Umpires needed ahead of GCA 2022/23 season

THE next Geelong Cricket Association (GCA) season is just over a month away and cricket’s unsung heroes need some extra recruits.

GCA umpiring coordinator Arthur Hodgson said the association hoped to have just over 30 registered umpires in its cohort by the end of the 2022/23 season, adding more quality and depth to Geelong’s officiating ranks.

“Through our ongoing recruitment campaign, we have got our number of officials back up to 21 for the coming season.

“But we need more umpires for each division, we have four divisions and 16 umpires to cover games involving First XI squads, then those officials start feeding down into Second XIs and third XIs.

“Ideally over the next couple of years, I’m hoping to improve the umpiring participation levels to around that 30 mark, which creates a better experience for the players and the game in the GCA.”

Women’s cricket in the region is growing at a rapid rate in the Barwon Women’s Cricket Competition (BWCC), further adding to the need for more umpires, according to Hodgson.

“We’re actually recruiting women through the BWCC to take up umpiring as it was a recurring answer in a recent poll we conducted, that players had expressed interest in becoming an umpire,” he said.

“We have had two ladies send through expressions of interest and we’re now hoping to get a female recruitment co-ordinator to facilitate umpire acquisitions in the women’s league.”

Another major development ahead of the 2022/23 season has been umpire wages within the GCA.

In partnership with member clubs, the GCA is increasing matchday rates to $200 for one-day cricket and $180 for two-day appointments, an increase from $140 and the first pay rise since the 2014-15 season.

To express interest in becoming a GCA umpire, phone Arthur Hodgson on 0447 711 818.