Umpiring
Want to start umpiring?
For all individuals wishing to start and umpiring journey, the starting point is the ECB Umpiring Course.
The Umpiring pathway
The pathway is accessible to everyone, allowing participation in any gender of competition.
The diagram below illustrates the Umpire Progression Pathway for 2025, starting from junior levels to professional teams.
Men's Cricket
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Promotion Criteria
Open application when opportunities arise from our M2 Umpires.
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Promotion Criteria
Deadline for Expression of Interest for Promotion
30 April 2025 to County ACOMinimum number of matches
(within gender of competition for promotion)
15Minimum number of boundary observations
3Minimum score for boundary observation
42MCC Laws of the Game exam
Intermediate test (min 90%)Judgement for promotion outcome
ECB Officiating DepartmentTo be promoted to M2 (and, therefore, the ECB M2 National Panel), the umpire must:
+ Have umpired a minimum of any 15 matches at Level 3 or higher. These matches should include Premier League matches at the equivalent level or higher and include a variety of formats (such as multi-day and limited overs cricket) at the equivalent level.+ Have successfully completed the MCC Intermediate Laws test, achieving a mark of 90% or higher between 1st January 2025 and 31 st May 2025.
+ Have received a minimum of 3 Boundary Observations by an Umpire Developer on any game at Level 3 or higher.
+ Have achieved a score of 42 or greater on a minimum of 3 Boundary Observations on a game at Level 3 or higher.
+ Have received marks from captains on Level 3 competition(s), which demonstrate that they have performed to a high standard throughout the season. (Example: Top quartile of end of season merit table).
+ Have been invited to do so by the ECB, following the post-season ‘evaluation day’
+ Note that the eligible matches and boundary observations must be from Men’s Game Pathway matches.
Where an umpire receives more observations than the minimum requirement, the required score is only required for the minimum number of observations required. For example, an umpire seeking promotion from Level 3 to Level 2 who receives three observations, must achieve a minimum mark of 42 on each observation. Should the umpire receive four observations, a minimum mark of 42 is required on any three out of the four observations received.
All observations undertaken during the 2025 season, must be submitted as part of any application.
Where an umpire is required to receive three or more observations, these must be completed by different Umpire Developers. An umpire submitting observations which achieve the minimum required mark from the same Umpire Developer will not be eligible for promotion.
All independent observations undertaken for Level 3 to Level 2 purposes, must be completed by Umpire Developers who have attended specific Umpire Developer training delivered by the ECB Officiating Department ahead of the 2025 season.
The umpire applying for promotion is responsible for ensuring that evidence of meeting the above criteria is uploaded by 31st October 2025 to a unique SharePoint folder which can be requested by the County ACO Development Officer at the end of the season. The ECB Officiating Department will share invites to the postseason ‘evaluation day’ to eligible umpires by the end of November 2025. -
Promotion Criteria
Deadline for Expression of Interest for Promotion
30 April 2025 to County ACOMinimum number of matches
(within gender of competition for promotion)
10Minimum number of boundary observations
2Minimum score for boundary observation
38MCC Laws of the Game exam
Intermediate test (min 80%)Judgement for promotion outcome
County ACOTo be eligible for promotion, the umpire must evidence the following criteria, which must be from the gender of competition for which the application is made:
+ Has umpired a minimum of any 10 matches at Level 4 or higher.+ Has successfully completed the MCC Intermediate Laws test, achieving a mark of 80% or higher between 1st January 2025 and 31 st May 2025.
+ Has received a minimum of 2 Boundary Observations by an Umpire Developer on any game at Level 4 or higher.
+ Has achieved a score of 38 or greater on a minimum of 2 Boundary Observations on a game at Level 4 or higher.
Where an umpire receives more observations than the minimum requirement, the required score is only required for the minimum number of observations required. For example, an umpire seeking promotion from Level 4 to Level 3 who receives two observations, must achieve a minimum mark of 38 on each observation. Should the umpire receive three observations, a minimum mark of 38 is required on any two out of the three observations received.
Where an umpire is required to receive two or more observations, these must be completed by different Umpire Developers. An umpire submitting observations which achieve the minimum required mark from the same Umpire Developer will not be eligible for promotion.
