Eddie Norfolk
Cricket Canada has recently announced examinations for umpires and scorers are to be held in Toronto on April 27, 2013. These examinations will cover three levels of accreditation for umpires and two levels for scorers. The roles of umpires and scorers are very important positions in cricket, and cricket across Canada could certainly do with more qualified people performing these functions.

The examinations are being held in the Toronto Police 23 Division headquarters at 5230 Finch Avenue West. Umpiring exams are being held for those who aim to qualify at level 1 (provisional umpire), level 2 (intermediate umpire) and level 3 (qualified umpire). Knowledge of the current ICC rules for limited overs matches (October 2012), the MCC Laws of the Game, and the well respected book “Tom Smith’s New Cricket and Umpiring and Scoring” is required to meet the increasing standards at each level.
These same sources on matters relating to scorers also provide the background knowledge for the provisional and qualified scorers examinations.
Gwynne Giles is the designated contact through whom to registering for these examinations. E-mail applications are supposed to copy in Kantilal (Ken) Patel, the Umpires Coordinator and Chairman of Umpire Certification.
The Toronto Cricket Umpires’ and Scorers Association (www.tcuandsa.com) is currently running some educational seminars on Sundays (10am-2pm) at the Toronto Police 31 Division police station at 40 Norfinch Drive, Toronto. The seminars on Laws 1 to 25, and 26 to 42 took place during March, but Duckworth/Lewis lovers might still be able to take in Day 1 D/L (April 7) and Day 2 D/L (April 14). Playing conditions education is due on April 28 (Day 1) and May 5 (Day 2).
The list of members on the Toronto Cricket Umpires and Scorers (about sixty) is not particularly long in comparison to the number of leagues, clubs and teams operating in the Greater Toronto Area . Thus the relatively small band of the faithful have to provide time to organize and perform the education as well as to umpire matches (some acting as coordinators of umpires for the various leagues and divisions).
Doubtless educational activities are taking place in other parts of the country. In the past I have noticed that some leagues host pre-season umpiring seminars, which probably still happens. Beyond the “known” leagues there are indoor and outdoor schools, colleges and university cricket leagues and events plus special promotional events, such as the annual CIMA Spirit of Cricket day in Toronto that call on the services of umpires, and, somewhere along the line, need scorers.
If the information garnered by scorers could magically become known soon after the various games complete, then as the next piece in the magical progression of cricket across Canada the promotion and marketing of the various leagues and competitions might be enhanced in a timely, efficient and effective manner, to borrow terms from the language of good management and the audit world.
A number of simple steps are required from participating teams, particularly driven by the team captain, in assisting the work of umpires and scores (such as timely and complete team lists for each game) so the game can get under way on time, subject only to inclement weather. Although availability of groundspersons and team volunteers to lay matting wickets, etc can be a factor in delayed starts, but which should be controllable by the participating teams and team captains.
If all works well, then one might not be left thinking that the time has not yet become available to do a detailed comparison of two T20 matches from last season using video footage (and even related still photos) to see if scoring gaps can be filled. Technically, of course, there are no such outstanding issues as everything was completed in accordance with the Laws of the Game and the related playing conditions. But at least there was a useful scoreboard in the background and some occasional announcements of the scores. Still, a couple of the umpires staged some educational forums,when not umpiring, which made for a couple of busy days. So, overall, progress was made with hopes of perfection in 2013! (EN)
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Web-reference on Cricket Canada for the umpiring and scorers exams on April 27, 2013 can be found at: http://gocricketcanada.com/news/article/notice-umpire-scorer-exams