13.) A change to the 40 second clock rule concerning the credentials of the clock operator.

This is a rule change:         40 second rule 

“The Technical Commissioner shall be the clock operator. 

Replace above removed language with –

“A trained volunteer shall be the clock operator.” 

The USQRRA is not and has not been staffed to perform this duty, nor can tournaments afford to pay (25% more for 2 courts) for extra referees, even if there were enough people available. For example, 14 refs were needed for this year's Nationals, and that is precisely the number that were eligible to ref there. 

The proposal is to have the 40-second clock run by volunteers, like the score sheet and game clock. The volunteers will be trained and supervised by the referees and TC just like we have done thus far. With proper training, it can be done well, as it was at Nationals in 2007.   The more experience we get, the better it will get.