Forum

Regarding the shortage of umpires I can't help thinking that everyone is missing the main point - and that is that people can simply no longer commit the time required to participate in the game. This is the main reason why the number of senior cricketers is rapidly declining and I would imagine that the same applies to umpires. Given that a 50 over match can last 7 hours, and that teams try to turn up an hour before the game and may stay for a drink after, and depending on geography could have a possible 120 mile round trip players and umpires alike can be looking at a 10 hour day. Society has changed in the last 20 years and it is no longer the norm for someone with a family to work 5 days a week and then head off all day Saturday as well as some Sundays and games during the week. So the reason that players are no longer going in to umpiring is that the very reason they have stopped playing in the first place is because of other priorities at home and work. Until a situation is reached were players and umpires are no longer required to dedicate so much of their time to what is essentially a hobby then the drain of players and umpires is set to continue.

"I assume by "big" clubs Davy you mean wealthy?
And is this a no-win situation for certain clubs - put down for not supplying umpires and put down for providing a potential solution?
Yours are valid points but don't offer any alternative solutions..."

No, by big clubs I dont necessarily mean wealthy clubs, there are big clubs with large memberships that provide very few umpires, there are also small clubs that have provided two or three umpires at least, as well as very good umpires that never to the best of my knowledge played the game at a competitive level.
I dont offer any solution as I am not sure what the solutions are, but making players pay more at all levels of the game for something they will never (or seldom see) is the way to drive people away from the game, not encourage them to start.
As to docking points off a club that does not provide an umpire, what happens then if an umpire qualifies with a club, but then because the club he played for does not have a youth structure, they register with a different club to play with their children? who gets points and who gets points deducted? or is a club has two qualified umpires that are unavailable one weekend in the season, do the club get deducted points for that weekends fixtures, but awarded double for the days when they have two members standing?
I can think of four or five former players that would make excellent umpires and would already know all the LAWS of the game, though would obviously need brushing up on the by-laws and rules of the different competitions, and if approached, might be willing to stand in the shortened version of the Senior League implemented this year in Section 3 (or whatever it is now called).
Perhaps the 35 over games will encourage former players to take up the white coat and get experience in umpiring, and then we can have 35 over games from the premier league right down.

Just wanted to come in on the umpire debate. I do believe financial reimbursement is essential to attract umpires to the sport, as Ivan has said football referees are well rewarded for 2/3 hours work on a Saturday afternoon. Asking an individual who is working full time during the week to give up a Saturday or Sunday ‘for the love of the game’ and no fee is not feasible now and is unlikely to be again. I completed the Level 1 umpire course 2 years ago and have yet to officially umpire a senior NCU match as I am still an active player.

Though some clubs may have the means to fund additional umpire fees many do not and from experience it is not as easy to raise funds for those smaller clubs as has been suggested and any increase in financial pressures is likely to force many clubs to fold. It is not feasible therefore to ask clubs to increase contributions and the NCU must actively seek additional outside funding or look to cut costs elsewhere.

The NIACUS could help in attracting umpires or encouraging those who are umpires to play a more active part in local cricket. There is no easily accessible information on umpire reimbursement either through a match fee or travel to matches. The NIACUS should also provide development opportunities for umpires explaining how they can progress through the levels if they wish – seeing a bigger end reward from taking up umpiring early may attract younger members to get involved in umpiring.

Over recent years the job of the umpires has become more difficult with new formats of the game and also an increased intensity of the games placing more pressure on umpires. You never want to see the senior leagues reverting to the umpiring structure in the junior leagues as that is farcical but unless umpires can be attracted there may be no alternative as the NCU is not big enough to be contracting umpires from outside of NI for what would be inflated fees.

I would intend to umpire some senior matches this season but after paying a subscription to my club I would require a reason to choose to umpire over playing or supporting my club at my leisure.

