South Canterbury Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association

Anyone resident in South Canterbury considering becoming an umpire or scorer are invited to contact the Secretary in the first instance.

Are you considering becoming an umpire or a scorer?

If so, and you are resident in or on transfer to South Canterbury you are invited to contact the Secretary in the first instance.

Participants are encouraged to attend the training modules available; each is targeted across all grades, from junior school level to senior levels. The examinations of the New Zealand Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association may also be taken permitting umpires & scorers to become proficient in their chosen discipline.

Further information is available on the new NZ Umpires & Scorers website where booklets on umpiring and scoring may be downloaded.

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President, Secretary & Appointments officer:

Please contact the SCCA office

Patron, Training & Grading Officer:

Graeme Lowrie
4 Hunt Street Timaru
Ph: 688-5799h
Email: graeline@clear.net.nz

Annual Report 2011/2012 Season

This last season has been business as usual; our umpires & scorers have been heavily involved.

While every team welcomes the presence of umpires, at times doubts exist whether they respect the commitment involved. Unfortunately a simple "Thank you" at the end of the match has not been a regular occurrence.

This season, we have had an almost 100% return on 'Captains Reports on Umpires' in our two-day and one-day competitions; none were required in the T20 competitions. While these reports are an inexact method of reporting an umpire's performance, they do go a long way to help umpires get better.

We accept that often a few players may have only a passing knowledge of the Laws of Cricket; however we do expect more from our captains. There is no excuse in not knowing with the resources now available on the NZCUSA web-site.

This season the personal commitments by our four well qualified umpires has been outstanding; they stood in no less than 78 days of cricket, in both club and representative matches, often as the sole umpire. While this is far from satisfactory, we are better placed than almost everywhere else in the world. Geoff Talbot (9 days) has just completed his 22nd season of sterling service to the game, Graham Begg (19 days) has completed his 16th season, Bevin Guthrie (25 days) has completed his 7th season, and Kim Cotton (25 days) has completed her 2nd season; in addition, Kim officiated in 5 days in Christchurch matches. It is also worth noting that our four umpires made themselves available to officiate in all of our lower grade finals; the first time this has ever occurred.

Let us not forget the almost invisible contributors to our game; our three very competent scorers who regularly sat outside the boundary meticulously maintaining their scoring records – rep scorer Don George (11 days) has just completed his 12th season, and club scorers Muriel Pennal (14 days) her 10th season & Steph Drake (25 days) her 3rd season. Scorers are the minute secretaries of the game – their records of individuals and match scores are an integral part of our game. It is from their efforts we obtain the statistics that add to the intrigues of our game.

Our current members, including myself, have collectively contributed more than 105 years to our game as officials. Do we need more – ABSOLUTELY! For those who are stepping aside from playing, there is a place for you in the game still. When personal commitments occur, we realise how reliant we are on the few – to retain our ability to have umpires available for, at the very least, our senior games, we need as a minimum at least eight umpires – twice the number we have now. To achieve this there is a need to recruit and train two to three umpires per year. Every club & school should look to its members; to seek out those who become these important roles in our game.

Unfortunately, this season we had occasion to cite one player for breaching our Code of Conduct. While the final outcomes of such hearings are outside our jurisdiction, we do have reservations at the minimal penalties often imposed. The NZC CoC, being designed principally for the professional game does not, we believe, fit well in the amateur game.

Once again, we record how blessed we are having a dedicated Cricket Association, Board members and Executive Officer. On behalf of all our members, I offer our sincere thanks to you all.

Finally, cricket has given me a lifetime of happy experiences particularly during the last 3 decades with my involvement in umpiring & scoring. While we never really retire from cricket, there comes a time for us all to step aside. During my years in the game, I have had the pleasure of umpiring many players who have gone on to represent New Zealand and have developed many friendships from around the world. While I am stepping aside from my active involvement, as long as I am able I hope to continue to mentor our umpires & scorers whenever required.

To all those involved in cricket, I wish you all the best for the remainder of the winter season and all the best during our future seasons of cricket.

Graeme Lowrie

Patron SCCUSA