ECB OA Clothing & its Impact

[johnfgolding]

This is a different thread to that I started under Field Equipment.

I have both a set of ACU&S & ECB clothing particularly the ties and outer garments (Blousen & Jacket). I wear them for most matches in no particular order.

Yesterday I stood in a a U13 County ECB Cup match so though it appropiate to wear my striped ECBOA tie and white shirt (it was too warm for a jacket).
My colleague also did the same independentley.

What was interesting was to overhear one of the coaches saying to his team. We are lucky today as we have got two proper umpires!
Hopefully we did not prove him wrong as the match progressed.
But certainly the respect started before the match.

This is NOT an ACU&S V ECBOA posting, just an observation.

[umpire50]

Just out of idle curiosity, does one have to have passed any examination and got through an Assessment Panel to earn the right to wear ECB OA field equipment? Or does one merely have to have joined ECB OA?

The comment from the coach was interesting. I shall be standing in an Under 15 county match later in the season. I wonder if there will be similar comments about my ACU&S kit.

I too am not seeking to enter the ACU&S/ECB OA debate; I merely remain intrigued at the responses to various items of field equipment.

But I do hope that umpires will continue to be judged by the quality of their officiating - rather than their apparel.

[swerveman]

umpire50 said:

Just out of idle curiosity, does one have to have passed any examination and got through an Assessment Panel to earn the right to wear ECB OA field equipment? Or does one merely have to have joined ECB OA?

I think this is a very interesting question.

I've been a member of ACU&S for more than three years, I've passed two exams, and I'm waiting (still) for a GL4 date. In that time, I have bought and paid for every single item of my kit, never being able to get a starter kit because they'd all gone, and no free Post Office coat either, because they'd been nicked from a garage, and I'm not even allowed to buy a sweater with an owl on it because I'm not a full member yet.

Isn't it possible to consider that field equipment is just that, designed to equip you for the job, and not some kind of status symbol? Or am I being too simplistic?

[johnfgolding]

umpire50 said:

Just out of idle curiosity, does one have to have passed any examination and got through an Assessment Panel to earn the right to wear ECB OA field equipment? Or does one merely have to have joined ECB OA?

But I do hope that umpires will continue to be judged by the quality of their officiating - rather than their apparel.

These are interesting and very valid points.
I wonder if the ECB OA will comment.

Of course you can have passed all the exams that anyone puts in front of you but it is true to say that it is your performance on the field that actually counts. That is also true of any vocation.

My original point was that we were immediately recognised by the coaches as Umpires who, in their eyes, had some standing.

There is a marketing phrase that perception is everything.

[fatpunter]

I have always been under the impression that "the bigger they are, the further they fall". I have known dozens of colleagues over the years who have loved to wear their ACU metal badge with their name on, a big ACU badge stitched onto their coat and, of course, the correct tie for their grade.

To me, it's all a load of tosh. I have been fully qualified since Adam was a lad and have never owned an ACU tie, badge or anything like that. I do not need to brag that I have passed an exam, I simply turned up to umpire wearing a smart white coat, black trousers and white shoes. My tie was always a smart cricketing tie but never an ACU one. The umpiring ranks are loaded with guys who are full of their own importance and love to be the centre of attention. NEWSFLASH; umpires are not the centre of attention, keep a low profile and speak when spoken to, if something has nothing to do with you, keep quiet. There is a goon in the North East Premier League who wears all the regalia and boasts that he "likes to get a big one in early, just to show who's boss". What an idiot.

It matters not one jot what someone wears, it is the respect from the players for your field skills and handling of the game that matters, not the colour of your tie or even if you are ACU, ACB, ICUS or god knows what. players don't care.

[wisden17]

Well,

I own an ACUS tie and I think that's about it for ACU&S insignia. For me it was quite nice to get the tie after passing all the exams etc. but beyond that don't see the insignia as a big point. I did also get a name badge done, and used to wear that on the old style coats, but these days don't bother with it (although it's quite a nice looking badge for the price).

