January, 2010	

Greetings to all Great Lakes Region Lacrosse Umpires!

You are part of USL (US Lacrosse) and the WDOC (Women’s Division Officials Council) that is the governing body for Women’s Lacrosse Umpires.  Within the WDOC there are six Super Regions (we are all members of Super Region V) and 16 Regions (we are all members of the Great Lakes Region).  Our Great Lakes Region includes umpires from nine Local Boards (Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin “Badgers”, Southern Ohio, Central Ohio, Northern Ohio, Indianapolis, Northern Indiana and Illinois).

For example, I am a member of the Illinois Local Board of the Great Lakes Region of Super Region V of USL.  Elaine Torvinen is a member of the Michigan Local Board of the Great Lakes Region of Super Region V of USL.  

Familiarize yourself with this structure and be sure to share it with others at rules interpretation meetings, clinics, trainings and ratings.  
 
Each Local Board, Region and Super Region has a “chair”.  Chairs for the 2010 season are:

 Super Region V Chair – Elaine Torvinen (lovetoref@comcast.net)
 Great Lakes Region Chair – CarolLynn Davey (carollynn@lakeshorelacrosse.com)
 Northern Ohio Local Board Chair – Mara Banfield (msjlax@yahoo.com)
 Central Ohio Local Board Chair – Linda Strapp (lindastrapp@gmail.com)
 Southern Ohio Local Board Chair –  Diana McClouth (dianam@cinci.rr.com)
 Kentucky Local Board Chair –  Mary Brainard (dyslebrain@insightbb.com)
 Michigan Local Board Chair – Doug Curry (curryd@slcs.us)
 Northern Indian Local Board Chair --  Darla Davis (pddaphy@aol.com)
 Indianapolis Local Board Chair --  Candis Parry (candisparry@sbcglobal.net)
 Illinois Local Board Chair – Helder Weil (helderweil@gmail.com)
 Wisconsin Local Board Chair – Caitlin O’Connell (caitlinm@umich.edu)

UMPIRE REQUIREMENTS

To be in what we commonly refer to as “IN GOOD STANDING” with your Local and Region Board, you must complete the following 6 tasks (#1-#4 must be completed annually; #5 and #6 must be completed by your rating renewal date):

1)	Attend a locally “scheduled” Rules Interpretation Meeting (see rules meetings section below).  Attendance at the National Convention does not count as attending a local rules interpretation.
2)	Pay Local Board Dues 
3)	Renew US Lacrosse, Inc. Membership 
4)	Pass a Written Test (see written test section below). 
5)	Provide minimum “service” to both your Local and Region Boards (see “service” section below)
6)	Pass a Practical – “on field” – Rating Test (see rating section below) by Dec. 31 of the expiration year

RULES INTERPRETATION MEETINGS (as of 1-31-10)

All umpires are REQUIRED to attend a Rules Interpretation Meeting that is given by a District or National rated umpire who attended the 2010 National Umpire Convention.  There are meetings “scheduled” throughout the Great Lakes Region that may be attended by any umpire in the Great Lakes.  

Check the listing below:

••Wednesday, FEBRUARY 17, 2010

Chicago Area

INTERPRETER =Lindsay Morgan/ CarolLynn Davey (lindsay.freberg.morgan@gmail.com)

Location =St. Ignatius 1076 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608 
Time = 

••Sunday, MARCH 7, 2010

Chicago Area

INTERPRETER -  Lauren Rippy (lrippy2002@yahoo.com)

Location = 365 Raider Way Bollingbrook High School, Bollingbrook, IL
Time  = 4:00

••Thursday, February 18, 2010

Southern Ohio Area

INTERPRETER -  Lissa Fickert (sowlua@gmail.com 937-671-4999)

Location =  Ursuline Academy, 5535 Pfeiffer Road, Cincinnati, OH
Time  = 6:00

••Sunday, February 21, 2010

Central Ohio Area

INTERPRETER -  Linda Strapp (lindastrapp@gmail.com)
Location =  Orange High School,  OH
Time  = 9:00 AM

••Saturday, February 27, 2010

Northern Ohio Area

INTERPRETER -  Laurette Payette (laurettepayette@gmail.com)

Location =  Western Reserve Academy, OH
Time  = 10:00 AM

••Sunday, February 28, 2010

Michigan

INTERPRETER -  Elaine Torvinen (lovetoref@comcast.net)

Location =  MHSAA Office, 1661 Ramblewood, East Lansing MI
Time  = 12:30.

 ••Sunday, March 7, 2010

Michigan

INTERPRETER -  Elaine Torvinen (lovetoref@comcast.net)

Location =  Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois, Troy MI 48083
Time  = 12:30.
 ••Sunday, January 31, 2010

Kentucky

INTERPRETER -  Mary Brainard (dyslebrain@insightbb.com)

Location =  Kentucky Country Day
Time  = 2:00

  ••Saturday, February 6, 2010

Kentucky

INTERPRETER -  Mary Brainard (dyslebrain@insightbb.com)

Location =  Kentucky Country Day
Time  = 9:00 am

  ••Saturday, February 20, 2010

Kentucky

INTERPRETER -  Mary Brainard (dyslebrain@insightbb.com)

Location =  Kentucky Country Day
Time  = 9:00 am

DUES

US Lacrosse and your Local Board collect dues annually.  US Lacrosse dues support the operation of US Lacrosse and provide umpires with the rulebook, the manual (online), insurance, and “Lacrosse Magazine.”  Dues paid to your Local Board helps offset the expense of recruiting and training officials, sending the board chair (or proxy) to the National Lacrosse Convention each year for the rules interpretation meeting (required of all Local Board Chairs), as well as the general operation of the Local Board.  

