JOIN ECB ACO
THE BEST DECISION
YOU'LL EVER MAKE
CONTENTS
Welcome
Umpire courses – It’s your call
Scorers courses – Scorers count
Supported development
Joining ECB ACO
Frequently asked questions
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4
8
12
14
16
1
WELCOME
Whether it’s the spectacle of a First-Class Test
match or a recreational game on the local playing
field, cricket at all levels depends on the enthusiasm
and dedication of its officials.
ECB ACO is the Association
of Cricket Officials which
represents umpires and scorers
on behalf of the game’s national
governing body, the England
and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
ECB ACO are looking to recruit,
train and develop all cricket
lovers interested in performing
these crucial roles.
As well as providing a fun,
rewarding way to engage with
the sport, training as an official
is a great way to support the
health of the game. You don’t
need any previous experience
or qualifications – just a
willingness to learn. Whatever
level you aspire to, whatever
pace you wish to learn at, our
Education Programme has a
pathway for you.
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In this booklet we’ll give you
an overview of the courses
available as well as all the
information you need to become
an ECB ACO member.
“On behalf of ECB ACO, I’d like
to extend a very warm welcome
as you start your journey to
becoming an officiator of the
game. I trust you’ll enjoy the
programme and that it will
encourage you to support your
local club or local league as a
trained umpire, scorer or both!”
Nick Cousins
ECB ACO Senior
Executive Officer
3
UMPIRE COURSES
IT’S YOUR CALL
As an aspiring umpire, we’re sure you don’t mind
making tough decisions. But we’re sure you’d rather
keep them to the field. That’s why we’ve put together
a flexible learning pathway you can work through
at your own pace, as and when it suits you.
Introductory Course
(2-4 hours)
This short standalone course will give
any cricket enthusiast curious about
becoming an umpire a taste for what
the role entails, and outline what
lies ahead if you’d like to pursue
your interest.
ECB ACO Level 1
Introduction to Practical Umpiring
(12–16 hours, 6 modules)
This course is designed to give you a
comprehensive overview of the laws of
the game, as well as the fundamentals
of match management. It’ll leave you
with the basic tools you’ll need if you
want to umpire regularly. You must
complete this course before moving
onto Level 1A.
If you’d like to progress past Level 1 on
the pathway, you will need to become
an official member of ECB ACO.
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ECB ACO Level 1A
Understanding the Game (12–16 hours)
On this participative programme
you’ll compliment your knowledge
of the laws of the game with a better
understanding of how they’re applied
in practice. As an official ECB ACO
member, you’ll learn how to appraise
your own decisions and start building
towards the field craft techniques that
are covered more comprehensively on
the Level 2 course.
ECB ACO Level 3
Introduction to semi-professional cricket
(12–16 hours duration, 4 modules)
This is the course for those who wish to
work at the highest level of recreational
cricket, putting together everything
they to need to become a confident,
well-rounded umpire. It can also
be used as a set of continuing
professional development
modules for anyone who’s
completed Level 2.
ECB ACO Level 2
Developing the experienced umpire
(12–16 hours duration, 6 modules)
This course is designed for experienced
umpires who aspire to officiating
at a higher level. As well as the
interpretation and application of
laws, it covers the management of
matches, the field and the players on it.
Positioning and other practical aspects
of umpiring are covered and the course
can also be used as a set of continuing
professional development modules for
anyone looking to refresh or hone the
skills they’ve learnt at Level 1a.
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ECB ACO EDUCATION AND
SUPPORTED DEVELOPMENT
FOR UMPIRES
ACO membership
Introductory
Course
2–3 hours
Workshop
County
Certificate
Level 1 Course
Level 1A
14–16 hours +
Assessment
Verification of
best practice,
performance
and experience
ECB ACO
Level 1
Certificate
ACO membership
Entry Points
Level 1A certificate
+ performance
Entry Points
Level 2 certificate +
County grading +
nomination to RPO
Level 2
programme
Level 3
programme
Fieldcraft and
Techniques
programme
Multi-day
programme
ECB ACO
ECB ACO Level
2 Certificate
Level 3
Certificate
Level 2 course
Level 3 course
(available
2014)
Fieldcraft and
Techniques
programme
Entry Points
No prior
experience
required
Entry Points
Level 1 certificate +
match experience
County
Certificate
Entry Points
Level 1A certificate
+ performance
Supported
Development
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Performance | Observation |
Assessment | Coaching | Mentoring
ACO membership
Multi-day
programme
County
Certificate
Entry Points
Level 2 certificate +
County grading +
nomination to RPO
Education + Performance = Appointment + Grading
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SCORERS COURSES
SCORERS COUNT
There are a number of skills required to become a
scorer and our learning pathway will help you get
to grips with all of them from the very basics, to
advanced techniques. Here’s an overview of the
courses available and how they all fit together.
