High school boys and girls lacrosse has experienced explosive growth over the past several years. And along with it, the need for new lacrosse referees has grown quickly as well. Here are a few things to know if you decide to become a lacrosse referee. Lacrosse officials work in pairs or groups of three, depending on the level of play.
Because of the size of the field and speed of the game, officials must be in excellent condition to keep pace with the action and maintain proper position to observe play. Communication is done both verbally and through the use of hand signals. A firm knowledge of all lacrosse rules and approved signals is essential to the success of a lacrosse official.
Duties of lacrosse referees include checking for legal lacrosse equipment, watching for rule infractions, and tracking and approving the score. Particular attention must be paid to illegal body contact (particularly to the head) and unsportsmanlike behavior.
Lacrosse Referee Training
USLacrosse offers extensive training for both new and experienced lacrosse officials. Training support in the form of rulebooks, DVDs and online videos can be obtained from their website. USLacrosse also sponsors local clinics as well as a mentoring program to assist lacrosse umpires with their continuing education.
To become a lacrosse referee you will be expected to pass a written exam and complete and on-field test to demonstrate understanding of how to apply the rules and use approved mechanics. Junior programs are also promoted.
To learn about becoming a lacrosse referee at the high school level, select your state from the choose a state page and follow the links to your state’s athletic association.
Lacrosse Referee Equipment and Uniform
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- Black and white striped shirt
- Black shoes
- Black skirt for women
- Black slacks or white shorts for men
- Black belt
- Fox 40 whistle with finger grip
- Warning cards
- Pocket scorecards
