- 154 registrations for the first iteration of the Level 1: Umpiring Fundamentals course
- First course included 24 female umpires
- Second Level 1 course to be offered to USA Cricket members starting in late September
In late June of 2021, USA Cricket announced the release of its Level 1: Umpiring Fundamentals as part of the new USA Cricket Umpiring Program and Pathway.
This Level 1: Umpiring Fundamentals course is the first of the courses to be finished and released to the US cricket community, and is open to all members of USA Cricket over the age 12.
The first intake has seen 154 individuals register for the course from across the country. Over half of the course participants have already completed and passed the online exam portion of the course with an average mark hovering around 85%. Participants are also required to attend an instructor-led session and complete various health & safety modules over the coming weeks to complete the course fully.
USA Cricket plans to announce and award the first batch of Level 1 certificates in October of this year.
USA Cricket has also been encouraged by the large numbers of people indicating their interest in signing up for the course who missed out on the first intake. We will be announcing details on a second intake for the Level 1: Umpiring Fundamentals course in the coming weeks.
USA Cricket Development Manager Jamie Lloyd said, “It is very encouraging to see the number of members from across the country who are not only interested in umpiring, but also in investing in improving their craft. Umpires are such a central component of our game, and with the forecast growth of cricket in this country over the coming years we need to provide the conditions and support which will help us increase their number and improve their standard.
The USA Cricket Foundational Plan has a vision of cricket as a mainstream sport in this country, and to achieve Full Member status of the ICC by 2030. Whilst much of the focus to achieve those goals is inevitably going to be on increasing the quality and quantity of players and facilities, we must equally ensure we do the same for our match officials.”
”Apart from continuing to support further intakes into our Level 1 Umpiring Fundamentals course, we have also made great progress over the past couple of months with the development of our Level 2 Umpiring course, and the establishment of our Development and Elite Panels of umpires. Furthermore, work is underway on the USA Cricket Coaching Program and Pathway, for aspiring coaches in this country.
More details of these programs and how members can access them will be issued shortly.”
The diagram below illustrates the USA Cricket umpiring pathway that is described in more detail in the Umpiring Program and Pathway document, which can be found here.
