Why don't you want to officiate lacrosse after college?

[Sonny]

With all the various levels of officiating desperately needing new refs around the country, I'm curious as to why more ex-MDIA players don't start officiating once they are finished with their undergraduate degrees.

Your honest input is appreciated....

[Dan Wishengrad]

I clicked "other" because as a college coach I can't ref college lacrosse, and also because my knees are so bad now I couldn't anyway.

But seriously, folks -- this is a great question. I reffed college club lacrosse for over 20 years, and found it to be extremely rewarding. This is a great way to "give back" to the sport we all love, and the $$ is great too -- tough to beat especially for young post-grads just entering the workforce. Where else can you earn over $50 an hour for a part-time job? Sign up, get a rule book and mechanics manual, attend a clinic and get out there in stripes. We NEED you!

[Sonny]

This poll question is designed for recently graduated collegiate players (say 10 years or less).

[Rob Graff]

This need is REAL!

The MN HS league is specifically limiting its teams to 10 in state games per team because there are not enough officials to allow for more games to be played.

This will severely dampen and restrict men's lacrosse in Minnesota. We need recent graduates to go into officiating.

Please help!

Rob

[mholtz]

I didn't want to do it because, frankly, I'm REALLY bad at it.

maybe with some training, and practice I might have gotten better, but for now I'll stick with coaching.

[Sonny]

The MN HS league is specifically limiting its teams to 10 in state games per team because there are not enough officials to allow for more games to be played.

This will severely dampen and restrict men's lacrosse in Minnesota. We need recent graduates to go into officiating.

I know a few years ago in Southern California, teams had to play neutral site doubleheaders for varsity H.S. games. 4 teams at one locale in back to back games with 2 officials to cover the doubleheader. Don't know if that is still the case or not. But it isn't fun for the refs, not to mention the fact that high school teams lost "home" contests because of the lack of officials.

[lil lady lax fan]

The MN HS league is specifically limiting its teams to 10 in state games per team because there are not enough officials to allow for more games to be played.

This will severely dampen and restrict men's lacrosse in Minnesota. We need recent graduates to go into officiating.

I know a few years ago in Southern California, teams had to play neutral site doubleheaders for varsity H.S. games. 4 teams at one locale in back to back games with 2 officials to cover the doubleheader. Don't know if that is still the case or not. But it isn't fun for the refs, not to mention the fact that high school teams lost "home" contests because of the lack of officials.

If you go to any of the So Cal youth lax league websites they are all looking for coaches and refs. Definitely a shortage out here.

[Tim Whitehead]

After I finished at SFU, I jumped immediately into playing club ball, and after two or three years of doing that, I started reffing as well. I tried it, and to be honest, I hated it. For me, the (minimal) enjoyment and money I got out of it just wasn't enough for the hassles (time and negative feedback) of being a ref. I've since stopped reffing and have started coaching youth and high school teams, and even though the time commitment is twice to three times as much, and I get no pay, I find that much more rewarding. It did give me a glimpse into how difficult it can be to ref, and I think that I am a little easier on refs now than I was before...

[wheelz33]

i tried reffing h.s lax my frosh year of college since i decided not to play ball that year. i was terrible at it (at least partly due to NO training), and the harassment i recieved during that year (while at LEAST partially deserved) was enough to scare me away from it for a while. after my playing days are over i may consider reffing again, only with proper training however. it takes a special person to ref i realized, knowing whatever you do somebody will always be pissed at you and you will definetly be hearing about it.

[laxfan25]

I didn't want to do it because, frankly, I'm REALLY bad at it.

maybe with some training, and practice I might have gotten better, but for now I'll stick with coaching.

I don't know Matt. You seem to call the game pretty well from the coach's box! Just kidding, we all know that was George's specialty.

[laxfan25]

You definitely can't just put stripes on a former player and send them out on a field - that's unfair to the player and unfair to the teams. Fortunately there are lax referee associations just about everywhere that are more than willing to help out and get you in an organized training program, and then work with you on the field. I am about to do another 6-hour (2 x 3)training class for new HS officials. the classroom stuff is good, but working the field is really where you get to put it into practice. There is no substitute. I have mentored many fellow players of mine over the years - it is always fun to get their reaction the first time they come off the field - "this is a LOT harder than it looks!". It can be tremendously rewarding however, and has kept me active in the game well after my playing days had ended. I feel like I am giving the teams a "level playing field", that no one will have an advantage because of bad calls, and the game will be safe and they will be protected, while still "letting 'em play lacrosse". Those that have lacrosse experience have a major advantage learning to ref the game than those that come into it from other sports with no game experience. The subjectivity of slash calls - when a check on the arm constitutes a slash vs. just a check is just one example of how game experience gives you an innate feel.
I highly, highly encourage any players or ex-players to consider taking up the avocation, but contact other refs and ask who to talk to about getting trained by before doing so. You'll be much happier and better on the field.
The time commitment is much less than coaching, which is a big advantage for me, and getting paid is a nice bonus.

[mholtz]

Just a thought... Maybe there are times when people are in "training" that they should do certain types of events for free, just for the experience.

I don't mean all the time, just some of the times.

i.e. we have an intrasquad scrimmage early in the spring, or late in the fall. I usually end up ref'ing that game, and my guys complain at me (mostly in jest) but I'd love to have a non coach officiating the game.

Advantages of this for coaches:
get to spend more time coaching
get better trained refs in the long run

Advantages of this for refs:
Get to get their feet wet in what is usually a really laid back event.

just a thought.

[laxfan25]

That is something we have done in GR with some of the HS teams in order to get the new recruits some field time. Our biggest problem is that the HS training takes place in the late fall/winer months, and there is not an indoor facility in the area, outside of a placve that has a couple small rinks with astroturf. They used to do 7 on 7 leagues there, but I don't think they even did that last year. Field opptys are certainly lacking.

[tamu33]

Here in the SWLOA- North. Referees go through a great training program. First we have recruiting events where we sell the idea of being an official and we outline what is expected on and off the field. Next we have the prospects come and watch a game with two experienced officials. (Usually a H.S. varsity game) If it still interests them, there is a classroom session where rules and mechanics are taught. We then have them shadow an experienced official at a fallball j.v. game. If need be the new official will shadow a few more times. (shadowing is at no cost to the teams) After that, the official is ready to try his hand at a middle school game with an experienced official as the referee. After a few games we allow them to enter a tournament, where the assignor places them with experienced officials at the middle school level for the whole tourney. After a tourney with 6-8 games experience, the new official is fairly ready for the middle school level season and to work his way up. Normally this training lasts from August (recruiting) until mid-november (last youth-tourney) and only the games where the official is not shadowing is he being paid. (normal rate for fall games here are 45 a game)

[LaxRef]

After a few games we allow them to enter a tournament, where the assignor places them with experienced officials at the middle school level for the whole tourney. After a tourney with 6-8 games experience, the new official is fairly ready for the middle school level season and to work his way up

Unfortuately, in many areas a first-year official is likely to end up doing HS Varisty games. It would be great if we could have the people who need the time cut their teeth on middle-school games for a year or so (fortunately, we occasionally get one or two new guys who are pretty darn good their first year, either because they played or they officiated other sports).

BTW, it's generally agreed that the best position from which to draw officials is the goalie position. They have a different persepctive on the game, so they tend to understand what the officials do better than anyone else.