The umpire applying for promotion is responsible for ensuring that evidence of meeting the above criteria is sent to the County ACO Development Officer by no later than 30th September 2025. The County ACO for which the umpire is a registered member will notify the outcome to the umpire by the end of November 2025. -
Promotion Criteria
Deadline for Expression of Interest for Promotion
30 April 2025 to County ACOMinimum number of matches
(within gender of competition for promotion)
7Minimum number of boundary observations
1Minimum score for boundary observation
38MCC Laws of the Game exam
Basic test (min 80%)Judgement for promotion outcome
County ACOTo be eligible for promotion, the umpire must evidence the following criteria, which must be from the gender of competition for which the application is made:
+ Has umpired a minimum of any 7 matches at Level 5 or higher.+ Has successfully completed the MCC Basic Laws test, achieving a mark of 80% or higher.
+ Has received a minimum of 1 Boundary Observation by an Umpire Developer on a game at Level 5 or higher.
+ Has achieved a score of 38 or greater on a minimum of 1 Boundary Observation on a game at Level 5 or higher.
The umpire applying for promotion is responsible for ensuring that evidence of meeting the above criteria is sent to the County ACO Development Officer by no later than 30th September 2025. The County ACO for which the umpire is a registered member will notify the outcome to the umpire by the end of November 2025.
An umpire who progresses from Level 6 to Level 5 during the 2025 season, may apply for promotion to Level 4 in the same season if the County ACO are able to facilitate the request and that there is a realistic prospect that the umpire may achieve the required criteria for promotion to Level 4. In these specific cases only, the deadline for application does not apply. -
Promotion Criteria
Minimum number of matches
(within gender of competition for promotion)
5MCC Laws of the Game exam
Basic test (min 80%)Judgement for promotion outcome
County ACOTo be eligible for promotion, the umpire must evidence the following:
+ Has umpired a minimum of any 5 matches within the gender of competition for which they are applying for promotion.+ Has successfully completed the MCC Basic Laws test, achieving a mark of 80% or higher.
Promotion from Level 6 to Level 5 can be processed at any time by the County ACO Development Officer once they are satisfied that all the above criteria have been met by the umpire.
An umpire seeking promotion from Level 6 to Level 5, does not need to complete the ‘Expression of Interest’ form as this promotion can be applied at any time during the season. -
Promotion criteria
Achieved on completion of the ECB Umpire Course
Women's Cricket
-
Promotion criteria
Open application when opportunities arise from our W2 Umpires
-
Promotion Criteria
Deadline for Expression of Interest for Promotion
30 April 2025 to County ACOMinimum number of matches
(within gender of competition for promotion)
10Minimum number of boundary observations
2Minimum score for boundary observation
42MCC Laws of the Game exam
Intermediate test (min 90%)Judgement for promotion outcome
ECB Officiating DepartmentTo be promoted to M2 (and, therefore, the ECB M2 National Panel), the umpire must:
+ Have umpired a minimum of any 10 matches at Level 3 or higher. These matches should include Premier League matches at the equivalent level or higher and include a variety of formats (such as multi-day and limited overs cricket) at the equivalent level.+ Have successfully completed the MCC Intermediate Laws test, achieving a mark of 90% or higher between 1st January 2025 and 31 st May 2025.
+ Have received a minimum of two Boundary Observations by an Umpire Developer on any game at Level 3 or higher.
+ Have achieved a score of 42 or greater on a minimum of two Boundary Observations on a game at Level 3 or higher.
+ Have received marks from captains on Level 3 competition(s), which demonstrate that they have performed to a high standard throughout the season. (Example: Top quartile of end of season merit table).
+ Have been invited to do so by the ECB, following the post-season ‘evaluation day’
+ Note that the eligible matches and boundary observations must be from Men’s Game Pathway matches.
Where an umpire receives more observations than the minimum requirement, the required score is only required for the minimum number of observations required. For example, an umpire seeking promotion from Level 3 to Level 2 who receives three observations, must achieve a minimum mark of 42 on each observation. Should the umpire receive four observations, a minimum mark of 42 is required on any three out of the four observations received.
All observations undertaken during the 2025 season, must be submitted as part of any application.
Where an umpire is required to receive two or more observations, these must be completed by different Umpire Developers. An umpire submitting observations which achieve the minimum required mark from the same Umpire Developer will not be eligible for promotion.
All independent observations undertaken for Level 3 to Level 2 purposes, must be completed by Umpire Developers who have attended specific Umpire Developer training delivered by the ECB Officiating Department ahead of the 2025 season.
