If you are truly a cricket enthusiast & answered 'yes' to any of the above questions, then NJSCUA can help you out by pointing you on the road to 'success', in a very efficient and a cost effective way.

NJSCUA is the non-profit body, striving continually for the interests of our members, cricket Players', Umpires' and Scorers', to continually develop and promote high-quality cricket & Umpiring, to establish and sustain NJSCUA as a prominent Cricket League and an symbol of Cricket in the area.  NJSCUA is working very hard during for the benefit and enjoyment of our members and others, even during off-season and, in particular, training those Umpires' active in the recreational game and wishing to progress to International Level.  Please refer to About Us page for more details about NJSCUA.

NJSCUA believes 'Quality Umpiring' has been and continues to be one of the corner-stones on which the growth of NJSCUA and overall improvement in the standard of cricket hinges on.  It is our desire to keep our Umpires' and members motivated so as to sustain their interest in cricket in general and Umpiring in particular.  NJSCUA is committed to assist our members and Umpires' in referring, providing education and training with respect to Cricket Laws in general, with more focus on the Umpiring aspect.  In so doing they can still lend their expertise to this noble game while enjoying the sport at a new level.

NJSCUA is proud to be associated with USACUA and both organizations have teamed up with one common vision, which is, to introduce state-of-the-art training on Cricket Laws that raises the level of on-field competence and professional development while ensuring that competence level remains consistently high.  Our main focus is to impart complete knowledge of the laws of the sport, to not just as many Umpires' as possible, but also to heads of clubs, leagues, captains, and other cricket organizations with a view to raising the general understanding of the sport and it's laws. This could only make the functioning of the sport within the area, that much more efficient and enjoyable to all those who are involved with it.

The training course detailed below, is the first of its kind happening anywhere outside of NEW YORK, and is being organized/coordinated by NJSCUA, under the auspices of the USA Cricket Umpires' Association (USACUA) and its highly qualified trainers & experts.  The training program covers all the relevant laws of the game.  Whether you want to Umpire as a career or just take charge of the occasional match, there's something there for you.

The courses normally run for about 12+ weeks - session of around Four to Five hours per week - with homework in between.  The training program is in line with the current training and certification process followed by the USACUA for its members in New York and is expected to start from third week of January, 2010.  Here are some details;

o Start Date: Saturday, 16th January, 2010

o Start Time: 9.30 AM (starting from 30th Jan, 2010, the start time has been rescheduled from 12.30 PM, to start from 9.30 AM)

o Location & Address: Element Technologies Corporate Office, 15 Corporate Place South Suite 209, Piscataway, NJ-08854.  (click here for the map & directions from Google Maps)

o Contact: The following gentlemen will be the point of contact for this program;

• Deepak Katte – President, NJSCUA – President@njscua.com – 732-762-9043 (cell)
  

• Syed Ahmed – Secretary, NJSCUA – Secretary@njscua.com – 201-281-8564 (cell)
  

• Shri Hari Bindiganavale – Umpiring Coordinator, NJSCUA – Ump-Admin@njscua.com – 848-448-0660 (cell)
  

• Gokul Chakravarthy – USACUA Asst Secy & Trainer for NJ Area – Gokul@njscua.com – 845-689-0098 (cell)

The USACUA prides itself at the rigorous training procedures it follows for its Umpires' who undergo four years of in-class and practical training, combined with a 4 levels of examinations to secure the “Final West Indies Cricket Umpires' Association Certification”.

It is no less than to introduce the best, most rigorous Umpire (and, in due course, scorer) training in the world. This will feature courses that have been independently validated and approved by a recognized educational body, leading to qualifications that have a value in the real world, not just within cricket.  Additionally, this qualification will be a meaningful and a helpful addition to your 'Umpiring Resume'.

If you would like to register for this Umpires' Training course or if you wish to get more info about the training program, then please send us an email to Ump-Training@NJSCUA.com and we will provide all the necessary details.  Please note that most of the details are already published below in the relevant sections on this page.

NJSCUA wishes to acknowledge & thank all those individuals/organizations who have worked very hard in making this program happen, specifically;

• Mr. Fitzroy Hayles, President, USACUA, its Executive Committee and all of its expert trainers, including Mr. Gokul Chakravarthy, who is also the Asst. Secretary of USACUA.

• Mr. Deepak Katte, President, NJSCUA & its Executive Committee

• Our Umpires'; Mr. Shri Hari B and Mr. Chandrashekar. R.

• Mr. Sirish Sharma, Element Technologies, NJ, for helping us out by giving us a place for our Training sessions.

