NCCA UMPIRE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROCESS 1 Introduction: NCCA carries out following 3 level certification process to educate and certify the umpires: NCCA Provisional Umpire certification NCCA Intermediate Umpire certification NCCA Qualified Umpire certification Each level of certification consists of 2 parts – written exam and on-field performance assessments. The exams test candidates’ knowledge of MCC Laws, ICC Standard Match Playing Conditions for ODIs and T20s and NCCA’s Standing Rules. For the benefit of candidates, NCCA conducts exam preparation seminar(s) prior to the written exams. In the 2 cricket seasons immediately following the written exams, NCCA conducts on-field performance assessments of the candidates who have been successful in the written exams. 2 Detailed information about certifications: 2.1 NCCA Provisional Umpire certification: 2.1.1 Eligibility criteria: There are no prerequisites for applying for obtaining the NCCA Provisional Umpire certification. Anyone who wishes to explore the world of umpiring is welcome to apply. Applicants will be encouraged to attend the exam preparation seminar(s) prior to taking written exam. 2.1.2 Purpose: Main purpose behind this certification is to gauge the level of interest people have in taking up umpiring. The written exam itself is simple and straight-forward for anyone to pass with basic understanding of cricket. This helps NCCA generate enough interest about umpiring amongst the enthusiasts in the local cricket community and grow the umpires’ pool. 2.1.3 Certification process: A 100 marks written exam is conducted. The exam either completely excludes or has very few questions on MCC Laws that are either not relevant or are very rarely exercised in ODI/T20 formats. Candidates who pass written exam must undergo on-field performance assessments with NCCA Qualified Umpire Assessors in atleast 3 Prestige Division matches. The minimum score to pass the written exam and on-field assessments is 60. 2.1.4 Benefits: Holders of this certification will be able to umpire in T20 and Prestige Division matches. 2.2 NCCA Intermediate Umpire certification: 2.2.1 Eligibility criteria: To apply for obtaining the NCCA Intermediate Umpire certification, a candidate must fulfil the following prerequisites: 1. Must have obtained the NCCA Provisional Umpire certification within the 3 years immediately preceding the date of application 2. Must have umpired in atleast 5 T20 matches and atleast 5 Prestige Division matches in 2 seasons (combined) immediately preceding the date of application 3. Must have attended the exam preparation seminar(s) offered before the NCCA Intermediate Umpire certification written exam 2.2.2 Purpose: The purpose of this certification is to establish an individual’s strong inclination towards taking his/her umpiring beyond the realms of umpiring as a hobby or recreation. 2.2.3 Certification process: A 100 marks written exam is conducted. The questions are based on all MCC Laws. A 10 mark section in the exam is explicitly based on Law 36 (LBW) which the candidates must attempt and must pass by scoring full 10 marks. The candidates who pass the written exam must undergo on-field performance assessments with NCCA Qualified Umpire Assessors in atleast 5 Premier Division matches. The minimum score to pass the written exam and on-field assessments is 70. 2.2.4 Benefits: Holders of this certification will be able to umpire in T20 and Prestige Division matches. 2.3 NCCA Qualified Umpire certification: 2.3.1 Eligibility criteria: To apply for obtaining the NCCA Qualified Umpire certification, a candidate must fulfil the following prerequisites: 1. Must have obtained the NCCA Intermediate Umpire certification within the 3 years immediately preceding the date of application 2. Must have umpired in atleast 5 T20 matches, 5 Prestige Division matches and 2 Premier Division matches in the 2 seasons (combined) immediately preceding the date of application 3. Must have attended the exam preparation seminar(s) offered before the NCCA Qualified Umpire certification written exam 2.3.2 Purpose: The purpose of this certification is to firmly establish an individual’s willingness to be a part of NCCA’s Panel of Umpires and the commitments that entail. Upon obtaining this certification, the individual will be encouraged to widen his/her scope of umpiring. The individual will be encouraged to take the umpiring certification exams/assessments conducted by USA Cricket Umpires Association (USACUA) at the national level. 2.3.3 Certification process: A 100 marks written exam is conducted. The candidate is thoroughly tested on all the MCC Laws. Emphasis is given on Law 42 (Fair and unfair play) to gauge candidate’s knowledge of handling the unfair play situations. A 10 mark section in the exam is explicitly based on Law 36 (LBW) which the candidates must attempt and must pass by scoring full 10 marks. The candidates who pass the written exam must undergo on-field performance assessments with NCCA Qualified Umpire Assessors for atleast 5 Elite Division matches. The minimum score to pass the written exam and on-field assessments is 80. 