York Senior League Umpires Secretary Rob Smith has given a frank assessment of the challenges for cricket umpires in his league.
In light of COVID-19, Rob is not putting his own name forward: “Personally, I took the decision I’m not going to umpire. I just don’t think it’s worth the risk. I’m getting to the age where I need to be a bit more careful.”
The decision-making is partly risk and health-assessment and partly whether the seriousness of the cricket is enough to persuade them.
Rob has around 45 cricket umpires on his panel who will officiate Yorkshire Premier League North, the York Senior League or a blend of both.
That means he has about 30 umpires who solely stand in the York Senior League and only a third are currently likely to take part:
“It looks as though about 10 of them are prepared to umpire. A lot of them are 65-70-plus and don’t want to risk catching anything.”
As a consequence, the York Senior League will certainly be very short of cricket umpires for this revamped 2020 season. Of those prepared to umpire, not everyone is available every week.
Put simply, that will mean there’s only scope for one umpire per game.
I don’t have the data but it would be interesting to see how this situation plays out in other cricket leagues across Yorkshire.
While lockdown has eased and the risks of coronavirus are reduced compared to a month or two back, an older demographic have tough decisions to make.
I was privately sent a list of concerns from cricket umpires in another league and it was scathing about current guidelines and all kind of practicalities they felt weren’t addressed.
Of course, these are unprecedented times and the only way anyone works through it is by getting outside and playing or umpiring. That will highlight situations that need change or further thought.
Whether cricket umpires feel they want to will vary considerably across the York Senior League in its entirety (and other Yorkshire leagues).
York Senior League club umpires
If panel umpires oversee the heady peak of this massive cricketing pyramid with 13 divisions, Rob’s group only manages the top two divisions.
There is a huge number who umpire for their club teams in the lower divisions on a Saturday afternoon.
As with all the other changes, that will put the onus back on clubs to find umpires (Rob thinks most will do that) or as a last resort, players to do it themselves.
Coronavirus has made us all make changes and cricket should be no different. What interests me is whether it is a chance to consider some of the root causes of the problems that are arising – and how we tackle those.
Why can’t the game train younger cricket umpires? What would persuade more men and women under 60 to become cricket umpires?
This isn’t a reflection on those who do umpire; more that we all know the average age of a cricket umpire and until now, it hasn’t been a particular issue.
Something will have to change. Cricket umpires who don’t slip on their white coat this summer may or may not return in 2021.
The recreational game will face many mountains over the next year and more because of coronavirus. The lingering issue of a cricket umpire shortage has just been dialled up.
What do you think? Leave a comment below!
My thanks to Rob Smith for his insight and thoughtful interview. Have your say. If you liked this cricket umpire read, please share the URL using the Twitter and Facebook buttons below.
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A thought provoking article. I’m a player and like all players we all want to get back to playing. In current climate we have to air on side of extreme caution for our own personal safety as well as safety of others. Umpires play an integral part to game and with many of a certain age come under category high risk. We shouldn’t put anyone in a position they feel uncomfortae to be in. I totally understand people who opt out. Best solution for all a s painful as it sounds is cancel this season completely ly. How can you play when you can’t use facilities etc. That’s part of game I like the socialising side. Cancel season and regroup for next year and come back stronger.
I am 55 and intended standing this season in a local senior league having recently retired from playing . I have had to give back word as I consider it is still too greater a risk .
I’d love to have a go at umpiring……I love cricket but can only catch…….batting and bowling ?????…..hopeless !!!!!
Before you start umpiring, you can do the umpires on line course. It’s free, and includes free associate membership of the Association of Cricket Officials. To recruit younger umpires and scorers is the target at the moment. 40% of ACO members are 70+ years old. Whether or not we had had the pandemic, there was a crisis looming large in recruiting umpires.
Did a game
On Sunday! No worries very smooth one just needs to stay alert , kept well away from all non players easy to keep 10/12 feet from all players! Only had too touch/replace bails 2/3 times! Nice game/day at Carlton towers C C, CB
I used to umpire games for my club in the York Senior League. I packed it in about five years ago because I went home one Saturday evening and thought, why should I put up with that, almost every week? Dissent.
Thanks for the comment Les. I would hope the effects of a global pandemic might make us all a little kinder but time will tell.
Sure it varies league to league but sad that it forced you out of the game.
Such a sad situation, Les. I almost gave up at the end of last season, wondering why I bother. But I suppose we love the game too much to give in. The powers offered by the new Law 42 have made a real difference, so if you feel able, give it another go.
I will be umpiring.Umpires have to be sensible by trade.If l didn’t would probably have to be certified in the near future, Umpiring is very rewarding and l actually enjoy it more than playing.After a game on your own and the players line up to say thank you well that gives me more pleasure than taking five wickets ever did..
In the Westmorland League where I umpire, it has been made compulsory for umpires to stand. We were told if we declined to umpire then we would be removed from the leagues umpire list and reported to the ECB. Last week was dangerous and the league committee should be ashamed.
Bloody Hell Richard, thats terrible. We are down to around 40 in S Yorks
I totally understand why umpires are not standing. I’m not umpiring in my league because of the poor health of my partner and the fact that my employment will suffer if I contract covid or I’m in contact with someone that does whilst umpiring.
Should us older umpires be risking infecting the young players. An absolute minefield enforcing hygiene regime. Not for me this year.
I was thinking of returning after a 4 year hiatus due to I’ll health but the risk is just too great for me being in the high risk group. COVID is still a big issue and with a nurse for a wife, I cannot justify the risk against the rewards of starting up again. Good luck Rob with finding the umpires you need
Thanks for sharing Jerry, it’s a balancing act everyone has to decide for their circumstances.