Mark Wickham
• Effective observation is
fundamental to accurate
evaluation and decision-making:
• Observation→ Evaluation → Conclusion
•Anything less will compromise our
ability to gather all of the information
required to make correct decisions
consistently:
• Even if you happen to get the decision correct, it
is none-the-less a “flawed decision”!
• More on this later……
•In the case of the sentence test
there were 6 Fs:
• People don’t tend to observe the
letter “F” when it is in the word,
“of” because the mind registers
the word as “ov”.
• Observation is a skill – like any
other - that umpires need to
continually develop in order to
improve their performance….
•Research from the USA has indicated
that only about 20% of sport officials
accurately observe what happens during
a given play, and have the skills to
evaluate that play accurately:
• How would we know whether we are in
that 20%?
•Observation is not as simple as it seems:
•“If you try to look at everything, you will miss
important details”
•“If you don’t have a plan to observe, you have a plan
to fail to observe”
•There are many brain processes, pre-
conceptions, and even beliefs that can
interfere with our observation and evaluation.
• “Selective Perception” covers most of these…
•“The hidden Tiger” was written
on the Tiger itself…but were you
were looking for another animal?
• Why were you looking for
another animal?
•Barriers to Effective Observation:
• Many observations based on expectations
and habit (‘selective perceptions’):
• In this approach, we organise what we see
according to our preconceptions (much like the
‘Tiger’ example…)
• What are the barriers to effective
observation we are aware of?
• Taufel’s “Proper Preparation…..” Presentation..
•Better observation takes two things:
• (a) Knowing what you need to be looking
for, and
• (b) Knowledge about the possible
variances in what you are observing
• This part takes patience and practice!
• “What is it that I need to observe
effectively as a cricket umpire?”
• Be a thorough student of the Laws and
Playing Conditions
• Understand how to observe all relevant
information consistently throughout the
day
•
…not as easy as it sounds – anyone ever miscounted
an over because of a distraction, unexpected event,
or being with a troubled partner on the day?
•Understanding what your responsibilities as an
umpire are is critical:
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Time-keeping (when was the batsman out? etc.)
Over-throws
Running between wickets
Players entering the protected area
Was the delivery legal (height etc.)?
Damage to the pitch, and how it occurred
Where did the ball pitch?
•What other responsibilities do we need to
keep on top of?
•Improving Observation:
• Increase your patience in order to “slow
down”, “relax” and “watch”
• Ask questions of your observation:
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e.g. “How did the ball get there?”
e.g. “How is the bowler using the crease in
their delivery stride?”
• Simply put, memory is the
mental activity of recalling
information that you have
observed, learned or
experienced.
•How memory and decision-making works:
• Observation→ Evaluation → Conclusion
•
(Perception)
(Memory)
(Decision)
You are the driver of a public bus. You leave the bus
depot with no passengers on board. First up, you drive
the bus 5km east, where you stop and you pick up 5
passengers (2 men, 1 boy and 2 women). Next, you drive
the bus 6km north, where 3 people get off the bus (1 man
and 2 women) and 6 people get on (1 man, 2 girls, 3
women – one of the women has a seeing-eye dog). Next,
you drive the bus 5km west, where 5 people get off (2
women, 2 girls and 1 boy) and 7 people get on (3 men, 3
women and 1 boy). Next you drive 4km south, where 4
people get on (4 men). Lastly, you drive the bus back to
the bus depot where all of the remaining passengers get
off the bus.
• Regular exercise
• Increases oxygen to your brain.
• Reduces the risk for disorders that lead to memory loss, such as
diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• May enhance the effects of helpful brain chemicals and protect
brain cells.
• Managing stress
• Cortisol, the stress hormone, can damage memory if the stress
is unrelieved.
• Stress makes it difficult to concentrate.
• Good sleep habits
• No smoking!
• Good/Planned Nutrition
•Back to the case about the bus driver:
•Using your memory – answer the following:
• How old is the bus driver?
You are the driver of a public bus. You leave the bus
depot with no passengers on board. First up, you drive
the bus 5km east, where you stop and you pick up 5
passengers (2 men, 1 boy and 2 women). Next, you drive
the bus 6km north, where 3 people get off the bus (1 man
and 2 women) and 6 people get on (1 man, 2 girls, 3
women – one of the women has a seeing-eye dog). Next,
you drive the bus 5km west, where 5 people get off (2
women, 2 girls and 1 boy) and 7 people get on (3 men, 3
women and 1 boy). Next you drive 4km south, where 4
people get on (4 men). Lastly, you drive the bus back to
the bus depot where all of the remaining passengers get
off the bus.
Bad Decision
Correct
Decision
Incorrect
Decision
•You “guessed” correctly;
•You didn’t see all of the
relevant information;
•You used the appeal to help
you make your decision
•You feel relieved that “you
got away with that one!”
•You “guessed” incorrectly;
•You didn’t see the relevant
information;
•You used the appeal to help
you make your decision
•You are unhappy that you “got
caught out with that one!”
Good Decision
•You saw all of the relevant
information and could recall it;
•You applied the appropriate
law accurately and consistently;
•You reviewed your decision
before giving it.
•You know that you didn’t see
all of the relevant information;
•You applied the appropriate
law accurately and consistently;
•You reviewed your decision
before giving it.
•You are honest with yourself
and the players
•The human mind is a reprogrammable
computing device:
• If you make a point to regularly practice
your observation skills,
observation/evaluation/conclusions will
get easier and more accurate.
• How can we improve our individual performance?
• How to we recognise our current levels of
performance?
• What can we do day-to-day/week-to-week etc. to
improve the levels of our performance?
• Do we set goals for improving our observations?
•Einstein: “If you always do what you’ve always
done. You will always get what you always
got!”
• Self Assessment:
• This will allow you to go back and check your own performance.
• We must set specific and measurable goals for our self-assessment,
and reflect honestly about what we NEED to improve to move
forward.
• Mentoring Programme?
• Wednesday Evening Umpire Meetings/Discussions
• Captains’ Reports (with a ‘grain of salt’ of course…)
• Fellow Umpire and/or Match Observer Reports
• Video Documentation
• Club Net Sessions?