2.3.4 Benefits: Holders of this certification will be able to umpire in all the matches conducted under the auspices of NCCA. 3 On-field performance assessments: The on-field performance assessments is broadly based on 2 categories: Candidates’ core umpiring skills Candidates’ match management skills 3.1 Core umpiring skills: 3.1.1 Accuracy in decision making: (Weight: 70% for assessing NCCA Provisional umpire; 60% for assessing NCCA Intermediate umpire; 50% for assessing NCCA Qualified umpire) 1. Accuracy in decision making, especially in case of LBW decisions 2. Giving benefit of doubt to batsman in case of uncertainty while considering an appeal 3. Consultation with the colleague for gathering more information to make a decision 4. Firmness on the decision made 3.1.2 Accuracy in calling and signaling: (Weight: 15% for assessing NCCA Provisional umpire; 10% for assessing NCCA Intermediate umpire; 5% for assessing NCCA Qualified umpire) 1. Accuracy and clarity in the calls and signals made to the scorers 3.1.3 Match awareness: (Weight: 5% for assessing NCCA Provisional umpire; 10% for assessing NCCA Intermediate umpire; 15% for assessing NCCA Qualified umpire) 1. Providing useful information to the players from time to time 2. Keeping the players, umpires and scorers informed about the actions taken 3. Additional communication with the scorers apart from calls and signals 4. Keeping notes of interruptions, intervals, substitutions, penance times etc. 3.2 Match management skills: 3.2.1 Control over the game: (Weight: 5% for assessing NCCA Provisional umpire; 10% for assessing NCCA Intermediate umpire; 15% for assessing NCCA Qualified umpire) 1. Assertiveness on the field through body language and communication 2. Effective time management 3. Preventing players from indulging in unfair play and unruly behaviour 3.2.2 Other duties: (Weight: 5% for assessing NCCA Provisional umpire; 10% for assessing NCCA Intermediate umpire; 15% for assessing NCCA Qualified umpire) 1. Ground and pitch inspection 2. Defining and agreeing upon the boundaries of the field of play 3. Getting match balls in custody 4. Getting list of nominated players from both the sides 5. Checking the teams’ attire 6. Conducting the toss 7. Calculation of reduction in overs, target scores, net run rates in cases in interruptions 8. Writing match reports 9. Carrying useful equipment – bowling markers, counters, bails, scissors, chalk, pens etc. 4 NCCA Qualified Umpire Assessors: Any individual who has umpired in atleast 30 NCCA Elite/Premier/Prestige Division matches – 15 of them being Elite Division matches – in the 3 years immediately after obtaining the NCCA Qualified Umpire certification is regarded as a NCCA Qualified Umpire Assessor. 5 Equivalence of old umpiring qualifications with new certification process: Old NCCA Level 3 is equivalent to NCCA Provisional Umpire Old NCCA Level 2 is equivalent to NCCA Intermediate Umpire Old NCCA Level 1 is equivalent to NCCA Qualified Umpire Old NCCA Level 4 is abolished 6 Exemptions: Any individual who is a fully qualified USA Cricket Umpires Association (USACUA) umpire or a fully qualified umpire from any ICC Associate or Full Member nation with valid and current qualification will be regarded as NCCA Qualified Umpire. Such individual will be exempt from going through the NCCA umpiring certification process. At any time, NCCA may request such individual to provide a letter of good standing or a letter certifying that his/her qualification is valid and current from the respective certifying organization. If the individual fails to provide such a letter within 30 calendar days from the date of request, the individual will no longer be regarded as NCCA Qualified Umpire. Such individual will have to formally go through entire umpiring certification process of NCCA to be able to stand in matches conducted under the auspices of NCCA. 7 Re-certification process: Each of the 3 NCCA umpiring certifications detailed above will have a validity of 3 years after which the certificates will expire. The NCCA Umpires will be encouraged to apply for and acquire higher levels of certification before their current certification expires. Individuals whose umpiring certifications have expired, will have to go through the certification process again, for the same level of certification that has expired, within 2 years immediately following the expiry of their certification. Any individual whose umpiring certification has been in expired state for 5 years or more will have to go through entire umpiring certification process of NCCA again to be able to stand in matches conducted under the auspices of NCCA. .