Friday Fireside # 13

1. Update your availability for J G Craig, Twilight T 20, and Victorian Country Week

2. One day matches, time lost, Duckworth Lewis calculations

3. Some tips to assist all umpires. Coach is calling!

Availability Update

Please go to your OfficialsHQ profile and update your availability, especially for these important dates:

Jan 23 J G Craig quarter finals

Jan 23 Twilight T20 Round 1 re-play – new appointments

Jan25 J G Craig semi finals

Jan 28 J G Craig grand final

Jan 30 Twilight T20 Round 3

Feb 12-16 Victorian Country Week

One Day Matches, time lost, DL calculations

The wet weather MAY be behind us; however, it’s Melbourne, right? Hard to be sure!

When a one-day match experiences lost time resulting in a reduction in the number of overs after play has begun, a revised score to win should be set for the number of overs which the team batting second will have the opportunity of facing.

The calculation to decide the winning (target) score is done in the Duckworth Lewis calculator, either in PlayHQ or if e-scoring is not available, the Live Score DLS calculator in (still available) MyCricket Live Score app.

Where a match is terminated prematurely, the same DL calculators will be used to identify at the moment of suspension of play whether the score is equal to the par score. If so, the match is a tie. Otherwise the result is a victory or defeat by the margin (runs) by which the score exceeds or falls short of, the par score.

Some umpires are under a misapprehension that DL is to be used only for time lost in the second innings – this is not so.

Some Tips to Assist Umpires

As we sat around the fireside, Umpires Coach Brian Benny Goodman

stretched out and said “ I think the umps have the Laws under control – but there are lots of little things apart from the Laws and VSDCA Rules that affect their performance and enjoyment.”

So when pressed, he offered up these words of wisdom to assist all umps (in matters not necessarily related directly to the Laws and Rules) based on not only hundreds and hundreds of games, but also lots of conversations with umpires…

Favour angle over distance when making a call on a runner.

Look for just one outcome when deciding your call.

Take your time making your call, 1, 2, decision.

Make your call with confidence by looking directly where you need to.

Many umpires ask how they can work on a plan to follow their progress in an aim to become better umpires and improve their umpiring. The setting of goals is one way of following your progress in a pathway. It doesn’t matter what level you are umpiring or what level you wish to achieve!

WHY SETTING GOALS WORK

Goals Help Determine What’s Important

Goals Increase Effort and Direct Attention

Goals Help Maintain Motivation and Concentration

GOAL-SETTING GUIDELINES

These guidelines direct you to do the following:

Identify your goals

Set challenging but realistic goals

Make your goals positive

Set short- and long-term goals

Write down your goals

Identify strategies to reach your goals

Identify Your Goals

When first getting started, you must first determine exactly what it is that you want to achieve.  One way to identify your goals is to ask yourself a series of questions about your skills and attitudes toward officiating.

What are my strengths as an umpire?

What are my areas for improvement as an umpire?

What aspects of umpiring are most enjoyable to me?

Do I prepare myself mentally for each game?

Am I in good physical condition?

Do I communicate well with other officials and players?

Am I well versed in the rules and regulations?

Is my positioning sound and where I should be?

As you address these questions, you will realise that the answers are not necessarily straightforward or simple.  But just thinking about these things should help clarify what you want to accomplish through your officiating and identify specific areas for improvement.

Let’s enjoy Round 11 – do your best, and have fun!

Neill Murray

VSDCA Appointment Manager