VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO SYSLU

In season 2013 you will not be able to umpire in PREMIER league games unless you have a minimum qualification of Level 1A. A  6 week course is starting at Aurora on March 6th.

The course is classroom to start where you mainly sit in groups discussing various aspects of umpiring technique. There is no test or exam to worry about.

Once the 2012 season gets under way you will be using the work book you are given on the course.

In it you will describe how you prepare for matches, you will self assess your performances on the field and be assessed  2 or 3 times by captains and an experienced scorer.

You will also be assessed by a senior and experienced  colleague a couple of times plus a boundary assessment , once more from a trained and qualified person.

The assessments are intended purely to point out any slack practices that may have crept into your umpiring.

We all have them, but usually don't know about them; and errors that you don't know about, you can't eliminate. They are not intended to be a test which you pass or fail, but independent inspection to point out weaknesses in technique that you can get rid of, and so improve your performance'

At the end of the season you will have a professional discussion, perhaps with me or a colleague of mine from the ACO. They will go through your work book and discuss the season with you and then, as in 99% of cases will recommend you are elevated to Level 1A.

The following people need to attend the course otherwise we will not be able to give you Premier games after 2012 or send you to outside competions.

Messrs -: Blackman,Fletcher, Gibson,Gill, Gorman, Hague, Kitching, Lambert, I Maw, O’Brian, Palmer Jun, Plater,Reeve, Snellgrove and Tong.

For those who are qualified but have not had refresher for many many years there are Level 1 courses starting in the New Year at Doncaster on Jan 8th, Rotherham Jan 10th and Sheffield on Jan 12th.

There is NO excuse for not making an effort to brush up your knowledge at these courses and failing to do so will affect appointments in 2013.

As CPO I want us to become the most qualified and best trained umpires in the county.

If, and I am sure you all will, need more info please contact Alan Farnell ASAP. You will find his contact details in the handbook.

Terry Bentham