If you love cricket and fancy yourself as a number-cruncher, the scorer's role could be perfect for you.
With so many laws and ways of scoring the scorer's job is by no means easy, but if you're up for the challenge the ECB Association of Cricket Officials can point you on the road to success.
There are three courses - introductory, standard and advanced - and if you don't live near a centre you can work form home. You'll find more details about that further on.
Here's a rundown of the courses on offer.
INTRODUCTORY COURSE
This course teaches the basics of scoring. It concentrates on correct score sheet entries and the laws of cricket which directly affect entries made in the score sheet. Here's what you'll learn:
EXAMINATION
Time allowed: One hour 30 minutes. This examination is split into two parts. Part one is a test of scoring ability. It covers:
The second part of the exam involves completion of a scoring record, from a ball-by-ball story of an innings of not more than 20 overs.
A certificate is awarded to candidates who are successful at this level.
STANDARD COURSE
This course is designed to increase knowledge, teach good scoring technique and, above all, give candidates the confidence a thorough knowledge of a subject always provides.
Knowing exactly what you are doing is important, saves time and hopefully ensures an accurate scorebook even if you are the only scorer. Here's what you'll learn:
EXAMINATION
Time allowed: Two hours. This examination is split into two parts. In part one candidates must complete a scoring record from a ball by ball story of an innings (approx 20 overs).
Bowling analysis and all summaries must be completed. All balls received by the batsman must be recorded and balancing of balls bowled/balls received must be shown.
Part two of the examination is a questionnaire.
There are about 20 questions, including sub-questions, on the laws relating to scoring and on scoring practice.
REFEREES
Candidates who pass the exam are eligible to become qualified member-scorers of the ACU&S. Before doing so, they must submit the names of at least two referees who can vouch for their scoring ability.
An unsuccessful candidate may re-sit the examination after three months.
ADVANCED COURSE
The purpose of this course is to broaden the scorer's perception of and interest in the art of scoring. It's offered as a challenge to qualified scorers.
The Scorer is encouraged to learn the intricacies of lineal scoring, scoring charts, top and bottom scoring and other aspects of scoring which will enable him/her to provide a highly informative record of each innings.
Scorers successful at this level will have an in-depth knowledge of how to cope with scoring, no matter what score sheet is presented to them at the start of the match or what information they are asked to provide during or after the game.
Here's what you'll learn:
EXAMINATION Time allowed: Two hours 30 minutes
This examination encompasses the standard level syllabus plus:
CORRESPONDENCE COURSES
In an ideal world, scorers would have the opportunity to attend a course near them regardless of where they live.
But since that's not always possible, especially for young scorers who may rely other people for transport, the ACU&S runs correspondence courses for scorers at introductory and standard levels.
Courses are divided into a series of lessons to cover all aspects of the syllabus.
Each lesson has a homework task which must be completed and returned to the course tutor for assessment before moving on to the next lesson.
The time scale for the course depends how quickly the participant returns each task, but it is anticipated that most scorers would take between six months and a year to complete each level.
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