• Mr. Pravin Punamiya, from Spartans CC, Mr. Lalta Persaud from Indoor Cricket USA, Morristown, NJ, for offering to help us out with an alternative training location.

• To all those who is not listed above and have been helpful in any which way for this training to happen.
  

NOTE: NJSCUA and USACUA are two separate and independent organizations, each having their own setup, objectives & goals, but share a common vision, which is to work for improving the overall Umpiring standards in the area.  NJSCUA is taking the much needed initiative in the NJ area and merely coordinating and organizing this program for the benefit of its Members & Umpire's and to everyone interested outside of NJSCUA.

The United States of America Cricket Umpires' Association (USACUA) is the premier Umpire organization in the United States of America, established in 1992. The association was incorporated, applied and obtained membership with the erstwhile Association of Cricket Umpires' & Scorers' (ACU&S) in England and the West Indies Cricket Umpires' Association (WICUA). Presently, the USACUA is the ONLY Cricket Umpires' Association in the United States recognized by both the ACU&S and the WICUA.

A few Umpires' had the vision and saw it fit to put their training and skills to work. They recognized the dire need to have trained and competent Umpires' to officiate cricket matches in the USA. Initially, they focused on the Tri-State area: New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The basic premise of their strategy was to formulate an association with a primary focus on educating anyone who wanted to learn and or be a part of the cricketing world of Umpires'.

USACUA have been successfully training many throughout the United States on a steady basis. Our training officers have even traveled to many different states within the USA in an effort to achieve the above aims.

More details about USACUA can be obtained from the website; http://USACUA.org

For as long as cricket has been played there have been independent & competent 'Umpires' to ensure observance of its Laws, with Scorers' to record accurately what happens on the field.  The word 'Umpire' is from the Old French word 'Nompere' which means; not equal or not part of, i.e. not a member of one of the teams or 'impartial'. The game thus  genuinely needs not just independent, but also competent 'officials' to ensure smooth conduct, without which the game survivability becomes a issue.

To maintain that independence & competence means that Umpires' (and Scorers') should serve only one master, which is, The Laws of Cricket.  To become a competent Umpire, you must be prepared to study the Laws of Cricket and its playing conditions. Umpires' of cricket like any other profession need training. There is always a responsibility on the individual to make sure that his/her study and evaluation of performance is constant away from formal sessions.

Learning how to become a competent and a confident Umpire is not like taking home a 'Highway Code-version' of the MCC Laws of Cricket and flicking through it over the weekend or spare time.  The price of guaranteeing such independence & competence is to actually get trained to become - and to remain the best, as highly trained, highly qualified, competent and professional as possible.  The better, more accomplished and confident you are, the more enjoyable it is, besides it not only gains the respect of the players & your peers, it also makes the role more rewarding and, in turn, the day more interesting and enjoyable for you and for everyone else on the field of play.

To be an effective grade cricket Umpire, there is a requirement to have a continuous improvement cycle and become a better Umpire year after year, regardless of what grade you officiate.  This improvement cycle serves several purposes, some of which are increased performance satisfaction, increased respect from players and peers and an opportunity to progress to higher levels.  The majority of cricket Umpires' do little in the non playing season.

An important part of preparing for the forthcoming new season includes the attendance and training opportunity, before the season is about to commence.  Some of the "questions" or a list of "things to do" in preparation for next season\game that an 'enthusiastic' Umpire should be asking are;

1.   Are you prepared for the new season\game?
2.   Are you approaching every match in a conscientious manner?
3.   Do you know the aspects of your Umpiring that needs work to improve your performance?
4.   Are you ready to step up a gear when required?
5.   How are you preparing for the increased intensity as the season progresses?
6.   Are you looking forward to the tough periods?
7.   Will you enjoy the scrutiny and learn from any criticism?
8.   Are you ready to review and revise your signals and techniques?
9.   Are you always going to be in position?
10. Will you be able earn the respect of the players and your peers instead of expecting it to come?
... and so forth...

Under the Laws of Cricket the the powers of an Umpire is very wide & the Umpires' decision is final, thus, with that power comes responsibility. To answer all the above questions and competently fulfill that responsibility bestowed on the Umpire, adequate knowledge & training on Cricket Laws are needed.

Besides all of these, many Cricket Leagues, like NJSCUA which has already taken the lead in this area, are now taking a serious view about the qualification and competence of an Umpire and have started a mechanism of having multiple grades of Umpires', purely based on their qualification, experience, knowledge, professional decision making ability and competence and there are obvious rewards for being a top rated Umpire.

