A course in Cricket Umpiring and Scoring has been launched in Northampton in an approved Edexcel Learning Centre. There are 15 learners registered for the course with a reserve list created for the next course to be held shortly.

The course leaders are Paul Joy, Mel Smith and Terry Owen who have some years experience in teaching the Laws of Cricket. All 3 Tutors have many years umpiring experience at the highest level in recreational cricket.

Unit 1 of the course will last for 8 weeks and covers, in precise detail, the 42 Laws of the game using stimulating text, still images, videos, group discussions and role playing by course members to emphasize the various points of each Law. Each learner has been issued with a comprehensive workbook and is expected to complete question sheets based on the umpiring theme taught each session. These assessments are used to satisfy the requirements of Edexcel when awarding a Certificate.

At the conclusion of the 8 week course, the learners will take a visual/aural examination.

Unit 2 of the course, Managing the Game, will be completed in the spring months of 2008 and Unit 3, Practical Fieldcraft, by the end of the cricket season 2008.