Discrimination against scorers?

[Non-Plussed]

Can anyone confirm the rumours?

Colin Pearson told me this but I find it hard to believe.

I was a Qualified Scorer Member of ACUS and am now told that ACO will only credit me with Grade 1 and that I have to take Level 1A and Level 2 courses and exams.

I thought that all the umpires were automatically granted Grade 2 as part of the transfer process - even those who had not completed GL4!

Is this correct?  If so, why are ACO not doing the same for scorers?

He also tells me that some scorers who were not members of ACUS are being recruited, jumping straight into ACO Level 2 without taking any exams at all.

Is that correct?

If so, what can we do to achieve fairl treatment?

[MikeC]

I completed and passed the ACU&S Umpires GL4 course and was only credited with a Level 1 Umpire Grade by ECBACO

[gooders]

Dec 19, 2014 7:50:00 GMT MikeC said:

I completed and passed the ACU&S Umpires GL4 course and was only credited with a Level 1 Umpire Grade by ECBACO

You may have passed the GL4 exam, but had the passing committee awarded you full membership?

[jaybee]

Dec 15, 2014 18:16:01 GMT Non-Plussed said:

... I thought that all the umpires were automatically granted Grade 2 as part of the transfer process - even those who had not completed GL4!
Is this correct? If so, why are ACO not doing the same for scorers? ....

I think that people who had qualified with ACUS by passing both the old GL5 and GL6 were 'grandfathered' into ECB ACO Level 2 as well as those who had got through GL4.
However the umpiring qualification (Level 1, 1a, 2 etc) isn't the same as the grading under the complex system now used by ECB ACO. The grading applies according to the level at which the umpire has been umpiring.
All umpires should be graded each autumn, based upon their appointments in the season just ended. For the majority of umpires the grade ranges from C1 to C6; in order to be graded at a particular level, the umpire needs to have been appointed to at least 6 matches at that level (or higher) in the previous season.
The grades are as follows:
C1 Umpires in a Premier League
C2 Umpires in Division 1 of a Feeder League
C3 Umpires in Divisions 2 and 3 of a Feeder League
C4 Umpires in Divisions 4 and below of a Feeder League
C5 Umpires in other non-Feeder Leagues
C6 Those who umpire only in friendly or school matches, newly appointed umpires or not actively umpiring at present

The theory seems to be that umpires with a suitable qualification are only appointed to matches at the higher levels once they have officiated in a suitable number of matches at an appropriate level. It assumes that performance has been satisfactory though in most leagues - particularly below Premier Leagues - often the only measurement of that will be via feedback from captains who are notoriously fickle, particularly when decisions go against them. It also relies on good liaison between leagues and county ACOs, particularly where leagues have wide cross-border membership.

[sunbeam53]

I believe that all those who passed the ACU&S standard scorers' exam are entitled to be Level 2.
An alternative path to Level 2 is open to experienced league scorers , ideally Premier , who will then go through the assessment process.
This is only open to scorers who are not yet ACO members but would be a requirement to obtain the qualification.
For further info please contact your county scorer officer.

[missingleg]

Does it really matter though? Appointments secretaries give games to officials who they feel are of a standard to officiate at that particular level. Gradings and qualifications don't have an absolute affect on the matches we enjoy. Indeed, gradings are a result of the games you stand in and not your potential so I don't see why any of this matters. I hope this doesn't come across as cynical it's just an observation.