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Post by Number 6 on Mar 11, 2008 15:07:24 GMT
Worcester recently had a meeting with Chris Kelly You may be interested to learn thier findings: They were advised: 1. ECBACO Level 1 & 2 courses were in the process of being formulated. 2. A Pilot Level 2 Course would be held over the weekend of 16th Feb 2008 and it was anticipated that the Level 2 Course would then be finalised by the Autumn. 3. There would be no direct relationship between a Level One & Two course and each would be “Free standing”. 4. The ECB Level One course would give an insight into the Laws of Cricket. 5. The Level Two Course would be the main vehicle for access to Umpiring at League levels. Level Two courses could only be run with the attendance of an “Accredited” Instructor – Accredited by the firm providing the Courses. The Course would consist of a series of modules all of which would be designed to promote interest and motivation. There would be no direct “Studying of the Laws”. Students would be expected to cover the Laws mainly through work books, self study and homework. Students would then be required to stand in ten matches during which they would be assessed before “passing” the Level Two Course. 6. Until the new Level One and Two courses were in place and Accredited Instructors available, the existing ACUS & ECBAO Courses could be used Where did you get this info from Blackbeard? It's very interesting. Worcester is my area, do you know who attended the meeting? Pete
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Post by Number 6 on Mar 11, 2008 15:15:06 GMT
Peter, don't feel too disheartened about umpiring - do it for the game, not the ECB. I umpire for my own enjoyment. I aspire to a high qualification level so that I can do the best job possible for the teams that I stand for; now those qualification levels have been degraded and all the hard work I and others have put in over the past couple of years is wasted. I have further information from the horses mouth: ECB have asked all counties to grade their umpires on the following scale. First Class List = Grade A, Minor Counties = Grade B, Local Premier League = Grade C , Local Leagues = Grade D. This is to take the place of the old "Qualified Membership" under ACU&S. So umpires like me and the majority who umpire at local level will be graded at the lowest standard and you'll be stuck there for ever! No more aspiring to standing at the University games or the local RGS festivals etc! Pete
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Post by blackbeard on Mar 11, 2008 15:22:52 GMT
missingleg I would need to know where you are currently at in your umpiring career. I think I read you are GL5. You will need to umpire league cricket. During the season you should be assessed at least twice.by your league assessor. Your grade (A,B,C,D,E,F.G) would then be forwarded to your county from your league chairman, this would be passed to ECB ACO, who will then if you are lucky and your grades are good enough you will be appointed to ECB competitions and if your marks are good onto Premier cricket, Under 17 and acadamy then to Second X1 and minor counties then first class then international. All takes time and cannot be rushed (unlessyou are in the correct circles). Thats how it is supposed to work?
Currently all leagues have graded thier umpires and passed this to thier county who in turn have passed this to ECB. ECB are now appointing for 2008 season umpires to all ECB competitions and Under 17/19 and second eleven in each county, provided your grade from your league was good enough.
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Post by blackbeard on Mar 11, 2008 15:23:42 GMT
Peter
Tim Granger was in attendence.
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Post by Number 6 on Mar 11, 2008 15:41:12 GMT
Peter Tim Granger was in attendence. Was he indeed. Thanks Pete
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Post by Acumen on Mar 11, 2008 15:51:59 GMT
You may be able to get some personal explanations if you attend the Special General meeting on Saturday. I would expect several of those concerned to be in attendance. This may be the last ever meeting at national level - there seems to be no such provision under ECBACO plans.
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Post by blackbeard on Mar 11, 2008 16:02:53 GMT
If anyone is interested, Chris Kelly is speaking to the Essex umpires on the 18th March 7.30pm in the pavillion at The Essex county ground New Writtle Street.
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Post by missingleg on Mar 11, 2008 16:20:56 GMT
Blackbeard,
No, I said I was GL6 (I really wish I were GL5 from reading this); I'm a rookie. I took the course and passed it last winter. My first ever match is next month in the Derbyshire league divisions 3 and 4.
