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[imogzyboy]

Hi chaps!

Just wondering if any of you guys have had to cut playing cricket early, I'm now on my second ankle reconstruction at the old of 26.... so yes I could probably play later on but I cant risk going through this again, so in after some advice, what ways could I still stay really involved with cricket? Is it hard to become an umpire in the bigger leagues like the prems? I haven't personally seen many young umpires are they out there? Any advice would be muchly appreciated whilst I'm recovering, thanks guys

[Jimbo]

From our club's experience with league umpires, a younger, keen umpire with good eyesight and hearing would be very in demand.

[ch1p]

Could you do a little bit of coaching? I've practiced with the sidearm and other coaching products and use that as a good way of being involved in the game.

Rugby injuries and always being a keeper meant I wasn't blessed when it comes to bowling so have used these as a way of staying more involved and not just being that guy who has a bat then sits off during nets. Might be difficult to throw a sidearm well with an ankle injury but you could always stand still and give throwsdowns etc.

Would your club benefit from a coach? You could either stay at your home ground or travel to the away matches and set up fielding drills as part of a warm up perhaps?

If not them umpiring might be the way to go...

[jamferg]

see if your league or club will fund an umpiring course?

[imogzyboy]

see if your league or club will fund an umpiring course?

Sounds like a good shout, I just cant leave the game altogether, I love my saturdays social and teas!

[Butterfingerz]

Sounds like a good shout, I just cant leave the game altogether, I love my saturdays social and teas!

Where about are you in the country? I turned to umpiring in my 30's, I was lucky that my league has a great mentoring systems for newbies and by the end of my first season was umpiring in the top division and the following season umpiring in the Yorkshire Premier leagues. All well and good knowing the laws of the game but the grat mentoring meant I had a good grounding. Happy to pass on any advise if you like.

[Wazza08]

I'm loving the coaching side, and could still enable you to be at match days etc.  Very rewarding too, and challenging at the same time.

[imogzyboy]

I'm in south wales

[Butterfingerz]

I'm in south wales

Do you have any contacts for your local ACO team?

[tenz84]

Someone that is enthusiastic to be involved in the non-playing aspects of the game should be snapped up by clubs, I think there are many out there that would love an umpire/coach. I'm sure you can really make a difference, sorry to hear you can't play anymore but I commend you for still wanting to be involved in cricket.

[Buzz]

Time to trade the bat collection for a fedora and one of these...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GAF3BSC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bpbpEbF94AVYD