Q & A WITH MARK PEIFER
USA PICKLEBALL MANAGING DIRECTOR OF OFFICIATING
USA Pickleball ’ s new Referee Corner kicks off with a Q & A featuring our Managing Director of Officiating , Mark Peifer . A former nuclear submarine officer , Peifer started playing pickleball after his retirement . He became a Certified Referee in June 2017 and was selected as Chairman of the Rules Committee and USA Pickleball ’ s first Director of Officiating in April 2019 .
USA Pickleball : What is the health of the USA Pickleball Officiating Program ?
Mark Peifer : It ’ s in very good shape . We have over 800 officials from around the country and Canada . USA Pickleball-trained officials are at APP , PPA , NP , and USA Pickleball tournaments .
USAP : As USA Pickleball ’ s Managing Director of Officiating , you ’ ve worked to make training and officials ’ resources more consistent and accessible . What are some of the changes you look back on that are most satisfying ?
MP : First , the work Marsha Freso and her committee did to fundamentally transform our officiating webpage . It ’ s a one-stop shop of every resource officials need . Second , the move toward consistency in how we do things . I ’ m pleased when I see an official from New Jersey announcing , for example , a player timeout the same way an official in Arizona does . Third , the uniformity in how our referees look . The classic white shirts over black bottoms reflect the professionalism we expect of ourselves .
Mark Peifer , left , and his brother Merle at the Consumer Cellular USA Pickleball Newport Beach Championships .
PHOTO BY KATE MOHNS
USAP : What makes a good referee ?
MP : Being a good referee is primarily situational , so we look for two important attributes ; first , the willingness to learn from one ’ s mistakes , not make excuses for those mistakes , but instead share them with others so they can learn from your experience . And second , discernment . We look for people who have a reasoned ability to make judgment calls , not because the rulebook says they can , but because it ’ s the right thing to do for the game .
USAP : What do you wish the average USA Pickleball member knew about the officiating program ?
MP : The sense of community we have ; of belonging to a group of like-minded friends . Every official is a product of the same USA Pickleball training program . That is a powerful bonding experience , resulting in instant friendships . We are constantly learning from one another .
USAP : Being an official is known to be both rewarding and challenging . How can someone become one ?
mpeifer @ usapickleball . org and I ’ ll get them in touch with a local referee trainer . I look forward to having my email flooded with requests .
Newly Certified Referees Welcome to the new certified referees ( through Aug . 15 , 2022 ). Bob Babcock , Florida Patty Daley , Delaware Drew DeHennis , Texas Roberta Diles , Oregon Elizabeth Folk , British Columbia Andrea Gately , Florida Isabelle Gautier , Quebec Elaine Guest , Washington Howard ( H ) Hepworth , Utah Georg Hernandez , Arizona Brett Hutlas , Florida Rod Johnston , Arizona Paul Lebarron , New York Don Morgan , Florida James Otto , Texas Bob Philip , Alberta Michael Nelekona , Kentucky Sandy Reetz , Utah Ken Reynolds , Arizona Les Self , Alabama Gary Shaunessey , Arizona Onisha Smith , Arizona Karin Sobotta , Arizona Maria Urban , New York Dale Van Scoyk , Wisconsin Bill Wallace , Idaho Tom Richardson , Georgia Laura Smart , New Mexico Trish Winrow , Florida
Referee Corner
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2022 | MAGAZINE 81