Scorer Practical Assessment

In this lesson you will learn how the practical assessment is organised. First, you register your interest. An authorised WFA assessor or committee member reviews your progress through the pathway and approves you to take the assessment. Next, a suitable match is arranged, and you score it while the assessor observes, either alongside you or by reviewing your record against an independent one. You will be assessed on the whole process, from preparation to the final scorecard. Afterwards the assessor gives feedback. If you do not meet the standard first time, you can try again, up to three attempts in total, with feedback to help you improve.

• Register interest and await approval
• Score a match under observation
• Assessed from preparation to final scorecard
• Feedback given; up to three attempts

In this lesson you will review what the assessor expects before the first ball. You should arrive in good time, set up where you can see both umpires, and have the equipment you need, including spare pens, a backup book or sheets, and a charged device if scoring digitally. Record the competition, date, venue, teams, toss and number of overs correctly. Obtain and check the batting orders and team lists. Agree with your fellow scorer how and when you will cross-check, and introduce yourself to the umpires. The assessor is looking for calm, organised preparation that sets up the whole match for success, as covered in WFA1001 and WFA1009.

• Arrive early with a clear view of the umpires
• Correct equipment and backups ready
• Match details, toss and overs recorded correctly
• Cross-checking agreed with your colleague

In this lesson you will review the core standard: accurate ball-by-ball recording. Every delivery must be recorded in the right place, with runs credited to the correct batter and charged to the correct bowler. You must track the strike after odd runs and at the end of each over, record boundaries clearly, and acknowledge every umpire signal before the next ball. Dismissals must be recorded with the correct method, fielder and bowler, and only bowler's wickets credited to the bowler. The assessor will compare your record ball by ball with an independent one, so steady concentration throughout both innings is essential. This draws on WFA1002.

• Every delivery recorded in the right place
• Strike tracked after odd runs and each over
• Every signal acknowledged
• Dismissals recorded and credited correctly

In this lesson you will review the standards for extras and bowling figures from WFA1003 and WFA1004. Wides and no balls must be recorded correctly, charged to the bowler and not counted among the six legal balls; no balls must be counted as balls faced while wides are not. Byes and leg byes must be recorded as extras and not charged to the bowler. Any five-run penalties must be recorded separately. Each over must contain six legal balls, maidens must be identified correctly, and each bowler's overs, maidens, runs and wickets must be accurate, with the four-over limit under standard T20 playing conditions tracked throughout.

• Wides and no balls charged to the bowler
• Byes and leg byes not charged to the bowler
• Penalty runs recorded separately
• Accurate O-M-R-W and bowler limits tracked

In this lesson you will review the scorecard standards from WFA1005 and WFA1007. At the end of each innings, your batting card must show each batter's dismissal, runs, balls faced and boundaries, with not outs and did not bat clearly shown. The extras breakdown and total must be correct, written as runs for wickets with the overs faced. The fall of wickets must show the team total at each wicket, and partnerships, if requested, must add up to the total. The bowling card must balance: bowlers' runs plus byes, leg byes and penalty runs must equal the total, and bowlers' overs must equal the innings overs.

• Complete batting card with balls and boundaries
• Correct extras breakdown and total
• Fall of wickets and partnerships balance
• Bowling card balances against the total

In this lesson you will review what you may be asked about run rates and interruptions, from WFA1006 and WFA1008. During the chase, you should be able to give the current run rate, runs required, balls remaining and required run rate quickly and correctly, converting overs to true decimals. If play is interrupted, you must record the exact score, wickets and overs to the ball, and the times play stopped and restarted. Any revised target must come from the authorised calculation under the WFA competition regulations, agreed with the umpires. The assessor will check that you know your role and do not attempt to set an official target by hand.

• Give run rates and runs required correctly
• Convert overs to true decimals
• Record exact details at any interruption
• Revised targets only from the authorised method

In this lesson you will review the verification standards from WFA1009, WFA1010 and WFA1011. The assessor will look for regular end-of-over checks with your fellow scorer, and agreement with the umpires at intervals. When you make a mistake, as everyone occasionally does, you should find it promptly, trace it to the right ball and correct it properly: a single neat line on paper, or the undo or edit function in an app, followed by a check of later figures. If you score digitally, you must manage your device and backup sensibly. Handling an error well counts in your favour; hiding one does not.

• Regular end-of-over cross-checks
• Agree with the umpires at intervals
• Correct errors properly and openly
• Manage devices and backups sensibly

In this lesson you will review the final stage of the assessment. When the match ends, you must record the result correctly, such as won by a number of runs, won by a number of wickets, a tie or a no result. You must run every balance check, compare your record with your fellow scorer, agree the totals and the result with the umpires, and submit or hand over a verified final scorecard. You should also understand how the result affects the table: three points for a league win, one for a tie or no result, none for a loss, and two for a win in the Winter Cup, as covered in WFA1013.

• Record the result in the correct form
• Run every balance check
• Agree totals and result with the umpires
• Understand how the result affects the table

In this final lesson you will review the professional standards expected throughout and look ahead. The assessor will note your impartiality, courtesy to umpires, players and your fellow scorer, focus throughout the match, and respect for data protection and safeguarding. After the assessment you will receive feedback. If you meet the standard, you will receive the WFA Match Scorer Award and be trusted to keep the official record of league matches. Remember that this is a WFA award, not an ECB qualification. If you would like to go further, the ECB and its Association of Cricket Officials offer recognised scorer courses. Thank you for supporting the Winn Family T-20 League.

• Impartiality, courtesy and focus throughout
• Respect data protection and safeguarding
• Successful candidates gain the WFA Match Scorer Award
• ECB and ACO offer recognised scorer courses