“Off-Field” Resources & Activities That Help Develop Our Skills & Abilities



Lindsey Buckingham

(of Fleetwood Mac fame):

“If you are any good at all, you know that you can always improve.”

(I think Simon Taufel may have said something like this about cricket too)

 Both need to constantly improve methods for:  Establishing Routines (before/during/after games)  NOT just forming habits!

 Observation  Do you have a plan to observe what you need to?

 Memory and Recall  How does your memory play tricks on you?

 “Good” Decision-making  …as opposed to ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ decisions  Effective Self-assessment  …and the avoidance of lying to yourself….

 Umpires and Scorers need to approach their craft during the following times:  Before the game commences  During the game  After the game finished  The time between “After the game”, and “Before the game commences” may be 6 months…..!

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Goal Setting

• (Failing to plan = Planning to fail); The 6 Ps!

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Need to set “SMART” goals

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What kind of Goals should we set ourselves?

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How many?

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On what topics?

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Should I involve my match-day umpiring partner?

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How do I measure my level of achievement?

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Effective o

bservation is fundamental to accurate evaluation and decision-making:

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Observation → Evaluation → Conclusion

• Understanding what your responsibilities as an umpire are is critical: • Time-keeping (when was the batsman out? etc.) • Players leaving and entering the field of play • • Over-throws Running between wickets • • • Have the batsman crossed at important points in the game?

Players entering the protected area Was the delivery legal (height etc.)?

• • Damage to the pitch, and how it occurred Where did the ball pitch?

• What other responsibilities do we need to keep on top of?

  The way in which memory works is very complicated – and almost entirely faulty!

Many studies have found that physical and cognitive issues significantly reduces our ability to recall our observations accurately!

• Regular exercise • • Increases oxygen to your brain.

Reduces the risk for disorders that lead to memory loss, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

• • Managing stress • May enhance the effects of helpful brain chemicals and protect brain cells.

Cortisol, the stress hormone, can damage memory if the stress is unrelieved.

• Stress makes it difficult to concentrate.

• Good sleep habits • Good/Planned Nutrition

Correct Decision Incorrect Decision Bad Decision Good Decision • You “guessed” correctly; • You didn’t see all of the relevant information; • You used the appeal to help you make your decision • You feel relieved that “you got away with that one!” • You “guessed” incorrectly; • You didn’t see the relevant information; • You used the appeal to help you make your decision • You are unhappy that you “got caught out with that one!” • You saw all of the relevant information and could recall it; • You applied the appropriate law accurately and consistently; • You reviewed your decision before giving it.

• You know that you didn’t see all of the relevant information; • You applied the appropriate law accurately and consistently; • You reviewed your decision before giving it.

• You are honest with yourself and the players

Correct Decision Incorrect Decision Bad Decision Good Decision • You “guessed” correctly; • You didn’t see all of the relevant information; • You used the appeal to help you make your decision • You feel relieved that “you got away with that one!” • You “guessed” incorrectly; • You didn’t see the relevant information; • You used the appeal to help you make your decision • You are unhappy that you “got caught out with that one!” • What goals would you set that would enable you to make ‘good & correct decisions’ more often?

• You know that you didn’t see all of the relevant information; • You applied the appropriate law accurately and consistently; • You reviewed your decision before giving it.

• You are honest with yourself and the players

 Umpires and Scorers that wish to improve their performance must eventually “tell themselves the truth” about their skills and abilities.

 Until you recognise AND accept that you are deficient at some element of your umpiring, you cannot possibly improve it.

 Deficiency DOES NOT mean you are terrible at something – it just means that there is real room for improvement….

 If you can define the deficiency, you can set SMART goals to address it…..

 Self assessment is the formal method by which TCUSA members are able to acknowledge their set of skills, and to determine their level of performance in applying them.

 ….but it is more than just filling out a form….

 The self assessment document is really a letter to yourself, with your mentor/Richard CC’d in on the conversation!

 “Talking to yourself is the only way that you can guarantee intelligent conversation” – E. Blackadder

Self Assessments Using the STAR Format

 The S.T.A.R.

format is an easy and short way to capture performance activities and accomplishments. 22

The STAR Format

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S

ituation: Describe the conditions under which you achieved/failed your critical tasks 

T

ask: Describe what you did during the game/season to create the results you achieved.

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A

ctivity/

A

ction: completed, or actions you took that contributed to your results Include additional activities you 

R

esult: Describe what you accomplished.

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STAR Examples

For each Critical Element…answer the following questions 

Situation:

What was the situation I faced? 

Task:

What was my task in that situation?

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Activity:

What activity/action did I take?

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Result:

What result(s) did my action(s) produce?

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 There are many aspects of umpiring and scoring that can be practised off-field:  Becoming a ‘student’ of the Laws…  Honest communication with others (i.e. umpires/players/officials/mentors/Richard)…  Improving concentration…  Improving observation and recall skills…  Conflict management…  Self-assessment/reflection skills…  To improve your “on-field” performance, you must set goals for each of these elements…..