Miriam Bley - pioneer among German referees
Since the beginning of the 2020 season, there has been a referee on the WTA tour for the first time who has reached the highest level (“gold badge”).
by tennisnet.com
last edit: May 13, 2020, 07:49 am
Norbert Peick can confidently be considered a legend in tennis circles. Peick has traveled the world as a referee in the past few years, has been involved in this activity for the Davis Cup from Austria against Australia in autumn 2018 as well as for the two previous European editions of the Laver Cup, 2017 in Prague and last year in Geneva. However, Norbert Peick also plays a decisive role in the promotion of a German compatriot to the top ranks of professional referees: Miriam Bley.
"I led a match at the regional championships in my hometown and nothing happened after that for months," Bley said in a detailed interview with the WTA website. “But in January 2006, Norbert Peick had just retired as a grand slam supervisor and he introduced a program for the development of young referees in my state.
Not in the mood for tennis training
“Norbert came to me and asked me whether I would like to take part and become part of this Bavarian junior research group. And I thought to myself: "Why not?" Then things went really quickly, "said Bley, who was studying teaching at the University of Würzburg for sports and English. And at the same time was also active as a tennis player in the fourth or fifth league. Bley finally obtained her state license in August 2006 at the German team championships.
Now, more than a decade later, Miriam Bley has reached the highest level of professional refereeing in tennis: Before the 2020 season, the 35-year-old was the first woman from Germany to be awarded the "Gold Badge" rank. Even though she didn't know at the beginning of her career that you could have a professional career as a referee.
Bley on the road for 30 weeks
Obviously Bley made the right decision for himself. "I never wanted to be a tennis coach. I did a couple of summer camps during my college days, or helped out at my home club when someone got sick. When I got my first coaching license at the lowest level, I was recommended for the next higher one, but I didn't want that. ”
In any case, the job of a referee suits one of her preferences - the desire to travel. And already as a "Silver Badge" -Umpire Miriam Bley was on the road for about 30 weeks a year. In the service of the WTA, of course. Even if her friends still think she's going around the world as a vacationer.