What are we doing out there?

[gooders]

I read many threads on here with great interest, and the thought often strikes me as I read, I wonder what motivates some people to become umpires.
What makes a mediocre umpire become a good umpire, and what makes a good umpire become an excellent one?
How many umpires forget to exercise the use of "Law 43"? and what about the reason for being there, are we not there to facilitate the playing of the game. It seems that there are more and more out there doing what they can just to be noticed.
It is my considered opinion that the better umpires are like good football referees, and I think if you ask a captain his opinion of what makes a good official, he will tell you one who makes it run smoothly without being too officious and after the match players feel that he has done nothing. He has, however, made numerous decisions and gone about his duties with the minimum of fuss, and have done it and not been noticed.
Try to let the game flow, don't look for trouble it will find you anyway, just handle it with a firm hand and tact and you may well find that the next time you turn up to officiate at that ground, instead of being greeted with mutterings and overhearing "Oh no, it's him again" you will be greeted with a friendly "Hello, glad to see you, we can get on and play this week"
Let's hope for good weather, and a good season.
Best wishes for an enjoyable, trouble free time out there.

John (Gooders)

[Mayur Wankhade Deshmukh]

What makes one a good umpire ( Here is what i get from my senior colleague Umpire and sharing those with you folks ) :

Should have confidence of doing things in better way in possible situations
Should concentrate on every ball - as one does not know which one is the ball that will test your skills
Should have knowledge of playing conditions / tournament rules / laws
Should explain if needed and to the point
Courteous-not to feel offended when questioned
Eager to learn as every game is different game and you can learn from it
Zest to outclass previous performance
Should have integrity, sincerity and disciplined attitude towards the game
Should trust his ability
Should be positive,confident and firm while giving decisions
Should be consistent with the application of laws and judgement
Should be friendly to some extent
Should be prepared to educate when things demand
Should be realistic in approach and shall use common sense
Should deliver effective clear message on no nonsense approach
Should not be over smart
Should try to minimize mistakes. This will earn respect from players
Should be cool , calm and committed on the field of play.

Thanks

[ankush94]

Eighteen qualities of a "good" umpire listed.

Are these to be memorized and practised all at once?

Do we try to get entirely "good" at one go?

Or do we get to pick and choose on the order of precedence?

Can we "perfect" each quality at a time, one after another?

And who has laid down these qualities?

I fear it's the proverbial "they".

[gooders]

The problem with lists like that is that there is a tendency to interrupt the game because umpires tend to forget about Law 43.
I don't believe that even the newest recruit to the umpiring fraternity hasn't been told about that.
You know, the unwritten one that says 'Use your common sense'

[ankush94]

Dear Gooders,

I hear a lot of the phrase "use your common sense". Much like "Law 43", isn't it a cop out? In the sense of cop out "refers to taking the easy way out of a sticky situation"?

Don't you agree that most, well almost, 99.999% situations find their solutions in the Laws? I do.

I do wish people would stop using the words "Law 43" and do a deeper study of Laws 1-42 instead.

[Mayur Wankhade Deshmukh]

Dear Ankush,

All qualities are not to be memorized and practiced at once. But you can always check with no of matches that where you stand respect to those qualities with self-analysis. And can always do the needed to improve over that base line.