The LCU&SA is extremely grateful to James E McCall, our colleague in NIACUS for permission to reproduce his six articles on concentration which first appeared in the NIACUS journal, Follow-On. We think they will bear reading and re-reading by all umpires and scorers.

The stimulus and inspiration for these essays on CONCENTRATION was the excellent and enlightening presentation on 'Concentration', given by Professor Aidan Moran, at the Annual Seminar organised by ACU&S Ireland at Drogheda in February 2007.

The entire article is also available here as a PDF document for printing.

Concentration - concentration - concentration

Concentration is a crucial attribute for umpires and scorers alike in cricket at all levels. The importance of concentration is obvious in many aspects of everyday life, for example, when driving a car. Different traffic situations require different levels of concentration and the same is true in umpiring. It is not possible to maintain the highest level of focused attention for hours on end when either driving or umpiring, nor is it necessary to do so. On the road, normally the main focus of attention is the car in front, although it is important to be aware of vehicles coming in the opposite direction as well as those following. Similarly in cricket, each umpire will have a main focus of attention, with each delivery, whilst retaining an awareness of other events as they unfold on the field of play.

The level of concentration required when travelling at speed on a busy motorway, or in rush hour traffic, is much greater than that required on a quiet country road. In the more relaxed rural situation it may even be possible to 'take in some of the scenery' while retaining the degree of attention necessary to deal with the different potential hazards encountered. So it is in cricket umpiring. Before each delivery, the umpires will have a wide field of observation, with a broad range of focus. As the bowler moves in, the focus of the bowler's-end umpire narrows progressively to the position of the feet in the delivery stride. The focus then switches quickly to the ball in flight and narrows further to the point of maximum concentration as the striker receives the delivery. Remember that, in addition to observation, concentration involves listening! After the batsman has had the opportunity of playing the ball, the focus either remains on the movement of the ball or broadens again to take in the fielders as well as the batsmen, depending on what happens to the ball. When the ball becomes dead, the focus broadens totally and the level of concentration can change into a more relaxed mode.

On any journey, the level of concentration required is frequently changing and it is essential to be aware of changing circumstances. It is never possible to relax or 'switch off' completely. Around 100 drivers are killed each year in the UK by falling asleep at the wheel and over 300 deaths occur on the roads due to the inattention or a lack of concentration by drivers. Although it does not have the same fatal consequences on the cricket field, it is absolutely crucial that an umpire does not lose concentration completely or 'fall asleep' mentally. In an exciting match, with a close finish, it is absolutely essential that the umpires maintain the same high level of attention 'to the death' as they exercised at the start of the game. Even in a dull, one-sided fixture if an umpire's concentration drops for a second, it is likely that something crucial will occur at that moment. Always expect the unexpected!

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