In Essex, we have two Essex Certified courses that give you a feel for umpiring and the basic laws. These courses are free, but participants do need to book a place.

In addition, there is the ECB Accredited course that provide opportunities to move on to higher levels. There is a cost for this course.

Introduction to Umpiring Courses

The Part 1 Introduction Course is aimed at beginners and will provide the skills needed to umpire Junior School Age softball cricket. It covers:
• Standing at Bowler’s and Striker’s End
• Wides
• No Balls (front foot, over waist height, over head height)
• Common Signals (4, 6, out, wide, no ball, bye, leg bye)
• Main Methods of Dismissal (bowled, caught, run out, stumped, hit wicket)

Date	Description	Time	Venue	Booking Link
01 December 2024	Introduction to Umpiring Essex Certified Course	15:00 – 16:30	Southend & EMT CC, Southchurch Park, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 2YN

Intermediate Umpiring Courses

The Part 2 Intermediate Course develops the skills from Part 1, so that people are confident to umpire teenage hard-ball cricket. It covers:
• Signalling (a recap of those learned on Part 1, plus short run, revoking the last signal, penalty runs, and dead ball)
• Umpire’s Equipment
• ECB Directives (age-related restrictions)
• No balls (recap, plus ball bouncing more than once, ball rolling, ball coming to rest, limitation of leg side fielders, bowler breaking wicket in delivery stride, and fielder encroaching or intercepting delivery)
• Wides (recap, plus changes to the law regarding batter’s movement)
• Scoring runs (batter’s glove, byes, leg byes, and when runs can be scored)
• Methods of dismissal (recap, plus LBW and run-out of the non-striker)
• Counting balls in the over and signals to colleague around this

Date	Description	Time	Venue	Booking Link
25 November 2024	Intermediate Umpiring Essex Certified Course	19:00 – 21:00	Wanstead & Snaresbrook CC, Overton Drive, London, E11 2LW
09 December 2024	Intermediate Umpiring Essex Certified Course	19:00 – 21:00	Bentley CC, Coxtie Green Road, Coxtie Green, Brentwood, CM14 5PN

Qualified Umpire Courses

The Qualified Umpire Course is designed to give new umpires the key skills, knowledge and confidence to stand as an umpire in cricket.

No prior experience of umpiring in cricket is required before attending the course. Whether you plan to support Junior Softball cricket through to adult cricket, this course will cover the following topics:
• Understanding the role of the umpire
• Gaining a basic understanding of umpiring the game
• Answering appeals and the common methods of dismissal
• Communicating effectively with all stakeholders in the game
• Judging whether or not it is safe to play

The course is split into classroom and practical learning, so we recommend learners to come dressed appropriately.

Learners 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.

Pre-learning can be completed via multiple visits or in one go. Learners must be 14 years of age at the time of the course.

The cost of this course is £70.00. After completing it, learners will have the confidence and competence to go and umpire at appropriate levels within recreational cricket.

Date	Description	Time	Venue	Booking Link
09 February 2025	Qualified Umpire Course ECB Accredited	09:30 – 16:00	Leyton Cricket Hub, Crawley Road, London, E10 6RJ
29 March 2025	Introduction to Umpiring Essex Certified Course	15:00 – 16:30	Northern Gateway Sports Park, Cuckoo Farm Way, Colchester, CO4 5YX
12 April 2025	Introduction to Umpiring Essex Certified Course	15:00 – 16:30	The Cloud County Ground, New Writtle Street, Chelmsford, CM2 0PG