Season 2011 - 2012

My first task this season is to do a training course at level one. I'll do this in the middle of September, but in order to gain my level one certificate I have to coach for 50 hours. That won't be easy, but I guess I add up match days, and so will get to 50 fairly soon.

Umpire TH

On Sunday we have the test umpire T.H. visiting Dunedin and talking in the Long Room of the Otago Cricket Association. It should be very informative and entertaining. It also offers free lunch and the chance to socialise, which is also positive.

AGM

The cricket umpires' and scorers' association had their AGM the other day, and I went along to it, though I was determined not to take any responsibilities. So why bother? Well, I like the people who run it, and I think they do a good job. So as long as they run it well, why should I try to change things? I was offered a position, and I politely turned it down. Another reason not to take on a responsibility is that many have served the association for many years, and I will only be in my third year of umpiring next year, so can not claim longevity.
I also hope to be involved in schools cricket next season; perhaps coaching a second or third team in the school, and so I intend to take it on properly, including being there on the Saturday for the games. And if I am there on Saturday, then that is one day of the weekend, and I cannot expect my wife to look after the baby all week and all weekend. As it is, one weekend day can be justified as it ensures that I keep my job.

So coaching and umpiring school cricket rather than umpiring senior grade cricket. Ironically, there are probably bigger crowds!

I do hope to umpire some senior grade games, as well as some Otago representative age group games.

Season

The 2010-2011 season went pretty well for me overall. I umpired plenty of games, and, apart from one very poor game, I did a very good job. I have no idea what my rating was, but it was good enough. The other new umpire was asked to stop umpiring, so I did better than him. Mind you, that was evident from the our first season, when he got stuck in second grade games and I was doing senior grade.

At the end of the year I tried the level four exam, and I know I did badly in it. Still, next year.

Though now I am in a school, I may well use my time with the school boys and may coach a team, more than umpiring.

CD and Albion

The game went well, and I think I allowed it to go on, yet was able to take control when there were no-balls and wides. So I was pleased. OPne batsman complained that I had missed a fine inside edge, and I ought to pay attention to that. I thought soon after that the ball was going down leg but narrowly missing, but perhaps that late turn was the bat touching the ball and so guiding it down leg. So a mistake.

I umpired while W McS bowled, and I gave him a warning for one bouncer, but it was not quite high enough, and so he told me that it should not be a warning unless it was above the shoulder. It is not the best look to be corrected by a player, but then again he does play for the Volts and so knows his stuff.

Next weekend I am umpiring with JH. As one team is the one I umpired badly last weekend, I hope to have a good performance.

Still, another game completed.

Albion & CD

Another game tomorrow, and it should be an easier one than last week. I should also check in my mind that I am ready for no-balls, for wides, leg-byes and so on.

So hoping for a good day. And the prediction is for sun...

Everyone has a bad day

We had a pretty good meeting in which we discussed various things. Once again, one who should not speak, spoke often and pointlessly. I spoke for the first time since joining, and it was to raise the point that the earlier Otago Cricket tell us of a game the better. I think people listened to my brief suggestion because I have spoken uselessly and at length.
At the end of the meeting I saw my evaluations by captains and they were ok. I told the president that I had a shocking game on Saturday and I made various mistakes. He was very understanding, which is good, and said that everyone has had a bad day and the good thing was being aware of the mistakes. I guess he takes the atttitude that being aware of mistakes helps to ensure they won't happen again. At the same sort of time, the overly chatty one was gabbling about the way he is always right despite their complaints. I can see issues with man-management.

At least I realised I had a bad day and so talked to the captain of one side. Oh well, Saturday is another game.