Personally I think the ACU&S must have lost out on a huge amount of money from members wishing to buy insignia and not be able to do so, as they are not fully 'qualified'. I know a lot of umpires who never did the old Part II exam as they didn't have any great desire to be doing another written exam like that at their age, and didn't want to move any higher with their umpiring. When I started umpiring I learnt a great deal of these umpires, and in no way do I regard them as unqualified.

The ACU&S have this great desire to protect their image, despite the fact that outside of the ACU&S no-one would have a clue that a little owl signifies that you've passed 3 exams and had at least 2 years umpiring! On top of that the fact that there is no need to re-qualify every year/couple of years means that in my opinion the value of qualification is lost slightly (especially when you meet people who qualified under the 1947 Code of Laws).

I think insignia is important in one sense, I personally feel a logoed shirt looks better than a plain white one, but I think this is very minor. As fatpunter says players notice your decisions etc. not your insignia.

First impressions are important at games. I'm also a football referee and it is very funny how referees conduct themselves at games compared to umpires. At all levels (bar Sunday morning football) referees wear suits to matches. They present a very smart image at the start of the game. In cricket it is almost the opposite, where umpires usually wear very casual clothes to a match and then change into something that is (hopefully!) very smart. Wearing insignia does help to create a better professional image, especially if both umpires are wearing the same insignia.

That said whatever impression you have created if you muck up that first caught behind or LBW decision you'll have soon lost any advantage you gained!

[johnfgolding]

fatpunter said:

It matters not one jot what someone wears, it is the respect from the players for your field skills and handling of the game that matters, not the colour of your tie or even if you are ACU, ACB, ICUS or god knows what. players don't care.

I agree whole heartily with that statement.

It is interesting that the comment made to me I referred to in the start of this thread have now happened on several occasions.
It does mean that there is an initial level of respect when you meet the teams, probably, for the first time.
Of course the first bad decision, poor piece of man management will start the downhill spiral, quickly.

[gwalch]

Not really clothing I want to know about but has anyone received their memberships cards from the ECBOA, I know it's not overley important but they did promise me mine weeks ago and now say it is the fault of the ACU&S for not confirming the qualifications quick enough?

[cavebubonem]

There is, indeed, a lot of nonsense involved in the issue of "Full Member" items, and the keenness to wear them. At school, we had "colours" awarded for sporting excellence, and were allowed to place (or have Mum place!) white piping around the edges of one's blazer. It didn't have to come off if you failed to get them the following year. I now hear from my wife that she only really showed interest in the lads with colours!

The regalia implies status - that's all. Lads who go out to umpire in shorts and flip-flops on their "twenty-minute" stints do precisely the same job, but would not be expected to judge fairly. It would be understood that they would give their fellow team members out with great reluctance. Wearing the regalia says "I don't care who you are - you get a fair deal from me".

I have to say that the crown and three lions DO have impact. The way ahead is clear.

[umpire50]

I've just noticed the posting by gwalch on 27 June.

Just how are ACU&S qualifications relevant when obtaining an ECB OA membership card? They are entirely separate bodies.

I spoke to an ACU&S Qualified Member - Umpire (for several years!) recently. He is still waiting for his ECB OA membership card some 9 months after applying to ECB OA.

No doubt this is yet another in the line of 'dirty tricks' employed by ECB/ECB OA to undermine the ACU&S.

[gwalch]

Had a letter the other week saying there were 'delays', no idea what is going on, but I wonder now if they are waiting to see what happens in the future

[Acumen]

I could be wrong but surely the proposal is to scrap the ECBOA when the ECB ACO starts?

If so, all the ECBOA merchandise will be obsolete.

Is this the reason for the delay in supply?

Or is it simply that Lucy (was it?) has emigrated - who has replaced her?

[lofters]

I agree that when [if?] the ECBACO kicks off then the ECBOA gear/membership/cards etc will become collectors items only..... or not!
Lucy ? was replaced by a chap called Sam Greaves [[e-mail]].

[johnfgolding]

I have just received a few minutes ago my key ring (impressive), tie pin and cloth badge for the ACO.

Badge now on my coat ready for this evening.

[jaybee]

Jul 18, 2008 10:11:25 GMT johnfgolding said:

I have just received ... my key ring (impressive), tie pin and cloth badge for the ACO.

Ditto - mine came at the weekend.