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Victorian Womens Cricket Umpires Association Inc – 2016/17 Square Leg Umpiring Assistance Program

Square Leg Umpiring

This booklet provides an insight into

the role and duties of acting as a

Square Leg Umpire

When performing the role as a

Square Leg Umpire it is important to

understand that whilst you may be a

member of the batting team when

you are acting as an umpire your

role is impartial and thus you are not

really a member of the batting team

but you are a member of the

‘umpiring team’.

If you have concerns of any nature, it

is wise to consult with the appointed

umpire.


Square Leg Umpiring

(This article is taken from the WCCC 2016/17 Handbook - page 6)

There may be occasions where you may be called on to act as a Square Leg Umpire. This position is

equally as important as the main umpire, and involves a number of duties, which we list below for your

information.

Please read carefully:

1. Count the balls bowled in each over and confer with partner by way of a prearranged signal.

2. Watch for, then call and signal any short runs at your end.

3. Give descriptions (decisions) on appeals for:

(a) Hit wicket

(b) Stumped

(c) Run out (at your end)

4. Call the signal No Ball when: the wicketkeeper does not remain wholly behind the wicket until the ball

delivered by the bowler touches the bat or person of the striker, or passes the wicket or the striker

attempts a run.

5. Check there are no more than two fielders behind the line of the popping crease on the on-side at the

moment of delivery.

6. Be ready to give advice to partner in instances where he/she may have been unsighted.

7. Do not act as a coach whilst Square Leg Umpiring.

Let us all remember that when we are umpiring we are taking on the responsibility for conducting the game in a fair and orderly manner.


1. Count the balls bowled in each over and confer with partner by way of a prearranged signal.

Whilst the appointed umpire will count the

deliveries in the over it is a good assist for

him/her that the ‘Square Leg Umpire’ also

ensures the ball count is correct. The use of a

ball counter is recommended.

Umpires generally confer by way of a pre-arranged signal when there

are two deliveries remaining to complete the over.

It is recommended that, as the picture shows, the two split fingers

shown on the leg nearest to the appointed umpire is the preferred

method – by doing this the fingers do not get ‘lost’ in other clothing or

bare arms.

2. Watch for, then call and signal any short runs at your end.

When batters are running to score runs the Law

states that a batter must have some part of her bat

or person grounded behind the popping crease in

order to complete a run.

This batter obviously does not have the bat grounded

behind the popping crease


3. Give descriptions (decisions) on appeals for:

(a) Hit wicket

It is important that whilst at square leg you fully concentrate on the popping crease and your peripheral

vision will see what happens at the stumps. The reasoning for this being the batter must have some part

of her bat or person grounded behind the popping crease.

If the batter plays “back” be prepared for the possibility of a Hit Wicket decision

Can be because the batter trod on the stumps

Can be the batter hit the stumps by bat or person

(b) Stumped

If the batter plays “forward” be prepared for the possibility of a Stumping decision

(c) Run out (at your end)

When batters are running it is vital that you, as the Square Leg Umpire, are watching for the batter to

‘touch down’ or make good her ground at your end. Sometimes it may appear that the batter may not be

going to make it when a run out ‘is on’, a lot can happen in the final two or three metres, so focus is vital.

Your peripheral vision will notice whether the bails have removed the correctly. All above cases it is not

necessary for both bails to be removed - removal of only one bail is sufficient.


4. Call the signal No Ball when: the wicketkeeper does not remain wholly behind the wicket until the ball

delivered by the bowler touches the bat or person of the striker, or passes the wicket or the striker

attempts a run.

5. Check there are no more than two fielders behind the line of the popping crease on the on-side at the

moment of delivery.

Should there be more than two fielders

behind square leg the umpire is obliged to

call and signal no ball however in WCCC it is

a good option should the Square Leg Umpire

notice this before the bowler commences her

run-up to notify the appointed umpire. This

type of no ball offence is commonly just

forgetfulness and in the Spirit of Cricket a

nice gesture

Picture shows the

call and signal of

no ball -

Umpire to give a

loud call of ‘no-ball’

and one arm

extended


6. Be ready to give advice to partner in instances where he/she may have been unsighted.

Cases where this advice may be offered could be:

the position of running batters when a catch is

taken,

did the ball carry on the full to a fielder in a case of

a catch?

was an outfield catch near the boundary taken

within the field of play?

did the ball reach, or carry, the boundary thus the

ball is dead and boundary allowance to be given?

Should either Umpire have need to leave position to consult with the other umpire then Dead Ball must be called

The responsibility for calling a no ball for a full ball above the waist rests solely with the appointed umpire

7. Do not act as a coach whilst Square Leg Umpiring.

The reason you are on the field is to fill the role of the Umpire at Square Leg

Let us all remember that when we are umpiring we are taking on the responsibility for conducting the game in a fair and orderly manner.

The WCCC encourages players to become involved in the Game of Cricket and when required to act as

the Square Leg Umpire to take up that role willingly. The VWCUA also encourages the training, by

experienced players, of players for that role. Technique is to have the trainee in front of the experienced

player who shall be giving tuition upon every delivery.

Essendon Maribyrnong Park with an experienced member

training a younger player for Square Leg Umpiring duties during 2015/16


Batter playing back – be aware of a Hit Wicket possibility

Batter playing forward be aware of a Stumping possibility

On days of extreme heat the VWCUA has no issue with the player Square Leg Umpire holding a water

bottle although it is expected the water is to be available for all players on the field, not just the batters.

Clothing worn by the player Square Leg Umpire must be noticeably different from the fielding team and

footwear must not be thongs/sandals etc. Footwear must be fully covered to avoid injury.

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