ACA Umpiring Report Season 2017
Report prepared by Ian Sutherland, September 2017.
I was asked by William Ferguson of ESCOA to take over the umpire allocation for the ACA for season 2017. Though having been away for the previous two seasons umpiring in the SPCU I knew from talking to ACA players and office bearers that all was not well. Captains, players and teams, thelack of discipline and respect towards each other, the opposition and umpires had deteriorated. The knowledge of the Laws was lacking and interpretation of said Laws far worse. The chronic lack of umpires available to the ACA was only partly responsible for this.
Therefore season 2017 umpiring wise was starting from a very low base and could only improve. But this would not happen overnight until more umpires became available. There were only Jim Stephen and Kishor Selakor umpiring in 2016. Whatever happened with the previous organiser Blair Thomson is not for me to say.
Was able to persuade Mike Philip to return to the fold. But still shortage. Only once was I able to get all the Grade 1 games covered with an umpire. More successful in getting the cup semi-finals and finals covered, sometimes with two umpires. Have to thank William for releasing some umpires to help cover in the last few weeks of the season. This allowed the Grade 1 title to be decided and all the Cup Finals covered.
As the leagues at both ends of the tables and the cups became interesting the requests from Clubs to get umpires increased. Unable to accommodate. Interesting to note that often both Clubs who were due to play each other asked for umpires. I tried to find out why this was so, but unfortunately the Clubs would not give reasons. Although there were Captains and Umpires reports available for them a pattern would emerge of what the problems are. Is it all Clubs or just one or two?
I am afraid to state that the behaviour of Clubs did not improve much during the season. My own experience in standing at the Grade 2 game between Sipaya CC and Grampian CC has been documented elsewhere. Not an experience I wish to have again. Unfortunately this does not seem to be an isolated event.
The Cup Finals passed peacefully due to the mix of umpires send to cover. The umpires selected were deliberately chosen for these games.
To move forward the ACA must follow what happens in the more senior leagues
in Scotland:
Post-matchCaptains and Umpires reports to be compulsory, these to be with the ACA by the 5th day after the match. 5 point penalty if not sent in on time;
ESCOA are working on report standardisation for all leagues;
Proper disciplinary procedures adopted and implemented;
Pre-season meetings with the ACA, Captains and Umpires. Attendance by the Captains compulsory. The Captains have to be made aware they are responsible for their teams conduct both on and off the field;
Following of the Laws of Cricket and just importantly The Spirit of the Laws;
With the 2017 Law changes coming into being in October then refresher courses for Umpires to be undertaken;
Clubs informed of the Law changes;
Work closely with ESCOA in umpire training and development;
This may seem a trivial point but all markings on the strip to be brought into line with the Laws.
There is a mileage grant available from Cricket Scotland of £500. An email has been sent out for colleagues to claim if they wish to ensure that this money is used. I know that most of the local guys do not claim, but best this money is used so available in future years. Now able to pay mileage to use umpires from out with the ACA. William is going to allocate to some of the costs of mentoring/development in our area.
I wish to thank the following who umpired in the ACA this season and who endured some of the wettest weather for many a season:
Mike Philip, Jim Stephen, Kishor Selakor, Jason Stark, Thamarai Saravananvt, Steve Murphy,
Stuart Anderson and those refugees from the EPL/SPCU – Steve Scott, Russell Brown, Ian Kennedy and Ian Diamond. Late addition Paul Gray who stood with Kishor at the Turriff Cup Final.