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Last updated 07 November 2024

How to get the best seat in the house

There is no doubt that umpiring a cricket match is most rewarding because the umpire is the only person in the world who has the perfect view of the match. So how do you become an umpire and have the best seat in the house? Firstly, you have to determine your aspirations and where you would like to be umpiring in the next 3 or 4 years within the recreational game. Will you be umpiring social and junior cricket, or will you have moved on to be a Club Umpire or a member of an Umpire Panel?

What next?

Read on to choose the course that is right for you.

Still not sure?

We are to here to help you decide which courses you should attend depending on your own aspirations. Simply scan the QR code to the left or complete the enquiry form and we will contact you with a plan.

Middlesex ACO Introduction to Umpiring – free course

If you just want to know a bit more about umpiring or want to be more confident when asked to umpire a junior club match or social game, or to do your ‘ten’ as a player then the Middlesex ACO Introduction to Umpiring is your starting point.

Whatever your aspirations, this free 2½ hour introduction to umpiring will give any cricket enthusiast curious about becoming an umpire a taste of what the role entails. The course is not overly technical and is an ideal starter covering the more common Laws so that with greater confidence you can umpire a local cricket match or a match in which you are a player.

For those wishing to progress further we will provide an insight into the ECB umpire pathways for men’s and women’s cricket. You will also be given the opportunity to ask any questions and understand how you can reach your own goals.

This course is free and open to non-ACO members. It covers the basics of umpiring including match preparation, the Toss, boundaries, No balls, Wides, common dismissals, Dead ball, Byes and Leg byes.

Courses are held in the evening at various locations throughout Middlesex. To see a current list of available courses and to register your place please visit our booking form [ACO BOOKING LINK].No Introduction to Umpire courses are currently planned for the remainder of summer 2024. If you would like to register an interest for any courses over winter 2024/25 email education@middlesexaco.com and we will let you know when courses are scheduled. If your club would like to host a course (free), just let us know.

Middlesex ACO Umpire Extension Course – 3-day course £30

The ECB Umpiring Course (see below) and the Middlesex ACO Introduction to Umpiring Course only cover the basics. If you are looking to umpire at the higher levels of the recreational game by becoming a Club Umpire or a Panel Umpire you will need further training to significantly expand your understanding of the Laws of cricket and your ability to analyse and apply league match regulations. The 3-day Middlesex ACO Extension Course will be an essential part of your development. The course includes:

• the role of the umpire and pre-match duties
• the more technical aspect of the Laws of cricket. including:
  • how runs are scored
  • the nine methods of dismissal
  • fair and unfair play; and managing players’ behaviour
  • Penalty time for absent fielders and runners for injured batters
• how to analyse and apply match playing regulations, including:
  • impact of interruptions due to rain
  • slow over rate penalties
  • powerplays
  • free hits
• field craft (i.e. how to umpire)
• Duty of care – including ECB Directives relating to young players
• player safety – including the ECB concussion protocol

You do not have to be a member of the ACO when booking the Extension Course as you can join the ACO after the course has been completed,if you so wish.

The 3-day courses will be held at the Middlesex Cricket facility at Swyncombe Avenue. London W5 4DS as follows:
COURSE A: Sundays 19 January, 26 January and 9 February 2025
COURSE B: Sundays 2 March, 9 March and 23 March 2025
9:15 am to 4:15 pm
There is also a 1 hour pre-course Zoom evening session.
COURSE A: 8 January or 14 January 7:30 pm
COURSE B: 18 February or 26 February 7:30 pm

Course registration is £30.

To register your place please complete the registration form.

ECB Umpiring Course

To become an accredited ECB Umpire you will need to attend one of the ECB Umpiring Courses. These courses are not run by the Middlesex ACO (Association of Cricket Officials) but administered and delivered nationally by the ECB Officiating Department.

The ECB Umpiring Course is a basic entry level course that aims to give new umpires the key skills, knowledge and confidence to stand as an umpire in lower levels of social and junior cricket. It is also the entry level to the formal ECB promotion pathway. Getting onto the pathway is likely to be a requirement of many county leagues before you may become a panel umpire so you would, in that case, initially have to attend the ECB Umpiring Course. If you plan to umpire at higher levels you would also need to receive extended training, for example, the Middlesex ACO Umpire Extension Course. Ideally you would attend the ECB Umpiring Course first, though this it not essential – you can attend that course later.

This basic ECB course is split into classroom and practical learning. You will be asked to complete some e-learning prior to attending the course, which will take no more than 90 minutes to complete in total.

The course cost £70.00 and is understood to include free membership to the ACO worth £30.

The next course scheduled to be run in Middlesex is:
Sunday 27th October 2024 – 10am to 4.30pm
Middlesex Indoor Cricket School, East End Road, London N3 2TA
Booking link: https://booking.ecb.co.uk/WVyVkn

Details of all ECB courses can be found at the following link:
https://www.ecb.co.uk/course-finder