In conclusion, Cricket, is like so many sports, needs competent Umpires' to officiate so that others may enjoy the sport.  With a deep love for cricket and a firm commitment to improve overall Umpiring standards as well as generally improving on the knowledge of Cricket Laws for everyone who shares the same views, NJSCUA with the help from USACUA, is attempting to provide processes that will help each Umpire (and scorer or players) feel confident and prepared going into round one of the new season.

Learning how to Umpire or score is not meant to be an academic exercise but to equip you to do the job to the best of your ability. This can give great personal satisfaction and not only help gain the respect of the players but make the day more interesting and enjoyable for you and for everyone else connected with the game.

This as a personal invitation to consider becoming a competent\certified Umpire (or Scorer) and thereby making the third team of a match.  You do not have to have played the game but it is an advantage. The duties are not too onerous, but you do require some level of fitness and a desire to "Get it right", and have time to fit it into your busy lifestyle.  This is an ideal opportunity for an enthusiastic Umpire (and Scorer) to participate in these development programs and mix with fellow Umpires' and Scorers' and to  progress up the ladder, if you so wish, with the help of a Training Officer.  These Training Officers are available to assist you develop the skills, both on and off the field.

Devising and developing effective education, training and assessment programs for Umpires' and Scorers' is immensely challenging, not in the least because of the fact that effective Umpiring and Scoring demands a combination of practical skills & academic knowledge, and systematic training to apply and where applicable, interpret that knowledge meaningfully.  However, a lot of the motivation for Umpires' and Scorers' to get trained is undoubtedly based in vocational rather than academic aspirations. 

Instead of discouraging its members with assessments that require elaborate written answers or forbiddingly high minimum scores in those assessments, USACUA's education programs are based on proven teaching precepts that encourage people to want to learn these skills and to qualify.  The training sessions are also designed in an interactive, fun-filled format that includes the use of visual aids like slide shows, photographs, animations, video sequences as well as hands-on, real-life illustration using props.

This certainly does not mean that Umpires' training is easy.  It is NOT.  But it is more appropriate for today's learners.

The training program, which is both regular and structured, will mirror the annual training session that have been conducted in Brooklyn , NY over the years, with augmentation of videos and practical sessions, among other additions.  Periodically we will seek the presence and expert guidance of our experienced and illustrious Umpires' whose knowledge and expertise is fortunately accessible to us during this course, subject to their availability.

This course has been designed to meet the training and education needs of Umpires' registered, who have made a commitment to Umpiring and seek to attain a higher standard of performance through continuous improvement of their knowledge and skills. 

Each session concentrates on Laws related to specific topics, with special emphasis on those most likely to be administered during matches. But this is not 'rote-learning' - learners will not just understand what the Laws say but why they say it. A considerable amount of home study is also required, together with regular written work. In addition to assessment throughout the course, this course concludes with a multiple choice/multiple option assessment.

The course covers key aspects of man-management; conflict resolution; communication skills; field-craft techniques; use of body language, humor and personality; duty of care, etc, needed for any on-field decision. In other words, all the basic personal skills, qualities and attributes necessary for controlling the conduct of the players and a match.

1. The first step would be to send in a preliminary e-mail to Ump-Training@NJSCUA.com, expressing your intention to join for this course.  We will respond back via e-mail, indicating whether or not, the enrollment is possible at that time and give you information about the program.
   
   
2. If the enrollment is still open, the next step would be to become a member of NJSCUA and through us, to USACUA.  For this, you will have to download/complete & hand in the 2 application forms listed below;
   The NJSCUA Training Membership Application Package can be downloaded from here (Item #3 in Application Forms section, in page http://NJSCUA.com/Home/Rules.asp).
   The USACUA Membership Application Form (for Members outside NY) can be downloaded from here (http://usacua.com/application_for_membership_nonNY.doc).
   
   The completed application form, with attachments, enclosures, etc. along with a NON-REFUNDABLE check (for amount equivalent to the package you chose) addressed to NJSCUA. can be mailed to the following address:
   
   Mr. Syed Ahmed,
   Secretary,
   The New Jersey State Cricket and Umpire’s Association (NJSCUA)
   331 NINTH ST, CARLSTADT, NJ 07072
   
   
3. On receipt of the completed application form with check & other docs, we would then process your application and indicate to you whether or not, your application was successful. 
   
   
4. If your application was successful, the next step would be to attend the training course and be eligible for any exams or assessments and continue the same process going forward.
   
   
5. During all of these times, the basic requirement would be to pay up the annual membership dues (payable to NJSCUA every year) and NOT be delinquent financially.
   
   

Join... and...Try a taste of life on the centre pitch!!!