Easy solution to shortage of umpires one umpire per game none sent if clubs dont have any of their members who are not a member of niacus or have not put anybody forward who is willing to help out then they will find out what its like playing with no umpires where clubs cheat every week I know I play in junior 1 and it is blatant

Good to see common sense for UB - I have been saying (and posting) that our local cricket at the top level is a step away from village green cricket (not exactly the Champions League!) and yet we tinker about with changes in the regulations. My view is that the introduction of power plays meant absolutely nothing last season - unless someone can suggest that teams were able to utilise them to advantage. The "cash for play" scenario has plagued the NWCU for many years and Limavady isn't the first club to feel the draught. Perhaps the message will eventually reach the NCU and clubs will start to spend a bit of money in their infrastructure - can think of at least one Premier side that could invest in a set of proper sightscreens! And don't get me started on changing facilities!!

I would be keen to hear any views on why a cricket type person might decide not to become an umpire.
Why and what puts them off?

Jonathon, with respect maybe it's you that's missing the point. What more can club's do? Seven people at the latest course that's been promoted to every club, it's been on every website as well. The truth is that in 2013 spending ten hours out of the house on a Saturday to umpire a game of cricket is not an exciting option. Offering a reasonable fee might just get another twenty guys. ( and £100 for what is a ten hour day isn't that exciting ). I don't think all umpires have in the past come from ex players and maybe by offering a proper match fee we could attract others to take up umpiring. The money will just have to be found unless someone has a better way but doing nothing is not an option.
Maybe a small help would be if when Senior clubs have no game should they be out of the cups or what ever that Professionals are tasked with umpiring .

Quite interesting to read debate on fees but you all miss the key point. Where is the finance coming from? Many clubs are struggling and yes there are some who can splash the cash on players but that is a beauty contest as winning the Premier League means nothing in most parts of this province. When CIYMS won the league last year was it the main talking point in Casement Park or better still Windsor Park? Cricket is a sport that has relied on former players stepping into the breach and wearing the white coat. It is the clubs who must take action here. They want to improve and push for excellence but are unwilling to assist. Our Course being run by our excellent Training Officer Keith Smith has 7 people studying for Level 1. To fill our gaps for 2013 this number is totally inadequate. So we need action not words. I admire those who go out each Saturday and do the job for a small fee compared to other sports but we want the right people to take up the role. Money should not be the number one incentive to go out there. The ball is firmly in the clubs court and they must wake up as they are sleepwalking to a place where matches will be decided by individuals who have little or no knowledge of laws and bye laws that change frequently and this will ruin the game that we all love so much.

You got a few monkeys off your back there UB account Holder. Despite some of the rants you also made sense on a few or did you?
1 Feeder clubs - it's been happening for years.
2 Greater than thou environment - again happening for years in all sports, schools, universities, jobs and life in general. Its called human behaviour.
3 Buying umpires - does it matter where they come from? If we don't get them from somewhere we are buried.
4 1% of 1.789 million (2010) = 1,789. But if we can get thousands to watch England/West indies etc there must be cricket players and supporters out there five times that figure.
5 Not increased in 40 years - nonsense! state your source of fact.
6 Paid administrators and groundsmen - they are everywhere.
7 Competition with bigger sports - cricket is a big summer sport. It doesn't really compete with the bigger winter sports. It competes with Saturday afternoon shopping, holidays, TV sport and golf.
8 Sponsors get their name promoted and associated with a clean sporting image. They support the community and they get tax relief in their accounts.
9 NCU Marketing - you may have a point there! What is their strategy?

RE - Ulster Bank Account Holder

At last some common sense and reality

0.1% is it even as high as that ?
Therein lies your problem...!

When we all finally come to terms with that, maybe we can move on

I have to say I have never been closer to saying "enoughs - enough" and walking away

Maybe the "minows" should form a breakaway league and get back to basics.

That would certainly set the cat amongst the pigeons...!

To take a pragmatic view of the umpires debate - where are future umpires going to come from other than the clubs? Or do some people think that they are going to walk in off the street!

Re I.McCombe`s and others previous messages

I thought the Ulster Bank and others WERE supporting GRASSROOTS LEVEL cricket over previous years [thankfully] or do some NCU clubs think that they are above that level.