The umpire applying for promotion is responsible for ensuring that evidence of meeting the above criteria is uploaded by 31st October 2025 to a unique SharePoint folder which can be requested by the County ACO Development Officer at the end of the season. The ECB Officiating Department will share invites to the postseason ‘evaluation day’ to eligible umpires by the end of November 2025. -
Promotion Criteria
Deadline for Expression of Interest for Promotion
30 April 2025 to County ACOMinimum number of matches
(within gender of competition for promotion)
10Minimum number of boundary observations
2Minimum score for boundary observation
38MCC Laws of the Game exam
Intermediate test (min 80%)Judgement for promotion outcome
County ACOTo be eligible for promotion, the umpire must evidence the following criteria, which must be from the gender of competition for which the application is made:
+ Has umpired a minimum of any 10 matches at Level 4 or higher.+ Has successfully completed the MCC Intermediate Laws test, achieving a mark of 80% or higher between 1 January 2025 and 31 May 2025.
+ Has received a minimum of two Boundary Observations by an Umpire Developer on any game at Level 4 or higher.
+ Has achieved a score of 38 or greater on a minimum of two Boundary Observations on a game at Level 4 or higher.
Where an umpire receives more observations than the minimum requirement, the required score is only required for the minimum number of observations required. For example, an umpire seeking promotion from Level 4 to Level 3 who receives two observations, must achieve a minimum mark of 38 on each observation. Should the umpire receive three observations, a minimum mark of 38 is required on any two out of the three observations received.
Where an umpire is required to receive two or more observations, these must be completed by different Umpire Developers. An umpire submitting observations which achieve the minimum required mark from the same Umpire Developer will not be eligible for promotion.
The umpire applying for promotion is responsible for ensuring that evidence of meeting the above criteria is sent to the County ACO Development Officer by no later than 30 September 2025. The County ACO for which the umpire is a registered member will notify the outcome to the umpire by the end of November 2025. -
Promotion Criteria
Deadline for Expression of Interest for Promotion
30 April 2025 to County ACOMinimum number of matches
(within gender of competition for promotion)
7Minimum number of boundary observations
1Minimum score for boundary observation
38MCC Laws of the Game exam
Basic test (min 80%)Judgement for promotion outcome
County ACOTo be eligible for promotion, the umpire must evidence the following criteria, which must be from the gender of competition for which the application is made:
+ Has umpired a minimum of any 7 matches at Level 5 or higher.+ Has successfully completed the MCC Basic Laws test, achieving a mark of 80% or higher.
+ Has received a minimum of 1 Boundary Observation by an Umpire Developer on a game at Level 5 or higher.
+ Has achieved a score of 38 or greater on a minimum of 1 Boundary Observation on a game at Level 5 or higher.
The umpire applying for promotion is responsible for ensuring that evidence of meeting the above criteria is sent to the County ACO Development Officer by no later than 30th September 2025. The County ACO for which the umpire is a registered member will notify the outcome to the umpire by the end of November 2025.
An umpire who progresses from Level 6 to Level 5 during the 2025 season, may apply for promotion to Level 4 in the same season if the County ACO are able to facilitate the request and that there is a realistic prospect that the umpire may achieve the required criteria for promotion to Level 4. In these specific cases only, the deadline for application does not apply. -
Promotion Criteria
Minimum number of matches
(within gender of competition for promotion)
5MCC Laws of the Game exam
Basic test (min 80%)Judgement for promotion outcome
County ACOTo be eligible for promotion, the umpire must evidence the following:
+ Has umpired a minimum of any five matches within the gender of competition for which they are applying for promotion.+ Has successfully completed the MCC Basic Laws test, achieving a mark of 80% or higher.
Promotion from Level 6 to Level 5 can be processed at any time by the County ACO Development Officer once they are satisfied that all the above criteria have been met by the umpire.
An umpire seeking promotion from Level 6 to Level 5, does not need to complete the ‘Expression of Interest’ form as this promotion can be applied at any time during the season. -
Promotion criteria
Achieved on completion of the ECB Umpire Course
For more information on the umpire pathway in 2025, including latest updates, promotion criteria and more click here.
Available documents to download
Umpire Competency Framework (Appendix A)
ECB Umpire Developer Report (Appendix B)
Umpire Expression of Interest for Promotion - 2025 (Appendix C)
Looking for games to umpire?
Are you looking for Umpiring opportunities across different levels? Become a member of the The ECB Association of Cricket Officials (ACO) to get access to officiate fixtures at local level as well as ECB competitions.