Introductory Course
(2-4 hours)
In this session you’ll find
out just what being a
scorer entails, which skills
you’ll need to learn in order
to score a game yourself,
and whether the art of
scoring appeals to you.
ECB ACO Level 1
How to record a cricket
match (12 – 16 hours,
six modules)
If you’d like to score
matches regularly,
this course covers the
basics such as scoring
symbols, umpire signals
and completion of the
10 parts of the scoring
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record or book. On top
of this, you’ll get a helpful
overview of the laws of
the game. You don’t need
any prior knowledge to
participate and, when
you’ve completed the
course and undergone
a scorer assessment
(which consists of scoring
a match and verbally
demonstrating your
understanding of the role),
you’ll receive an ECB ACO
Level 1 scoring certificate.
If you’d like to progress
past Level 1 on the
pathway, you will need
to become an official
member of ECB ACO.
ECB ACO Level 1A
Understanding the Game
Level 1a is open to any
member of ECB ACO
who’s completed Level 1.
Rather than being a taught
course, this award is
attained once you’ve
successfully recorded
10 matches. As well as
keeping a record of the
matches you score,
you’ll need to pass an
observation and a brief
verbal examination
with a Level 2 scorer
to complete your
assessment.
ECB ACO Level 2
Developing the
experienced Scorer (12–
16 hours, six modules)
Designed for any
experienced scorer
who wishes to refresh
or hone their skills, this
course covers some
more advanced areas
of scoring, including;
interpretation of law,
alternative scoring
methods, working
alongside colleagues,
statistics and differing
rules and regulations.
ECB ACO Level 3
Advanced Scorer
Scorers can be nominated
to receive the Level 3
award by their county or
regional body (including
ICC Europe) providing
that they fulfil the
necessary criteria.
To be eligible you’ll need
have amassed a strong
body of experience,
including multi-day
matches and a variety
of different competitions.
You’ll need to be familiar
with a number of soring
methods such as linear
and computer scoring,
and you’ll need to be able
to use the DuckworthLewis method to
calculate the outcome
of rain affected matches.
To help prepare
you for Level 3,
continuous
professional
development
modules or
other forms
of training will
be available.
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ECB ACO EDUCATION AND
SUPPORTED DEVELOPMENT
FOR SCORERS
ACO membership
Introductory
Course
2–3 hours
Workshop
County
Certificate of
attendance
ACO membership
ACO membership
Entry Points
No prior
experience
required
Entry Points
Level 1 certificate +
match experience
Entry Points
Level 1A certificate
+ performance
Entry Points
Level 2 certificate +
County grading +
nomination to RPO
Level 1 Course
Level 1A
Level 2
programme
Level 3
programme
14–16 hours +
Assessment
Verification of
best practice,
performance
and experience
Techniques +
Practices
Multi-day
programme
Scorer portfolio
ECB ACO
Level 1A
Certificate
ECB ACO Level
2 Certificate
ECB ACO
Level 3
Certificate
ECB ACO
Level 1
Certificate
Supported
Development
• Perfromance
• Observation
• Assessment
• Coaching
• Mentoring
Supported
Development
L1 Assessor
Supported
Development
L2 Assessor
• Observation
• Assessment
• Coaching
• Mentoring
• Observation
• Assessment
• Coaching
• Mentoring
Level 2
programme
Techniques +
Practices
Education + Performance
= Appointment + Grading
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Scorer portfolio
ECB ACO Level
2 Certificate
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SUPPORTED
DEVELOPMENT
Aside from the tuition you’ll receive on each
individual course, ECB ACO provide ongoing
support to help you develop as you move through
your pathway. You’ll work with experienced
umpires and scorers who’ll be on hand to help
you build on your skills. They’ll offer:
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Mentoring
As well as passing on the knowledge
they’ve amassed over the years, your
tutor will help you to take charge of
your own learning by giving you the
tools to assess your performances
and spot ways you can improve.
Observation
By casting a critical eye over your
performances, they’ll help ensure
that your progress is on track and
advise how the situation can be
remedied if you’re struggling in
any particular area.
