 months oversaw the ultimate of the CIB PSA Black Ball Squash Open and balances her squash profession with being a pharmaceutical technician for the NHS, the enchantment of being a referee is clear.
“We’re very a lot a household that revolves round squash. I really like squash and have at all times performed, since my early teenagers. I simply take pleasure in being concerned within the recreation, the environment, I really like watching the sport, I like enjoying the sport. And I actually do take pleasure in being there and giving again and serving to, as a referee,” she says.
Since rising via the ranks with England Squash, the place she was recognised as squash referee of the 12 months in 2018, Santamaria has officiated matches between among the world’s high gamers on the PSA World Tour.
Reflecting on her time with the World Tour, Santamaria appears again fondly on final 12 months’s Black Ball closing between Nour El Sherbini and Amanda Sobhy, the primary Platinum closing of her profession. “It was a match that basically flowed, with no arguing or making an attempt to con a call. That was an important match for me and a incredible alternative that I used to be given.”
Santamaria provides {that a} flowing and entertaining match is at all times on the forefront of a referee’s thoughts, one thing that isn’t at all times understood by followers. “I feel generally the general public don’t admire what a referee is making an attempt to do. The purpose is to get the sport flowing and make the gamers play, and generally it could seem harsh when a referee is telling a participant they might have reached a ball, however truly that harsh resolution might make for a extremely good recreation,” she explains.
With the shut proximity between followers and referees, with the ability to ignore distractions is without doubt one of the key expertise of a squash referee, Santamaria says. “You’ve bought to have the ability to focus always and block out the general public. As a result of we’re sat within the crowd and all people has bought an opinion on what the choice ought to be. It’s vital that you’re certain in your self. You’ve bought the data, you already know the foundations, so you need to have self perception and never doubt your self. When a referee begins second guessing, that’s when it could go terribly improper.”
One other problem Santamaria faces is one thing she says is a part of a broader cultural concern: the biases feminine officers in squash and different sports activities face. “I feel there’s that, undoubtedly, whether or not folks wish to admit it or not. The tradition is sadly there, and there’s a gender divide and a few folks do see a feminine and suppose ‘Properly, she’s not going to have a clue what she’s doing.’”
The Yorkshirewoman provides that that is one thing that has develop into extra noticeable with the ever-growing prominence of social media, the place merciless feedback can unfold simply.
On coping with these points, Santamaria says an important factor is to by no means take the feedback personally. “I’ve had feedback, and it’s not simple. However in the event you begin taking issues personally, it’s a really tough street to hold on. I had plenty of points once I was new, the place folks would have points with the truth that you’re new and feminine. That’s the place the help from fellow referees was vital. They offer you encouragement and recommendation, how they’ve handled issues and not take it to coronary heart. However for me, it’s not about gender. Abuse on social media for women and men is unacceptable.”
Simply as preserving calm within the face of criticism is important, so too is staying relaxed throughout a heated match. “Let’s face it, when we now have a canine’s dinner of a match and also you’ve bought two gamers shouting, it’s not good for the game,” Santamaria says.
She provides that when gamers have gotten pissed off, both in the direction of one another or the referee, the secret is to maintain calm and make issues as clear as potential. “Generally, you need to attempt to defuse a scenario one way or the other. If issues are getting heated, take into consideration the reasons that you simply give and attempt to assist the gamers perceive. It’s not at all times simple when the pink mist comes over, so try to make issues so simple as potential and hit that reset button and begin once more.”
Moreover with the ability to block out distractions and hold calm below strain, Santamaria says whole confidence in your personal data of the foundations is important: “The World Squash Officiating website is nice and I hold mentioning it to everybody. I feel it’s a extremely good website for everybody, ranging from juniors to anybody wanting to actually get a grip on guidelines. There are nice clips on there that designate the reasoning behind choices, from all ranges from from simple choices to very tough and technical choices. It’s a completely incredible web site and must be your first port of name if you’re focused on refereeing.”
After WSO, Santamaria says the subsequent factor anybody desirous to get entangled in refereeing ought to do is search for programs or converse with a referee at an occasion. “If anybody, feminine or male, involves an occasion and I’m there, I’m more than pleased to take a seat down and have a chat to share somewhat little bit of what I’ve accomplished and the way I’ve gone about it. Particularly at junior occasions, come alongside to the referee’s room and are available and have a chat and we will type out having you sit with us and observe and get you on that pathway to changing into a referee.”
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