Umpires Courses: Overview & Administration
In 2008 there were significant changes to the Awarding Body of qualifications for umpires and scorers and ICC Europe has had to change its structure accordingly.
The major change has been the setting up of the ECB Association of Cricket Officials (ECB ACO) and ICC Europe, not only is one of six regions which has a vote on its national board but, also, has a role to ensure that European needs are met and that its European members get the best education possible.
The whole emphasis on education of Officials is now on a competency based ideal, as opposed to a knowledge based one. It has always been our policy, within Europe, to look at officiating in this Ôpractical' way and so this fundamental change is good news for all our members.
The major change, for us, is how to customise our Courses to fit the new requirements.
ICC Europe Level 1 Umpire Award (ECB ACO accredited)
This Course (for content details see ICC Europe Level 1 Umpire Award) deals with the basis Laws and includes fieldcraft and umpiring technique. It is a PowerPoint based course with photographs and graphics used to assist the learning process.
The Exam is in two parts - a visual exam followed by an oral one. The exam is designed so that there is no writing to be done. Visual questions are multiple choices and the oral is a one-to-one discussion with the examiner. There is no requirement for the student to write in English.
This Course and Examination are accredited by the ECB ACO.
Requirements
| Venue: | a classroom, lecture room, type facility is essential. Students should be able to sit at desk/tables. |
| Timing: | The Course runs for approx. 14 hours spread over a weekend (it is recommended that the following timetable be followed:
2 hours on Friday evening, 8 hours on Saturday, 4 hours on Sunday)
The Exam is taken at the end of the Course on Sunday afternoon. |
| Student numbers: | Minimum number is 6; Maximum number is 12.
If more than 12 it will necessary to send two Tutors to run the Course/Exam but this will have an impact on the costs - see Costs below. |
| Equipment: | The ICC Europe Tutor will provide a laptop computer and projector.
The host country must provide a white projector screen. |
| Resources: | Each student will be given: a Course Manual; Tom Smith's New Cricket Umpiring and Scoring book; MCC Law Book. |
| Costs: | As from January 2009 ICC Europe will pay the following costs:
ICC European Tutor(s) fees: Tutor(s) flights: Course Manuals: Tom Smith's book: MCC Law Book:
The host country will pay for: Tutor(s) accommodation, meals and transport whilst in the host country. |
ECB ACO Level 2 Umpire Award (ICC Europe)
At this stage the ICC Europe and the ECB Association of Cricket Officials (ECB ACO) join forces and administer the Course and Exam together. (For content details see ECB ACO Level 2 Certificate for Sports Officials in Cricket - Umpire).
The Course is a mixture of revision work from the ICC Europe Level 1: new work on Laws not previously covered: plus new work relating to officiating (not necessarily cricket based).
The Exam is a visual based one with multiple choice/selection answers. There is no requirement for the student to write in English.
The Qualification is completed by the successful accomplishment of an on-field assessment of the students umpiring skills.
Requirements
| Venue: | a classroom, lecture room, type facility is essential. Students should be able to sit at desk/tables. |
| Timing: | The Course runs for approx 18 hours plus practice and assessment. It is envisaged that this Course, and subsequent qualification, will be a residential one lasting between 5-7 days.
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| Student numbers: | Minimum number is 10 and the maximum number is 16.
To apply for a place on this Course the Country Representative must contact the ICC Europe Office with details and they will advise if and when places are available.
It is not necessary for each Country to provide 10 students. Please advise the Europe Office how many places you require and the names will be added to the waiting list. However, all requests must have been previously catered for in your Country's Development Plan.
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| Equipment: | ICC Europe Office will provide a laptop computer and projector. |
| Resources: | Each student will be given: Course notes.
Having already attended the ICC Europe Level 1 Course the student will be expected to bring his/her Course Manual and Tom Smith's book with them. |
| Costs: | As from January 2009 ICC Europe will pay all costs relating to the residential Course. This includes students' flights: accommodation: breakfast and lunch: tutor and Course Registration fees.
The student (either personally or with assistance from their Country Board) will pay ICC Europe a Registration/participation fee of between £100 - £200. They will also have to pay for their own social costs such as bar bills, evening dinner etc.
(Please note that ICC Europe will only pay for the exam the first time a student takes it. If a re-take is necessary the cost of this subsequent exam has to be borne by the student or host country.) |
'On-field' Boundary Assessments
Although these Ôon-field assessments' are included within the Level 2 qualification ICC Europe strongly recommend that they also be undertaken at other times during an umpire's career. Whilst classroom qualifications are essential they are not the only criteria that are taken into consideration when deciding upon an umpire's competence. It is vital that help is given to the umpire while (s)he is actually performing the role, on the field. It must be appreciated that this area of education is just as important as the classroom work and Countries are encouraged to use the ICC Europe Assessor's skills to the utmost
For full details of the Boundary Assessment process - see Boundary Assessment of Umpires.
Requirements
| Venue: | Situations where the ICC Europe Assessor can watch umpires perform in good quality matches. - e.g league matches, cup matches, Representative matches. |
| Timing: | Normally weekends but can be undertaken at any time.
Minimum time: 2 days. There is no maximum time. |
| Student numbers: | Minimum number would be 4 - over a 2 day weekend the Assessor should be able to observe a minimum of 2 umpires per day.
Maximum number would depend on the nature of the event and the number of matches taking place during the scheduled visit. |
| Costs: | As from January 2009 ICC Europe will pay the following costs:
ICC Europe Assessor fees: Assessor's flights.
The host country will pay for: ICC Europe Assessor's accommodation, meals and transport whilst in the host country.
IIf the Annual Support Programme Fund do not have the grants available the Course can still be held but the host country will have to pay all costs. |
How to apply for any stage of Umpire Education
Requests for any of the above Courses must be channelled through the Country Board, via their Development Plan. The ICC Europe Office cannot deal with individual requests or requests from individual Umpire Associations.
Comparisons between ICC Europe/ACU&S/ECB ACO umpire qualifications
- ICC Europe Level 1 = ECC Introductory Umpire = ECB ACO Level 1
- ECB ACO Level 1 (L1 Certificate for Sports Officials in Cricket - Umpire) = ACU&S GL6
- ECB ACO Level 2 (L2 Certificate for Sports Officials in Cricket - Umpire) = ACU&S GL5
- ECB ACO Level 2 (L2 Certificate for Sports Officials in Cricket - Umpire) = ACU&S GL4
- ECB ACO Level 2 (L2 Certificate for Sports Officials in Cricket - Umpire) = ACU&S Special Overseas
- ECB ACO Level 2 (L2 Certificate for Sports Officials in Cricket - Umpire) = ACU&S Full Qualified Umpire
