Courses - ECB Association of Cricket Officials - ECB

ACO Education & Courses

ACO courses are available to one and all. For more information on becoming a member please click here

ECB Umpire Level 1

The premise behind the syllabus for this Course is recognition that the laws can be divided into two types - practical and administrative. For a copy of the Level 1 syllabus please see the document below:

Level 1 Syllabus (437 KB)

Thirty four counties out of a possible 40 have run the new ECB Umpire Level 1 course, or their equivalent, with over 900 participants.

Click the file below to view all courses available nationally:

ECB ACO - Courses (111 KB)

ECB Umpire Level 2

We are pleased to report that we successfully ran our first 1st4sport Level 2 Certificate in Sport Officials in Cricket (Umpire) and our first 1st4sport Level 2 Certificate in Sport Officials in Cricket (Scorers) in March 2009.

Click the file below to view all courses available nationally:

ECB ACO - Courses (111 KB)

Any umpire or scorer wishing to join a Level 2 Course should apply in the first instance to their County ACO Education Officer. A list of contacts is below:

Officials Course - Contacts (68 KB)

Correspondence courses are being run for scorers. Please click here for more information.

ACO courses are available to one and all. For more information on becoming a member please click here

If you require more information please call ECB ACO on 0207 432 1240 or email ecbaco@ecb.co.uk

Do I have to take an exam to become an umpire or scorer?

There is no absolute need to take any exams but if you want to officiate at higher levels of the game, local league cricket and above, you will have to be a member of ECB ACO for insurance purposes if the league does not have its own insurance for officials and be on a recognized training pathway that will involve examinations.

To officiate in any organized league it is also a requirement to have a Criminal Records Bureau check which can be organized through ECB ACO.

So why take any exams if I just want to do my own club?

Several reasons – the Laws of cricket are quite complicated and even on a Level 1 course we can guarantee you will learn something you didn’t know about the Laws no matter how long you have played for.

However, the courses do not just “teach you the Laws” but offer an understanding and interpretation of them and the field craft in how to apply them.

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.

All course can be found in the document below:

ECB ACO - Courses (111 KB)