Introduction
Umpiring away from home will certainly be a new experience for every umpire - it presents new challenges and opportunities. Many umpires have either impressed or otherwise by their performance and conduct while “on the road”. These days, in the world of “professionalism”, everything that you do as an international Umpire will be scrutinised and will reflect on you as an individual. This paper is designed to help youplan your trip away from home, make it an enjoyable experience and help you prepare for high performance. A lotof this information is common sense, but I hope that it helps make your next assignment a successful and enjoyable one.
Before You Leave
1. Develop a list of essential items that you may wish to take with you on your trip. Items that you may wish to considerinclude: -
Laptop computer
Camera
Glasses or contact lenses
Spare batteries
Passport and or airline tickets
Pillow
Mobile phone- and charger
Email contacts and contact phone numbers
Music player and CD’s
Power adapters (for other countries)
Visas (for other countries if applicable)
Vaccination card (for international travel, check on COVID requirements, e.g., compulsory testing and quarantine times)
Umpiring equipment (clothes, tools,and hat)
Anything else that would make your stay more comfortable e.g., Reading material.
Selected favourite food or snacks- e.g., fruit, muesli bars
2. Vaccinations (International) - Consult your doctor at least two weeks before you leave to seek advice on vaccination and medication requirements. You may also consider obtaining a traveler’s kit for the treatment of diarrhea and other stomach ailments.
3. Visas (International) - Contact the Embassy of the country that you are to visit and establish whethera Visa is required for you - this varies from country to country. If so, complete all the necessary paperwork in time before you travel and obtain your Visa. You may have to do this weeks in advance, depending on the requirements of the host country.
4. Luggage / Airline - Obtain appropriate luggage cases if required. Ensure that they can be secured with locks and if possible, carry at least one hard case bag with key locks and combination locks. Contact the airline if you are concerned about your luggage allowance to ensure that you do not get stuck with excess baggage costs at check in.
It is a good idea to pack your non-replaceable umpiring kit into your hand luggage. For example, if your luggage did not arrive in your destination with you, what items are most important to you and would be difficult to replace at your destination - those are the items that you should keep with you in your hand luggage.
Communication
Plan how you are going to keep in touch with your family, friends, and employer. If you are taking your mobile phone, ensure that your network will work in that area. Also establish the most affordable way to make calls - will it be cheaper for you to call home or vice versa? If you are not taking a mobile phone, consider doing the same homework on hotel call costs. For international travel, contact your provider to set up an international roam facility and establish indicative call costs and processes for making and receiving calls.
Do the same with Internet communication - consider using Internet cafes, as they may be a cheaper alternative to using hotel facilities. When travelling internationally, remember that the hotel charges most local calls by the minute! Do not forget to contact your ISP to establish the best way to get on-line when away from home.
Uniform/Clothing
When in transit, it is important to dress appropriately and comfortably. The ICC Office will advise on travelling kit. When travelling on an extended flight, you may wish to take a change of clothing onto the plane that it more comfortable and change into it during the flight. Then you can relax on the flight and change back into your uniform before arrival.
Research the climate in your destination and determine what sort of clothing that you will need to take. Take at least one change of warm or cool clothing to cover the extremes.
You will need at least two changes of clothes to cover the time it takes to have your laundry done.
Hotel Costs
Spending time away from home is not cheap. As you are provided with daily expenses, it is important to stretch that currency as far as possible and avoid extra costs. When checking in to the hotel, establish what costs are indicative of the services that you are likely to use. For example, local or international calls, room service charges, access to gym facilities, laundry, and mini bar. It is also a good idea to keep track of your account daily to ensure there are no errors when it comes time to check out - some memories are not as good as other!
Food/Diet
There are a large variety of foods available in hotels especially at breakfast time. It is important to maintain your eating habits when on the road and not start to eat foods just because they are available. The same can be said for evening meals - most restaurant meals are prepared for tastes (i.e., they may be cooked in saturated fats or have a substantial amount of salt), do not fall into the trap of thinking with your stomach rather than your head. The temptation is to eat too much which can make you feel uncomfortable.
Eat the same food groups that you are used to eating at home. If you are away from home and doing an important match, it is not the right time to start trying new foods such as curries or sea food - there is no need to take a risk of an upset stomach and an uncomfortable night’s sleep. Try not to splurge and let yourself go by taking advantage of all the food and drinks on offer maintain your normal dietary intake and you will feel better for it.
Sleep
Travelling, waiting in a multiple of queues and trying to sleep in an unfamiliar bed can be a tiring experience. It is vital for umpires to get a good night’s sleep - which means getting between 7-9 hours quality rest per night. Again, there is a temptation to let yourself go when away from home and stay out late. We would recommend keeping your nightly routines the same as at home, and this means getting a night’s sleep that your body and mind is used to. Sleeping in an unfamiliar bed can be disconcerting to some, so if you think that you may have a problem sleeping away from home, it may help taking your own pillow with you - it can really help a lot and make you feel more relaxed.
Summary
Umpiring away from home can be more stressful as you do not have all the local support that you are used to around you. It can be made easier if you plan your trip and items that you want to take with you. Try to keep your sleep and eating patterns like that of home and do not take unnecessary risks with late nights or food that you are not familiar with. Remember why you are there and what is the most important task at hand - to umpire to your potential, represent your Home Board and yourself with high distinction.
Comments