Click HERE to become an official!

Why should I become a women’s lacrosse official?

Refereeing lacrosse is a great way to stay involved with the game, keep up with new rules, and stay in shape. Also, lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the US and the ratio of lacrosse officials to youth players is approximately 1:36 – we need you! Officiating can be a good second job that you can work into your schedule as you determine your availability.  Also, most of us have had the benefit of organized sport at some point in our lives, and officiating is a great way to give back.

How to become a ref: The training process

The requirements for certification as a new umpire include participating in a classroom training session for new refs, attending a rules interpretation meeting and on-field training, taking an open book test on-line, and receiving an on-field evaluation called a rating. Later in the year you will also be involved in one or more service activities that put you in good standing with the board. Additionally, you will have to pay dues to the local board and our national governing body, US Lacrosse.

  • Attend the rules interpretation meeting – Go over the current rulebook with an experienced ref in a classroom environment. Learn which topics are being emphasized in the coming year, ask questions that the rulebook hasn’t answered for you and discuss situations that are hard to call.
  • Take the on-line rules test – This test is designed to get refs to read and understand the rulebook each year, not as a measure for weeding out the inadequate. It is an open-book test that you can retake if necessary. However, since you will not be able to read your rulebook on the field, you should do your best to be able to answer all the questions without the book and just use it to confirm your answers if necessary.
  • Get your field rating
  • Mentor program – Each new ref is paired with a veteran for the duration of the season. Your mentor is an important resource that you should be in contact with regularly. Especially at the beginning of the season, it is a good idea to check in with your mentor before or after each game to discuss any questions and concerns. The insight of an experienced official is an invaluable tool for improving and being comfortable with your calls. You should use this resource as much as possible.
  • Other opportunities – In an effort to prepare and encourage the women’s lacrosse umpires of Illinois to be as well trained as possible and also comfortable and confidant when they step onto the field, IUB offers additional opportunities and support. These include Saturday morning workshops, during which you can trail an experienced referee and eventually practice blowing your whistle during a scrimmage, and additional optional classroom meetings for asking questions and getting advice. It is each person's responsibility to get out and practice on the field to be prepared for the season. Your on field rating should not be your first game experience.
  • Pay $15 in local dues – Covers costs of training, paper, scheduling, etc.
  •  Pay $50 in US Lacrosse dues – Entitles you to supplemental health insurance, an annual rulebook, and a monthly periodical

Cost & Time commitment: Training and getting started

Dues - $60 + Uniform cost - $60 to $100 (Shirt, kilt, black shoes, whistle, cards, flag)
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No more than $200 – which comes out to approximately 3 days of games or one tournament’s worth of reffing. 

~ 2 hrs to take the rules test
~ 2 hours to take a training clinic
~ 4 hrs to be rated – New refs should arrive early to watch other refs, shadow, and ask questions. Ideally you will be on the field for about an hour.
~ 9-12 hours of classroom time
~ As much additional time as it takes to read the rulebook, manuals, etc. and understand them well. This will be where the majority of the time commitment comes in. Realistically you will probably want to flip through your manual almost daily to check up on questions and scenarios that occur to you throughout the season. The manual will have answers to most of your questions and you will need to be motivated and self sufficient to use it effectively.

…and hopefully at least a few extra hours trailing an experienced ref at one of the Saturday morning workshops.

WDOC Service Credits

US Lacrosse requires that all rated umpires provide annual service to their Local Board to be a member in good standing. The IUB requires 4 credits per year for novice umpires (the number of required credits increases with your rating) and provides many opportunities to earn those credits. Credits can be earned by volunteering or reffing at play days, mentoring apprentice refs, auditing clinics, performing local board work and much more…

Officiating in Illinois

There are many refereeing opportunities in the Chicago area. In addition to high school games, there are competitive club teams, educational youth programs, NCAA games, college clubs teams, and tournaments in the spring and fall.

High school games

Scheduling – IHSWLA uses an online scheduling program at arbitersports.net. It is VERY easy to use. Games are assigned throughout the season and show up on your calendar with boxes allowing you to accept or decline. Game time, location, contact numbers and skill level will all be listed as well.

Game times & Locations – Games are scheduled from mid March through May, most days of the week. Early games start at 4pm or 4:30pm, evening games can start as late as 8pm. Games are available in Chicago as well as the North, West and South suburbs.

Payment – Refs give an invoice to the home team who is responsible for payment.  Schools usually send checks a few weeks after the game. Pay depends on the level of play and the number of refs and is generally about $50 per IHSWLA game and about $35 per game for high school club teams and tournaments.

Club teams and tournaments

Scheduling - Assignments are given based on each individual's experience, rating, and location – from brand new youth players through Division 1 NCAA games.

Payment - For college club games pay is generally around $100 per game. The home team or host of the tournament is usually in charge of payment.

The IUB lets officials know when there are reffing opportunities.

NCAA

In order to be assigned to NCAA games you need to have a few seasons of officiating under your belt, and hold at the least a Local 3 rating (but more likely a District or National rating). NCAA assignors are in charge of the games in their region, which are assigned to the most experienced officials with the highest ratings. These games are always worked by three referees, so you must be skilled at the three person system before receiving an NCAA game.
Annual Membership fees are as follows : 
(follow links to access membership online payment)

USL (US Lacrosse) : 
$50.00 

IWLUB (Illinois Woman's Lacrosse Umpiring Board) :  
$40.00  - For a returning official.  
$15.00 - For a new official.
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