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Post by Number 6 on Mar 11, 2008 16:25:06 GMT
You may be able to get some personal explanations if you attend the Special General meeting on Saturday. I would expect several of those concerned to be in attendance. This may be the last ever meeting at national level - there seems to be no such provision under ECBACO plans. But this is only an ACU&S SGM and there is no provision for new motions to be proposed from the floor. Also I doubt that there will be anything to be gained as the outline plans are apparently now set in stone. Pete
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Post by Number 6 on Mar 11, 2008 16:26:14 GMT
Blackbeard, No, I said I was GL6 (I really wish I were GL5 from reading this); I'm a rookie. I took the course and passed it last winter. My first ever match is next month in the Derbyshire league divisions 3 and 4. I don't even have any games allocated yet - I have no proof of ECB membership and hence no proof of insurance. Pete
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Post by missingleg on Mar 11, 2008 16:41:19 GMT
Pete, you can siv through the fixtures on your county's playcricket website - that's how I found my first fixture, I would assume your county has done the same. I was told that sending the application form is good enough for insurance, but I'm anxious too
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Post by blackbeard on Mar 11, 2008 17:02:34 GMT
missingleg
Speak to your instructor, I know that GL5s are being fast tracked in your area. Have a word with Terry Dorr your REO if your instructor cannot help?
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Post by missingleg on Mar 11, 2008 17:33:47 GMT
Thanks again for the advice - I'll try.
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fedump
Junior Contributor
Posts: 7
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Post by fedump on Mar 11, 2008 19:07:09 GMT
Reality dawns?
One of the virtues of ACUS was that it provided very inexpensive and in my experience effective training because it was, in the true sense, an amateur organisation, where committed individuals gave freely of their time to teach, examine and award. The course fees that I paid not so long ago, while progressing from tyro to Qualified Member, probably reflected no more than the hire of the hall, some very basic teaching aids and the cuppa half way through!
That’s gone.
In these days of national qualification frameworks, and the attendant need for audit and verification to satisfy educational and funding bodies, the provision of credible training for even the most basic vocational qualification now has a substantial cost implication. So too does the in-post updating required for many roles. Most of this is related to accounting for the real cost of all the resources which are involved.
The fact that training is for unpaid officials doesn’t make those costs disappear. The real issue must be - who pays?
If the ECB is serious about ensuring a supply of adequately trained umpires who are able to obtain knowledge and update it regularly, it won’t make training inaccessible by setting course fees at a deterrent level. If it is sincere about building on the foundation and ethos provided by ACUS, it will ensure that it provides adequate funding at local level to ensure that cost is never an issue for individuals or clubs. I’m certain Bartercard would like to see its sponsorship used wisely – wouldn’t it?
Having listened to a presentation by ECB’s Paul Bedford last weekend, I suspect that decisions will not be taken quickly. Blackbeard’s assessment of the situation regarding accredited tutors seems to be spot on. It appears that the objective is to have one such tutor per County Board for 2009 while, at the same time conducting a training needs assessment with each Board’s club and league community. From that, presumably, will arise an estimate of capacity, cost and resultant course fees. In the meantime, there is the small matter of getting the new organisation up and running, nationally and locally.
I was particularly concerned by what came over as a dismissive response to a question posed by several ACUS trainers about the short term, along the lines of “carry on with GL training until the new regime is in place, oh, and provide bits of paper (i.e. certificates) if you like” It wasn’t clear whether there was an implication that the period of recognition for GL qualifications would be further extended.
Regarding the relationship of GL 4 and Qualified Membership with the proposed Level 3, my recollection is that when its syllabus was under development, ECB was adamant that Level 3 contained elements which were beyond the scope of the those ACUS qualifications. Further, progression to Level 3 would be open only to nominees of the County Board. So far as I am aware, nothing has changed. It will be interesting to see how quickly Level 3 becomes available, and just who will be prepared to commit to it.
Whatever, the ECBACO is my organisation now and I intend to get involved with it in a positive way. I see no point in being critical without trying to be constructive. I can at least attempt to influence the things that I don’t like from within.
One last thought. A colleague and I stood in the finals of the local District indoor knock-out last weekend. We had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, umpiring some very competitive cricket, played in an excellent spirit. The players didn’t give a hoot about the politics of umpiring, but they left us in no doubt that we had done a good job.
I think that’s why I went umpiring in the first place!
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Post by blackbeard on Mar 11, 2008 19:18:04 GMT
What happens in 5 or 10 years time when we go back to the 1950s with no training for grass roots umpires. Its ok for the ellite who can afford £200/£500 for training, but most will not bother as the cost outwieghs the return. We will go back to untrained umpires or no umpires at all and the players will be umpiring, then i think the players will become bothered about this current situation.
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