The Shropshire Association of Cricket Officials has produced an Umpires' Pathway document.
It aims to set out the steps on the road to becoming a qualified umpire.
Some of the early steps can now be done online and are free.
1. Basics of Umpiring
This course is aimed at club umpires who just need to know the key laws and basic field craft and those players who umpire for five or 10 overs at the weekend.
It can be booked via http://booking.ecb.co.uk/d/jnqlsg
Once that has been completed and a certificate issued, you can move on to the next step.
2. Umpire Stage One
This course is designed to give an overview of the basic Laws of the game and how to apply them and introduce the principles of field craft and match management.
This course is an ideal introduction for new club umpires, a refresher for existing umpires and the first step for those who aspire to umpire at higher levels.
It can be booked via http://booking.ecb.co.uk/d/fnqrf1
Once this has been completed, help is offer from SACO, who will arrange a two-hour session with anyone who has covered this course, and also provide mentoring to help them being umpiring in the League.
SACO member Tim Barber said: "At all stages of anyone's umpiring career, there is always someone at SACO available to talk to."
The Umpires Pathway document can be downloaded below.
For more information about umpiring, you can contact Mike Sheehy via mikeandvalsheehy@talktalk.net
