Referee on the international padel circuit while pursuing his tennis career, Tom Durand-Viel He is part of this new generation of officials who are accompanying the growth of the sport. He is present at several tournaments on the circuit. FIP He recounts his very young beginnings in refereeing, the demands of the profession and the differences between tennis and padel.
A vocation that was born very early
Tom's story with refereeing begins almost by chance. At only 13 years He climbed onto a chair for the first time during interclub matches at his club.
« My first chair, I was 13 years old. It was in my club to help out at interclub matches. »
Very quickly, the experience became much more than just a helping hand. He continued to referee in his club for a few years before joining the competitions of his regional league.
« It was truly a passion. »
After his studies, he decided to dedicate himself fully to refereeing. Since then 2019 It became his main activity.
One foot in tennis, the other in padel
Although padel now occupies a growing place in his calendar, tennis remains his main sport today.
« For now, 80% of my weeks are still spent on tennis. »
The rest of his time is split between padel and, more occasionally, pickleball. This diversification reflects the current evolution of racket sports.
« I am gradually starting to come to the padel circuits as well, on the French circuits and the FIP circuits. »
Refereeing at the highest level
What motivates Tom in this profession is above all the proximity to high-level sport. Refereeing allows him to be at the heart of the circuit and to observe professional players very closely.
« What motivates me most is being in contact with these professional players and being part of the circuit. »
Travel is also part of everyday life.
« Being able to travel and approach this very high level is something incredible. »
Tennis and padel: two very different refereeing systems
Although the two sports share some common foundations, refereeing has several particularities depending on the discipline.
In padel, some trajectories can be difficult to read.
« The difficulty of padel is when the ball is played straight and you have to see if the ball has hit the net properly. »
The quality of service also requires constant attention.
« It is also important to see if they are used below the hip. »
In tennis, the complexity comes more from the context of the match.
« You can referee with linesmen, with ball boys… it brings many more situations. »
Despite these differences, Tom remains adamant:
« Both are difficult to arbitrate. »
Adapting to the new rules
Like the players, referees must also adapt to changes in the rules. The appearance of the star point This is an example of what happens in certain padel competitions.
The referee's role is then to help the players clearly identify the situation.
« We need to announce it so that the players know it's a star point. »
Information that can influence strategy.
« Playing for a decisive point is not the same as playing for a regular tie. »
Paths that intersect between tennis and padel
Over the years, Tom has sometimes been surprised to find players at padel tournaments whom he had refereed much earlier… in tennis.
He particularly remembers having refereed Carla Toully et Léa Godallier during the French youth championships.
« It was in 2012, during my first French championships as a referee. »
Years later, meeting them again on the padel circuit inevitably creates a certain emotion.
« It's quite funny to see players we knew when they were very young again. It brings back a lot of memories. »
Keep a safe distance from the players
On the circuit, referees regularly encounter the same players. But a certain distance is still necessary to guarantee impartiality.
« We need to maintain a certain distance from the players. »
The exchanges remain cordial, but the relationship must remain professional.
« We can discuss things amongst ourselves, but we must remain neutral in order to arbitrate properly. »
A routine before each match
Before getting on the chair, Tom always follows a very specific routine.
« I like to get into my game about half an hour beforehand. »
This moment allows him to concentrate and observe the players.
« I look at the players, their coaches and their behavior for those I don't know yet. »
Essential preparation to approach the match with the necessary concentration.
Managing tensions on the court
In a high-level match, tensions can arise quickly. For Tom, the key remains communication.
« We need to listen to the players first and then explain our point of view. »
The referee must above all remain calm.
« The players are already "hot and bothered", so there's no point in adding to it. »
Advice for young referees
Tom regularly meets young referees who wish to follow the same path. His first piece of advice is to keep a security guard nearby.
« I always advise having studies alongside it. »
Refereeing remains a highly competitive field.
« There are many people for very few places at the highest level. »
According to him, progress also involves constant questioning.
« You must always question yourself and strive to improve. »
Goals for the future
Like the players, the referees also set themselves goals for the season.
After having officiated in several categories of FIP tournaments — bronze, silver, gold and platinum — Tom now hopes to take the next step.
« My goal in padel would be to referee at a P1 or P2 level. »
He cites several events that could mark this progression.
« Maybe Bordeaux… or a tournament abroad if I apply. »
A logical ambition for an experienced referee who continues to climb the ranks in a rapidly expanding sport.
Full interview
Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!
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