Association of Cricket Officials Issue 32 | Page 29

FAQs Q A Q A Is there support available if I have a problem with Play-Cricket Scorer Pro? Yes, we provide swift help desk support seven days a week during the season, as well as hundreds of help guides and videos on the Play-Cricket site itself, which are updated and added to on a weekly basis to ensure all the information is in line with the current version of Play-Cricket Scorer Pro. There is also a very vibrant Google Forum for Play-Cricket Scorer Pro users, where the community can share thoughts and ideas, ask questions and generally share their scoring experiences. This forum can be found via the Help option on Play-Cricket Scorer Pro. Who do I ask about getting appointed to games other than my own club? Initially, you can contact your County Scorer Officer (CSO) and advise them that you want to undertake scoring with other teams. The CSO will be the contact point from your Regional Scorer Officer (RSO) when the National Scorers’ Officer (NSO) has national appointments that need to be filled. Additionally, MCC runs a scorers’ panel to score its 400+ matches a season. Scorers on this panel apply for games all over the country, including Lord’s and, sometimes, overseas. Your CSO can give you more information and also, if appropriate, pass your name to the RSO/NSO for consideration to score at one of the festivals or corporate events during a season. Q A Q A How do I find out who is my CSO or RSO? Contact ECB ACO Membership at Edgbaston ([email protected]) and they will be able to supply you with all the necessary details. I am getting on a bit and not comfortable with laptops and computers. Is there still a place for me in cricket? Yes, most definitely! A scorer’s role is to record the match and the decision on what method used to score a match is that of the scorer. Book scoring can be an artform and many enjoy recording the game in a book. An exception might be when the scorer is being paid, when that decision may be linked to payment. Any decision to update the scoreboard, provide a live feed or update any national player database is secondary. However, the introduction of technology has allowed scorers to take on more roles, record more information and, rightly or wrongly, become a more recognised part of the game. Q A Q A ? Is it best for a young person interested in scoring to wait for the next training season or look for an online course? Initially, I would recommend speaking to experienced scorers and watching a scorer in action will help in deciding the next action. Club Scorer is a free online course available through the ECB website at www.ecb.co.uk/be-involved/officials. Many counties run tutor-led courses, which can be found on the website, and CSOs are always willing to help new scorers with queries. How can I progress? Contact your CSO for guidance and advice. There is also an Education and Accreditation Scorer summary document available through the Who’s the Umpire (WTU) website at www.whostheumpire.com email us at [email protected] contact us on 0121 446 2710 29