THE Herefordshire Association of Cricket Officials are staging courses to encourage new umpires and scorers to become involved with the game.

"We run courses for those aspiring to officiate in games perhaps as they approach the end of their playing careers as a way to stay involved and to give something back to the game a lot of us have enjoyed for many years," said HACO secretary Alan Crook.

"Also, the courses can be taken to perhaps start a career in officiating at cricket matches. There is an opportunity to reach the highest level if that's the objective.

"Or a simpler reason could be that another family member is playing and a parent, or partner wants to be involved. Whatever the reason, we would welcome them to attend any of our courses.

"As some of our officials get older and leave the game completely, we are short of enough umpires to stand in matches in the GB Liners Marches League, and wish to appeal to the older players to take up umpiring or scoring.

"Either way, we need more people involved."

An umpires course will run on Wednesdays from February 18 to April 15 (closing date) while there is an introduction to scoring on February 22 and a level one scoring course on three consecutive March Sundays.

Contact Alan Crook (01568 614610, 07703 501749 or crookalan@hotmail.com) for the umpires course or Jan Herbert (01432 266152) for the scorers' courses.