Bermuda Cricket Board of Control (BCBC) officials, scorers and players need a better understanding of rules if the level of cricket on the Island is to improve according to a top local umpire.

Speaking following the Bermuda Cricket Umpire Association's (BCUA) end-of-year meeting, association secretary Randy Butler said that too many people are unaware of the laws governing the game.

Butler said that kind of ignorance leads to unnecessary disputes, so he is encouraging groups to attend lectures in order to increase their knowledge of the game.

"I would say that a good 70 percent of our players don't have a clue about the real laws of the game, they've only come across the rules through playing and don't really know the laws,'' said Butler, who is one of several BCUA members fully certified by the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA).

"None of the captains come to the lectures and ask questions, they just assume they know. We normally do extend invitations to captains and try to find out when they can attend, but most don't come.'' Butler added that a strong code of conduct was also necessary to minimise players from running afoul of the laws and that the BCUA was willing to engage in talks with the board to help them sort out methods of punishment.

"It looks kind of one-sided in sports, where the BFA seem to be taking a firm hand and the referees are backed up by the BFA and we feel that a firm enough hand is not taken against cricketers,'' said Butler. "If what happened in cricket went on in soccer, guys would be long gone off the field and hopefully they (board) see it.

"I hope they will take a stern view of that and have a stronger code of conduct in that sense and send a clear signal. Fellows now actually think they can get away with anything they do.'' As far as the board not being in tune, Butler noted that an in-depth knowledge of the rules was needed to shed a clearer light on incidents of player insubordination. He said that does not mean pulling out the rule book only when an episode occurs.

The BCUA has quite a history of disagreements with the board over the handling of disciplinary matters. Butler was in fact suspended -- and then not invited to the hearing -- for the major part of the 1993 campaign after voicing objections over the ruling body's handling of disciplinary cases.

Said Butler: "How can we be backed up if the people in charge don't have a proper understanding of the rules. All we're trying to do is improve by encouraging people to attend the lectures. And we would like to see the standard of cricket, in terms of players on-the-field behaviour, improve along with it rather than deteriorate.

"If they come up with a young, Under-19 league or something like that, we want the young players to come to the games with some respect for the umpires and respect our decisions.'' While dormant for most of the 1994 season, the BCUA continued to sponsor a number of courses and lectures for umpires. Butler noted that with the recent confirmation by the board that the BCUA would again be in charge of officiating matches they were looking to start courses soon, with the first invitation going out to scorers.

Failings were exposed for all to see during this year's Cup Match when there was a discrepancy as to whether St. George's had passed Somerset's total or whether the pair were level.

"Early next year we hope to encourage the scorers to get involved in terms of coming out to lectures, because there are a lot of little things, situations like we had during Cup Match, that could be avoided,'' continued Butler. "We encourage scorers to join the Umpires Association, not only to know us, but there are scoring courses as well as far as understanding the laws, the signals and what goes on. It would make it a lot simpler out there.'' Rating the level of umpiring in Bermuda, Butler said the officiating was of a higher standard than that of the players. He said that was because officials attend lectures and meet regularly, quickly sorting out any problems members may have.

Still, he believed there was room for improvement.

One certainly not in that category is Ronald O'Hara, who Butler was confident of receiving his full license after recently sitting for the final written examination. He and the BCUA now await the results from the West Indies.

The association is also preparing delegates for next year's WICUA convention in St. Vincent (May 21-26). Four are scheduled to travel to the Caribbean Island and Butler said that the WICUA was interested in receiving an update as to how things were progressing here in Bermuda, especially after last season's impasse.

Randy Butler