USL Memberships expire September 30 each year.  For example, if you are a current member, your membership expires September 30, 2010.  Follow these directions to renew your USL membership:

To Renew your USL membership with a credit card online:

1.	Go to www.lacrosse.org
2.	Follow the directions to renew your membership (you will need your membership # located on your membership card or the label of the Lacrosse magazine).
3.	Pay your $50 annual dues. You will need a credit card.
4.	When they ask which rulebook you want, you only need the USL rulebook unless you are doing NCAA games (Division I, II, or III).  If you do both, you get one book with your membership and have to order the other one at an additional cost.

To Renew your USL membership with a check and a hard copy membership form:

1.	Go to www.lacrosse.org
2.	Follow the directions to renew your membership
3.	Print the membership form
4.	Send completed membership form and check for $50 (made out to: US Lacrosse) to US Lacrosse office (the address is on the inside cover of the rulebook).  See #4 in the above section for ordering the USL rulebook, the NCAA rulebook, or both.

  Written Test                                                                                                                                                                      

All umpires are required to take and pass the written test given by US Lacrosse.  The test is now available at the following link:  http://www.uslacrosse.org/wdoc/youth_level.phtml.  It is always a good idea to print out the answer sheet and take the test before completing it online.  Information regarding the required score you must achieve is also available at the above mentioned link.   Once you have completed the test make sure to provide your local board chairs email so they will get a copy of your results.  

Service

As District and National umpires we are required to do service to our region as well as to our local board.  The service requirements are found in section 10 of your manual.  Please look it over and become familiar with what is expected of you.  I am well aware that you are the people responsible for most of the service provided to our region, thank you!!  I am going to begin to track service hours provided.  With that said, please make me aware of any hours you have given and continue to give throughout your rating term.  Again, Thank you for all you do!! 

Clinic And Rating Opportunities For Returning District Umpires

CLINIC (“REFRESHER”) FOR RETURNING DISTRICT UMPIRES

Ohio State Lacrosse Pre Season Scrimmage Day 
Saturday, February 6, 2010 Biggs Classroom 
District “Refresher” Clinic 1-4 PM (flyer attached)
Contact  Person:  Laurette Payette

RATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RETURNING DISTRICT UMPIRES

1.Ohio State Lacrosse Pre Season Scrimmage Day 
   Saturday, February 6, 2010  
   District Umpires’ Rating Opportunity 5-7 PM
   Woody Hayes Fieldhouse, Columbus, OH (flyer attached)
   Contact Person:  Laurette Payette

2.NCAC Lacrosse Pre Season Scrimmage Day and
   District Umpires’ Rating Opportunity
   Sunday, February 21, 2010
   12:30-4:00 or 3:00-6:30 PM
   Premiere Soccer Academy – Amherst, OH (flyer attached)
   Contact Person:  Connie Walton
  
 3. WCLL Championships
    Sunday April 17, 2010
    University of Toledo
    Contact Person:  Lissa Fickert  (lfickert@woh.rr.com)

4. MSLA Tournament – High School Play
    Ratings
    Friday May 14 – Sunday May 16, 2010
    Cleveland, OH
    Contact Person:  TBD

5. Indian Prairie Showdown,
    July 30-August 1, 2010
    Naperville, Illinois
    More Details to Come

6. Robert Morris, October 2010
    More Details to Come

CLINIC/TRAINING FOR NEW DISTRICT UMPIRES

1. Hannigan Tournament – High School Play
    Clinic and Ratings
    Friday, April 16, 2010 6-9pm
    Saturday, April 17,  8am-5pm
    Worthington High School, Columbus, OH
    Contact Person:  Connie Walton (waltonc@hudson.edu)

2. MSLA Tournament – High School  Play
    Clinic and Ratings
    Friday May 14 – Sunday May 16, 2010
    Cleveland, OH
    Contact Person:  TBD

3. Indian Prairie Showdown
    July 30-August 1, 2010
    Naperville Illinois
    More Details to Come

RATING OPPORTUNITES FOR NEW DISTRICT UMPIRES

1. Hannigan Tournament – High School Play
    Clinic and Ratings
    Friday, April 16, 2010 6-9pm
    Saturday, April 17,  8am-5pm
    Worthington High School, Columbus, OH
    Contact Person:  Connie Walton (waltonc@hudson.edu)

2. WCLL Championships
    Sunday April 17, 2010
    University of Toledo
    Lissa Fickert - Contact

3. MSLA Tournament – High School  Play
    Clinic and Ratings
    Friday May 14 – Sunday May 16, 2010
    Cleveland, OH
    Contact Person:  TBD

4. Indian Prairie Showdown
    July 30-August 1, 2010
    Naperville Illinois
    More Details to Come

 That’s all for now!   Mark your calendars for the rules interpretations meetings and ratings sessions.  Renew your memberships and take the written test.  See you soon.

All umpires are encouraged to attend and observe skill instruction clinics, local high school practices, and local college practices in order to learn what the local coaches are teaching.  It helps your officiating to understand what the offense and defense are trying to accomplish within the rules.

All “rated” umpires are expected to help during practical testing opportunities.  SERVICE