By Russell Bennett
There’s no two ways about it – the West Gippsland Cricket Association is running worryingly short of official umpires.
But many in and around the association may not realise just how short.
At this stage, there are only 15 umpires on the official panel. To put that into context, there are 12 games across the Premier, District, and Sub-District divisions each week.
On the weekend, there were just 11 total registered umpires available.
It’s already at the point where the league can no longer guarantee two umpires for each Premier division game.
It’s a worrying prospect for first XI games set to decide the eventual make-up of the finals.
Respected WGCA umpire and association vice president Mike McKenna spoke to the Gazette on Saturday about the situation currently facing the competition.
“There’s a District game today – Cardinia versus Tooradin – where there’s no umpire,” McKenna said of the Round 4 clash between two traditional rivals.
“We’ve now said that, based on the limited numbers, we’ll have one umpire stand in each A Grade game – including Premier.
“There’s not necessarily going to be two umpires for every Premier game.
“When I first joined the association, we had 28, 32 umpires on the books and you’d miss out and sometimes you’d find yourself umpiring a B Grade game.”
McKenna puts the situation down to one key factor – LOVE.
That is – Lack Of Volunteer Effort.
“There are a lot of clubs who have a lot of senior players who’ve retired and go off and do other things,” McKenna explained.
“But this isn’t just an issue for cricket – it’s football, it’s every sport.
“Still, for cricket – both junior and senior cricket – it’s exceptionally difficult.”
The WGCA is after anyone who loves the game – such as former players – to give something back when they can.
“It’s to give something back to the game, or just enjoy some time in the middle,” McKenna said.
“You’re the number one spectator and you’re out there for some great play, and you’re right in the thick of it.
“I got the chance to see one of the best catches I’ve seen in my life – (Clyde skipper and keeper-batsman) Kiefer Peries down leg-side. It was an insane catch, and I saw it right there from square leg.”
And for those interested, the league is coming to the party to encourage new umpires to get involved.
“It’s paying for people to do their online accreditation, and it’s paying their first year membership fees – which is about $140 worth of contribution that we’re offering for anyone who wants to get involved,” McKenna said.
“It’s online, it takes 25 minutes to do, and anyone who’s got any cricket nous could do it.
“Then they’d have someone stand with them for the first couple of games they umpire before we leave them to it.”
McKenna is a former player who first got involved in umpiring when an umpire asked him an all too familiar question – one that many players or former players would be asked at cricket grounds each week: “Mate, if you think you can do a better job, why don’t you have a go?”
For anyone who’s willing to get involved in helping the competition, all they have to do is email Ian Fuller at wgca@umpire.cricketvictoria.com.au. Official umpires are paid for their time.