Recently in previous postings we have had a "suggestion" that some clubs should become "feeder" clubs in terms of players which undoubtly lead to a "greater than thou" envoronment. We even had a suggestion that "big clubs" could meet their responsibility to develop/provide umpires by buying them in and forgetting about the other club they have come from .

Where do these clubs think they are in the great world of cricket?

Cricket in NI is played by 0.1% of population and watched by even less, it hasn`t increased in 40 years. It is played and run at club level by volunteers who are doing their best ......I don`t know where Ivan gets all these "paid adminstrators/groundsmen" from.

BE REALISTIC.....you are trying to compete with bigger sports who have bigger followings and are engrained into local community/society. What is in it for a major company to sponsor cricket? What is our marketing strategy either at club or NCU level?.
Compare press/tv/radio coverage of the major sports against cricket....even for our cup finals or "big" games.

BOTTOM LINE
PLAY THE GAME TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY,PLAY IT HARD BUT REMEMBER ITS ONLY SOCIAL CRICKET WE ARE REALLY PLAYING. IT REALLY DOESN`T MATTER WHO WINS ANY CUP/LEAGUE AND FOR THOSE CLUBS WHO DON`T PROVIDE AN UMPIRE .....UNLESS THEY PROVIDE ONE ON A SATURDAY NO POINTS WILL BE AWARDED TO ANY OF THEIR TEAMS THAT DAY IRRESPECTIVE OF RESULT.

Thanks to Terry Burton for the kind words of support. I have always tried to put the love of the game before anything else and have concerns for the game at grassroots level. Much as the International team have done well and the excellent CEO Warren Duetrum has fought hard to get us accepted at that level I think club cricket at a local level has many challenges. Youngsters have more choices today and guys are retiring earlier so the 30 year club career is now a 20 year career and reducing.
The day of the volunteer has more or less gone in all sports with paid coaches, paid groundsmen, paid administrators rife in most sports either through social enterprise schemes or what ever other title is given to them. We are going to see five figure salaries offered for part time back room staff at inter pro level and clubs are spending money on players so there is money about.
I take Davy's comments on board about smaller clubs and as a cricket lover first and foremost I recognise that without smaller clubs we will eventually have few big clubs .
Every cricketer has a duty to the game no matter what level they play. Would they all pay a separate membership of £10 each every season to their Union as a subsidy for the umpire fees. ?
Maybe the Unions need to take a lead. I see the IRFU organised a draw for a car sponsored by Donnelly and Taggart and the clubs kept ALL the revenue from the tickets they sold. It certainly would be easier to sell 200 tickets at £10 when the prize is a nice car than it is selling them for a meal for two.
Just a couple of suggestions because if we muddle through with umpires this season ( which I think might be doubtful ) the situation is only going to raise its head again next year unless a credible solution is found.
Maybe instead of looking for sponsorship for the inter pro sides which cater for a few the NCU might want to get a sponsor who supports local cricket at grassroots level and again providing umpires is a critical part of the game.

Re Umpiring - real common sense and most excellent comments from Ivan McCombe. NCU take note and act accordingly !!
I see the NCU are asking for 'conscripts ' not volunteers from clubs to cover say 6 games per season. Doubtful if forcing clubs/players etc. to nominate will work - unless people are willing to serve conscription is not the answer.
Can the NCU now state what are these conscripts, together with the regular umpires, going to be paid per 50 over per side game during the incoming season. It should not be a secret what they are going to be paid so NCU please spell out the fees so that everybody is aware of them. This may ( or may not ) encourage people to apply - but it's better to know now so those involved can make a decision based on facts.
Certainly as others have said umpires will never be rich men, but nevertheless they should be fairly compensated for the invaluable work they do.
I wonder what level of training will be given to the nominated players as surely umpire training is not just a brief chat but a lengthy course with exams etc. as the laws of the game are very detailed and there are lots of local regulations and by laws etc. I wonder will the stand in umpires be as unbiased at all times as the regular umpires are, bearing in mind they could have quite an influence on many vital league games etc.

Asst ed reading your replay to a comment from andy kennedy take a look at your own club about people dropping down teams and helping out not sure it happens at your club