Post by Acumen on Jul 6, 2011 12:50:42 GMT
The Tasmanian newsletter 790 contains the following information:
Senior umpires from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) undertook a range of tests of their hearing and eye control functions during a pre-season gathering at Loughborough University in the UK earlier this year. The Umpires Testing Program has been designed, says the ECB, "to try and ensure that the highest standards of officiating are maintained within the English game".
Reports available indicate that during the tests umpires wore a helmet that is set up to project a red dot towards where that person's eyes are actually looking. A large television screen is used to show images of various match scenarios ranging from LBW decisions to run-outs which the umpires must rule on, the red dot from the helmet marking on the screen where the umpire was actually looking, thus allowing the visual techniques they used to be assessed.
Sports optometrist Nick Dash says that the technology is based on a tracking system that is used by the United States Air Force, although what that organisation uses it for was not spelt out. "This hasn't been used in umpiring before, and while umpires might think they know where they are looking, there are a number of visual components to their task", said Dash.
As a result says the optometrist, "If one umpire is saying one thing and another something different, we now have the evidence to say, 'Well, this is what you're looking at.' Then we can define tests or training strategies to improve their ability to umpire". "Also", said Dash, "if there are experienced umpires who are using certain techniques, we can borrow those techniques and shorten the learning process for others".
ECB umpires manager Chris Kelly said late last month that the scheme will help and improve umpire decision making. "These tests are not there to determine the effectiveness of the umpire, or their suitability to umpire", he said, "it's about supporting them and benchmarking levels of fitness, hearing and eye control that can be used to monitor people coming into the profession in the future".
Senior umpires from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) undertook a range of tests of their hearing and eye control functions during a pre-season gathering at Loughborough University in the UK earlier this year. The Umpires Testing Program has been designed, says the ECB, "to try and ensure that the highest standards of officiating are maintained within the English game".
Reports available indicate that during the tests umpires wore a helmet that is set up to project a red dot towards where that person's eyes are actually looking. A large television screen is used to show images of various match scenarios ranging from LBW decisions to run-outs which the umpires must rule on, the red dot from the helmet marking on the screen where the umpire was actually looking, thus allowing the visual techniques they used to be assessed.
Sports optometrist Nick Dash says that the technology is based on a tracking system that is used by the United States Air Force, although what that organisation uses it for was not spelt out. "This hasn't been used in umpiring before, and while umpires might think they know where they are looking, there are a number of visual components to their task", said Dash.
As a result says the optometrist, "If one umpire is saying one thing and another something different, we now have the evidence to say, 'Well, this is what you're looking at.' Then we can define tests or training strategies to improve their ability to umpire". "Also", said Dash, "if there are experienced umpires who are using certain techniques, we can borrow those techniques and shorten the learning process for others".
ECB umpires manager Chris Kelly said late last month that the scheme will help and improve umpire decision making. "These tests are not there to determine the effectiveness of the umpire, or their suitability to umpire", he said, "it's about supporting them and benchmarking levels of fitness, hearing and eye control that can be used to monitor people coming into the profession in the future".