|
Post by swerveman on Aug 10, 2006 21:45:57 GMT
|
|
|
Post by nompere on Dec 22, 2006 8:22:09 GMT
I understand that ECBOA are inviting instructors to announce their courses by 05jan07. These are likely to be based on MCC's OLM but instructors will have to pay in advance for copies for candidates.
Please advertise any such courses on this Bulletin Board.
|
|
|
Post by johnfgolding on Dec 29, 2006 7:48:25 GMT
Swerveman is correct about ECB accepting entries to their Level 2 with a GL-5 (but for a limited time). I too will still go on for GL-4 to gain the experience, although the ACU&S need to think through their GL-5 exam - see my comments elsewhere, which left candidates and examiners not knowing how the exam will be marked creating a lot of extra, unnecessary pressure.
Difficult to get ones head around the ECBOA requiring material to be purchased before examiners have sight of it. How will the examiners structure their courses and encourage potential candidates? Will wait and see what they come back with to clarify this.
|
|
|
Post by swerveman on Dec 29, 2006 23:20:36 GMT
My local ACU&S branch has a meeting with Chris Kelly next Wednesday week (10th January). I'll post anything I can glean from this.
I have purchased the MCC Open Learning Manual through Acumen. It is actually quite interesting, and I can see it helping towards my GL4.
Best wishes for a happy new year.
|
|
|
Post by johnfgolding on Dec 30, 2006 7:41:20 GMT
I also had the purchased the manual through Acumen. I found it helped greatly with my revision. I got someone to read the questions at random.
I useful back up for the GL-5 course, I recently undertook.
|
|
|
Post by swerveman on Jan 11, 2007 11:54:57 GMT
Chris Kelly spoke to the Sussex ACUS last night. The date for the read-across of ACUS grades has been extended to 31st March, but most of what he said just served to back up the document referred to above.
The general impression given, and accepted by the majority, was that this is an irresistible force.
I still see merit in taking the GL4, though, and on to Qualified Member - Umpire.
|
|
|
Post by johnfgolding on Jan 12, 2007 8:03:40 GMT
Did he comment that the ECB are requiring payment for the material before potential instructors have sight of them?
It could be correct that there is real momentum towards the ECB scheme. Like you I plan to pursue GL-4 to gain ACU&S Qualified status, but with my recent GL-5 experience the ACU&S are doing their level best to put people off gaining further qualifications. (see my notes elswhere). I can say that in my region there are very many upset people who took GL-5, have not a clue as to how it will be marked (nor did the examiner) and are awaiting nerviously for the envelope. The whole experience was unsettling for candidates, instructors and examiners. I thought the objective was to encourage umpires to progress.
|
|
|
Post by Acumen on Jan 13, 2007 11:09:44 GMT
As administrator of this board, I do try to stay out of the discussions but I do feel that I should point out that the demand for books from many parts of the country from instructors starting ACU&S courses seems slightly greater than this time last year.
I am sorry if anyone has had a bad experience with a particular examiner or REO. In that case, please approach the Chairman of Exam Board. exams@acus.org.uk
ACU&S has a subscription that enables umpires and scorers to help recruit and train other volunteers as well as keeping themselves up to date (the modern trend of Continuing Professional Development in many occupations).
In fact my employer pays for such courses for my profession, so if ECB wishes to take this responsibility from ACU&S then they should not expect individuals to pay.
My own league, in common with many others, finds it so hard to recruit umpires that it is impossible to impose a condition that everyone must join ACU&S (or ECBOA) although they encourage new recruits to take the courses and exams.
Will Swerveman's league actually sack umpires who do not join ECBOA?
I would regard the passing of GL4 as an absolute minimum for new appointments to Premier League and am very disappointed that ECBOA should have lowered their standards.
Has anyone heard of any ECBOA courses actually starting yet?
Colin
|
|
|
Post by Anon on Jan 13, 2007 15:19:04 GMT
ACU'S has been training umpires since 1953, I think they have more knowledge than ECB or ICUS. Swerveman, who hides behind a nick name and Mr. Golding, seem very happy to slate ACU'S, yet still intend to gain their full member status, bizarre? The idea of exams being tough is not to discourage membership, but to ensure that the members they have, are highly trained and tested, to be worthy of the title "Qualified Umpire". You comment on quality of video, has it not occurred to you that this may be deliberate? as on the field of play things are not always clear, the message here is don't believe all you see but go on what you hear as well, and the facts before you. Were you not told on the exam slide what was happening as well as shown a visual description? A good umpire will be concentrating and will use his skill on what he sees and hears (in the case what you hear is the written scenario on the slide). your comments do nothing to improve the situation but you are both actively encouraging members away from ACU'S. I assume this is your intention? If I were an examiner on your GL4 I don't think you would pass!!! If either of you have a genuine complaint then contact the appropriate body. I am aware that the examiner concerned refutes Mr. Golding's comments, that he was not sure how to mark the answer sheet. I suggest if you two are bored then perhaps some light reading would help, say Tom Smith's then maybe you will be worthy of a title Qualified Umpire, the question is will ACU'S want you, as ACU'S only elevate those members who show that they have proved that they are worthy of this prestigious title. Of course you can join ECB OA but their grading is far inferior to that of ACU'S, would not mean as much as an ACU'S qualification. Just take a look at their first class umpires. Yes I am a Qualified umpire, when I sat my exam, the equivalent of the now GL5, we had to sit for 2 1/2 hours writing our answers not knowing whether we were writing to much or too little. Not everybody passes first time then or now, the sooner you realize it's not going to be given to you on a plate the sooner you are on the road to being better umpires. A qualification only means something if you have had to work for it, circling a,b,or c is hardly challenging? Be men stop whining and get on with it.
|
|
|
Post by swerveman on Jan 13, 2007 22:37:26 GMT
As a matter of fact, the league I currently stand in is not a Premier league and does not require GL4 or full membership. There is no suggestion that anyone will be sacked. I believe the Sussex County League does, indeed, require a minimum of GL4, and that seems to me to be perfectly reasonable; I have no idea what the position will be in the future.
There are no ECBOA courses currently available in Sussex.
I may be hiding behind a nickname, but Mr Anon (who's hiding now?) should realise that's a perfectly normal state of affairs in a message board of this sort. My real identity is known to the administrator, Acumen (another nickname).
I'm not actually encouraging members away from ACU&S. I've already stated I intend to carry through to Qualified Member - Umpire. As for reading, I read the Third and Fifth editions of Tom Smith's before even becoming a member. They helped carry me through a season of league umpiring (low level, of course) prior to my first training course. GL6 followed before my second season, GL5 before my third, this time on a proper panel, and I'm currently awaiting the date for my GL4. To help pass the time, I'm currently working my way through the MCC Open Learning Manual, and I've also been through R S Rait Kerr's "The Laws of Cricket, Their History and Growth" and two editions of his "Cricket Umpiring and Scoring", the forerunner of Tom Smith's.
I really am trying to be good at this, Mr Anon, and joining ECBOA in the first place was just a bit of insurance in case the already qualified umpires actually managed to destroy ACU&S. I shall remain a member of ACU&S as long as it, and I, exist, and I hope that's going to be a very long time. I do, however, get the distinct impression that the ECB really do mean to run umpiring in this country.
As well as league cricket, I also stand for my club's two colts sides and in the local schools' Kwik Cricket competitions. I had to take five days' holidays for the Kwik Cricket. Last season, I also stood in a county girls under 11 match and in two Sussex Junior Cricket Festival finals.
I'm sure Colin will give you my real name and email address if you ask him. Perhaps we could have a chat.
|
|