UMPIRE CHECKLIST
This web page is for umpires, new or experienced, who are just starting to officiate in YPLN (or who already do but want to check they aren’t missing anything). It aims to provide a checklist to work through to get you up and running.
If you have any questions or problems while going through the following steps please email the league umpire manager Andy Inns at umpires@yplncricket.co.uk and also copy in assistant@yplncricket.co.uk and, depending on the query, the most appropriate person will get back to you.
To avoid confusion, here’s a quick explanation of the umpiring structure in YPLN (below the Premier Division):
In Premier Division 2 both umpires are provided by the YPLN Umpire Panel
In the Championship, the YPLN Umpire Panel provides one umpire, with the home team providing the other umpire
Clubs are responsible for providing umpires for matches in Division 1-5, the Sunday Leagues & the women’s divisions
The YPLN Umpire Panel always welcomes new members, so if you fancy trying a game or two as an appointed panel umpire just email umpires@yplncricket.co.uk
Having covered that, these are the ten steps we recommend going through to get ready for umpiring in the YPLN
Step 1: Get familiar with the resources on the league website
The main page can be found here https://www.yplncricket.co.uk/umpires-scorers/
Within that, check out the following pages:
A list of guides, links and forms that will be useful at various times: https://www.yplncricket.co.uk/umpires-scorers/guides-forms-links/
Details of umpire courses arranged by the league, the YCF, and the ECB: https://www.yplncricket.co.uk/umpires-scorers/umpire-courses/
Step 2: Ensure you have a valid ECB DBS certificate
Anyone umpiring in any YPLN division must have a valid ECB DBS certificate. DBS certificates arranged by another body, or an employer, or using the government’s “self-service” DBS system, are not acceptable substitutes. If you are umpiring for a club this is something that your club’s Safeguarding Officer (or another committee member) will help arrange for you. See the link here for more details. During the initial registration process we strongly recommend signing up for the ECB’s “annual update” service to ensure that your certificate gets renewed each year. Here's a guide to the (rather complicated) annual update service: https://www.yplncricket.co.uk/umpires-scorers/dbs-renewal-guide/
Step 3: Consider joining the ECB Association of Cricket Officials (ACO) if you haven’t already done so
This isn’t mandatory but we strongly recommend it. It doesn’t cost much and provides liability insurance which is very valuable. It also provides news updates, and access to the excellent kit available from the ACO shop (see “kit” item further down). The link can be found halfway down this page https://www.ecb.co.uk/play/officials/ecb-aco
Step 4: Consider joining the YPLN Umpire Association
This is a free resource for all YPLN umpires and is completely separate from the YPLN Umpire Panel (though Panel members are automatically added to it, so don't need to do anything). Joining allows the league to provide you with updates as necessary, such as league rule changes, ECB law changes and umpiring opportunities. It also gives access to the Whatsapp Groups that the league runs for umpires which are a great place to ask questions and get information: https://www.yplncricket.co.uk/umpires-scorers/umpires-association/
Step 5: Join one (or both) of our umpire Whatsapp groups
We host two Whatsapp groups, one for club umpires and another for members of the YPLN Umpire Panel. Many umpires are members of both, and club umpires are welcome to join the Panel Whatsapp group even if they aren't immediately planning to do matches as a Panel umpire. These Whatsapp forums are a very useful resource and provide a sense of community. Please email umpires@yplncricket.co.uk for the links to be added to either/both (include your phone number in the email if you want to be added directly without needing to click a link).
Step 6: Register on Play Cricket as a YPLN Umpire
This isn’t mandatory unless you are on the YPLN Umpire Panel. However, it has benefits for umpires at all levels, in that it makes it easier for scorers to add you to scorecards correctly, and for you to get access to details of league fixtures etc: https://www.yplncricket.co.uk/umpires-scorers/registering-on-play-cricket-as-a-ypln-umpire/
Step 7: For all YPLN Umpire Panel members, or umpires who are considering joining, register on “Who’s The Umpire” (WTU)
WTU is used to allocate YPLN Umpire Panel officials to matches: https://www.yplncricket.co.uk/umpires-scorers/registering-as-a-ypln-umpire-on-who-s-the-umpire/
Step 8: Familiarise yourself with the league playing conditions that apply in the division(s) that you are umpiring in
Handbooks or “Ready reckoners”, which can be easily printed and taken to matches, can be found at the top of this page: https://www.yplncricket.co.uk/umpires-scorers/guides-forms-links/ but will also be distributed in printed form at the Panel pre-season meeting in March.
The full league playing conditions for all Saturday divisions are here: https://www.yplncricket.co.uk/governance/playing-conditions/saturday-divisions/
If you are umpiring in the Sunday Vale League these are the regulations: https://www.yplncricket.co.uk/governance/playing-conditions/york-vale-sunday-division/
The Humber Sunday League regulations can be found here: https://www.yplncricket.co.uk/governance/playing-conditions/humber-league/
If you are umpiring women's matches then the playing conditions can be found within the "League Playing Conditions" section of this page: https://www.yplncricket.co.uk/governance/
Finally, if you will be umpiring in cup matches everything you need can be found at https://www.yplncricket.co.uk/cups/ (email assistant@yplncricket.co.uk with any specific cup related queries)
Step 9: Familiarise yourself with the DLS and “Run Rate” methods, depending on the division(s) that you will be umpiring in
In the Championship and above, if overs are lost after the match starts then DLS is used to calculate a target score for the team batting second. A guide to DLS can be found here: https://www.yplncricket.co.uk/umpires-scorers/guide-to-dls/
In Division 1 and below, captains have the option of using the “Run Rate method” instead of DLS (and will usually do so). Details of that can be found at https://www.yplncricket.co.uk/umpires-scorers/guide-to-run-rate-calculations/
Step 10: Get any kit you need
The league regulations simply stipulate dark trousers and a white shirt or umpire jacket. Many umpires choose to wear an ECB ACO jacket of some kind but this is not obligatory e.g. https://www.ecbacoshop.co.uk/listings/100093-aco-match-iii-jacket-ivory.html
You’ll want to get some umpire record cards of course. If you attend the panel preseason meeting cards will be provided there. Alternatively you can purchase them from many online suppliers (make sure to choose cards with space for at least 13 overs).