Goodall intent on improving umpiring

Press, 5 December 1989, Page 42

Goodall intent on improving umpiring

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

One of New Zealand’s most distinguished cricket umpires, Fred Goodall, sees his appointment as the national director of umpire coaching, promotion and development, as another positive move towards the over-ail advancement of the sport in this country. Mr Goodall, formerly of Christchurch but now living in Wellington, retired from International umpiring last year after officiating in 24 official tests and two unofficial tests. He reached the milestone of 100 first-ciass matches in the Shell series domestic season last summer. Mr Goodall, who will address Christchurch umpires at meetings this evening and tomorrow evening, said that it was important to raise the standard of umpiring equally as much as it was to improve the playing level and quality of pitches. His contract with the New Zealand Cricket Council is for 12 months and will be

reviewed in September. His salary is being met by the Hillary Commission. Mr Goodall’s appointment will involve considerable travel. He will visit all 23 umpire associations in New Zealand — and he has already been to almost half of them — where he will watch the home umpires officiate in matches. “Afterwards I will talk to them about their good and bad points, Fm concerned with the practical side of their umpiring and I hope I can try and raise the over-all standard.” Mr Goodall cited four common faults that were recurring at most places he had visited. • Umpires verbally declining appeals but lifting their hands to check their ball counters thereby giving spectators the impression they are going to uphold the appeals. • Umpires using their heads Instead of lowering their eyes to check the foot placement of bowlers and therefore having to readjust

their line of vision before the ball reaches the batsman. • Umpires at the bowler’s end leaving the wickets too slowly to be in the correct position to rule on run outs. * Square leg umpires standing too deep. Mr Goodall, who has been umpiring for 32 years and stood in 102 first-class fixtures over 26 years, said that a national survey held by the New Zealand Cricket Umpires’ Association revealed that only 250 practising umpires were officiating throughout the country. He said that it was not easy to recruit umpires when players continually abused them and he considered the tour by Pakistan last season as a bad advertisement with the umpires repeatedly subjected to intimidatory tactics and abuse. After his Christchurch courses, Mr Goodall will stop at Ashburton, Timaru and Oamaru on the way to the New Zealand under 20 tournament in Dunedin from December 16 to 19.