Coaching
In areas where you simply need to
be shown how to perform certain
aspects of your role, they’ll coach
you through it and help refine your
technique over time.
Assessment
As time goes by the focus will
move more towards measuring your
performance and checking that you’re
fulfilling all the necessary criteria
to officiate at your chosen level.
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JOINING ECB ACO
Now that you’ve heard more about the various
umpire and scorer courses that are on offer,
it’s time to find out about the many benefits
of joining ECB ACO.
ECB ACO education
The introductory and Level 1 courses
do not require you to be a ECB ACO
member to attend, although you’ll
miss out on the many benefits if you
choose to go it alone. And, if you aspire
to progress your officiating education
further along the pathway with our
more advanced level courses,
then you will need to join.
Insurance
You’ll be covered by the most
comprehensive insurance package
available. This not only covers you
whilst you are officiating, but also
during your travel to and from grounds.
Further details of coverage can be
found online www.ecb.co.uk/ecbaco
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DBS certificate renewal
All members will benefit from being
able to update their DBS certificates
for free, or equally, ECB ACO members
are entitled to a free DBS check
(for more information on DBS see
the frequently asked questions at
the end of the booklet).
ECB ACO merchandise
We have our own brand of field and
leisurewear exclusively available to
our members.
Newsletters
We’ll keep you updated with all the
latest in the world of cricket scoring
and umpiring with our own publication,
issued three times a year and delivered
to your door.
Appointments
With access to the official
appointments website,
Who’sTheUmpire.com, you’ll be able
to put yourself forward to officiate
fixtures at local level as well as in
ECB competitions.
Mentoring and coaching
As you move through the umpire
and scorer pathways, we’ll support
you every step of the way.
National conference
Our members are able to attend a
number of exclusive seminars held
at Lord’s, where they can hear
the views of various notable
cricket personalities.
Exclusive offers
We can provide members with a
number of attractive discounts on
a range of useful items from cricket
shoes to Total Cricket Scorer
(TCS) software.
How to join
If you’d like to become a member,
it’s a simple case of filling out an
application form (which you can
download from www.ecb.co.uk/ecbaco
or pick up from your county ACO whilst
attending a course) and sending it to:
ECB ACO, ECB Offices,
Warwickshire County Cricket Club,
Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7QX.
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FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
If you have any more questions on what you
need to do to become a member, we hope you
find them answered below. If not, please don’t
hesitate to contact us with your queries.
Can anyone join?
Yes. All you need, besides
a passion for cricket, is
a DBS certificate (which
we’ll discuss in a bit more
detail down the page)*.
How do I get a DBS
certificate?
To request an
application form
phone 0845 251 3000
or write to:
If you’re aged 16-25
you’ll be a junior member.
If you’re older you’ll be
a full member.
GB Group
1 Wilford Business Park,
Ruddington Lane,
Nottingham, NG11 7EP
How long does the
application process take?
It can take up to eight
weeks for your certificate
to come through. So it’s
best to apply at the start
of your course to avoid
any delays in gaining
membership.
So I’ve qualified, what
are my next steps?
Congratulations, you’re
The GB group will
What is a DBS
ready to go! You have two
then give you all the
certificate?
options: Ask your course
instructions you need to
The Disclosure and
complete the application. tutor to put you in touch
Barring Service (DBS)
with your County ACO,
Please don’t contact
certificate helps
and they will guide you
ECB ACO regarding
employers such as ECB
from there. Alternatively,
the specifics of your
make safer recruitment
contact ecb.aco@ecb.
application, as we are
decisions. Specifically,
co.uk and we’ll put you
unable to advise on
it’s intended to ensure
in touch with your County
that only suitable persons these matters.
ACO directly.
are able to work with
vulnerable groups,
including children –
* Please note you do not require
hence its relevance
a DBS if you live in Ireland,
to cricket officials.
Scotland or mainland Europe.
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Calling all U25’s
ECB ACO are dedicated
to a development
programme for
all U25’s.
In recent years this has
seen Young Officials
appointed to umpire
and score at Lord’s,
ECB National Finals and
various cricket festivals
throughout the country,
including the prestigious
Bunbury festival.
These appointments
complement the work
of mentors and assessors
at county level to assist
the development of ‘Young
Officials’ and enable them
to fulfil their potential.
Contact [email protected]
for more information.
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ECB ACO Membership Services
Warwickshire Cricket Ground
Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7QX
T +44 (0)121 446 2710
E [email protected]
STAYIN
GAME
THE