Record turnout for course

A massive turn out for the Cook Islands Cricket Association’s latest certificate courses has got CICA president Oliver Syme in a rather enthusiastic mood.

“Last week 18 umpires went through the CICA Level 1 umpiring course, this is by far the greatest turn out we have had for such a course in several years,” said Syme.

He puts the record numbers down to the new-found enthusiasm and interest cricket has been receiving these past few months.

Syme is a firm believer that umpiring is an essential part of the development of senior and junior playing standards. He feels that as umpires begin to disseminate their skills amongst players he would expect to see a marked improvement in player ability and strategic awareness.

Six of the applicants will be eligible to sit on CICA’s new elite umpires panel, which will see them mentored by CICA as well as provided with the resources to support them in their own development.

CICA general manager Alister Stevic said that there are other certificate courses they plan to roll out this year including a certificate in scoring, which will be delivered on the November 26 between 5pm and 7pm at the Cook Islands Sports and Olympic Committee office in Taputapuatea.