Category: Officials

by WisconsinLacrosse

US Lacrosse Announces Officials Coordinators

US Lacrosse announced the creation of the Boys’ and Girls’ State Officials Coordinators.

Randy Kohn is the new Boys’ Officials State Coordinator  and Jessica Ivory is the Girls’ Officials State Coordinator.

US Lacrosse Officials Development State Coordinators will serve as the primary liaison for Wisconsin in connection with US Lacrosse. They primarily assist with gathering and providing information, expertise, advice and support to the Local Officiating Organizations, Certified Trainers, Observers and Assignors in the state throughout the year. They will work with US Lacrosse staff and the Region Coordinator directly to help identify areas of strength, need and opportunity for officiating development throughout Wisconsin.

More information can be found https://uslacrosse.org/officials/contacts/officiating-leadership-structure

To contact Randy, Jessica or anyone within the US Lacrosse Officiating Leadership structure click here https://www.uslacrosse.org/officials/contacts

If you are interested in learning more about becoming an Official or an Umpire click here Become a Lacrosse Official 

by WisconsinLacrosse

Girl’s Rule Changes

US Lacrosse announced the 2018 rule changes and points of emphasis for youth and high school girls’ lacrosse. The US Lacrosse Rules Committee worked in collaboration with the National Federation of State High School Associations to develop the rules and points of emphasis.

The points of emphasis for 2018 highlight safety and the quality of the game:

  • Illegal Defensive Positioning: Emphasize the three second and shooting space rules to ensure that offense has the ability to create safe shooting opportunities.
  • Contact in the Midfield: Deliberate illegal contact (cross-checks/pushing) made to the body on players in a defenseless position must be carded.
  • Crosse in the Sphere: Stress that it is the responsibility of the defender to keep her stick out of the sphere and throat area of the ball carrier. Violations are a major foul, and repeated violations may be carded.
  • Professionalism: The rules committee continues to encourage all coaches, players, officials and administrators to conduct themselves in a professional manner before, during and immediately following all contests.

Several changes to the rules concern the draw, including the draw setup, which will require players to keep their crosses parallel to and above the center line. Players on the draw circle and the restraining line will be allowed to have their sticks touch the ground, making the draw consistent with other elements of play. Early starts by players not taking the draw will result in the ball going to the non-offending team at the spot of the ball, not the spot of the foul. An illegal draw by a player will result in a free position at the center line with the offending player placed four meters away and illegal draws by both players will result in a redraw.

Other changes include allowing the optional use of a 120-yard unified field for both boys’ and girls’ lacrosse to allow schools the option of lining one set of shared field markings, disallowing stick checks during timeouts and allowing table personnel to use a horn to notify officials of a timeout request by a coach.

At the youth level, rule changes include requiring pelvic protection for goalies, establishing guidelines for a goalkeeper free clear, and clarifying language that allows for legal contact during play, as long as the contact does not physically force an opponent off of her position or path.

 

A complete overview of all girls’ rules is available here 

by MARK JAMIESON

Boys Officials Training

Statewide training dates for both new and returning Boys Officials are below.    Field Training dates and times are TBD.    

Youth and new officials

Click here for requirements 

Milwaukee Area 

Sunday, February 25th  1;00 – 5:00
Sunday, March 11th 1:00 –  5:00 

Waterstone Mortgage Conference Room   – 2nd floor
1133 Quail Ct, Pewaukee, WI  (Click for directions)

Madison Area 

Sunday, February 25th  12:00 – 4:00

Rocky Rococo Pizza – (Click for directions)
West 7952 Tree Lane, Madison, WI

Sunday, March 4th 1:00 –  5:00

Evco Plastics
100 W. North Street Deforest, WI 53532

Returning Officials
Click here for information on new access to the rules test

Milwaukee Area 

Tuesday, February 27th 6:00 – 9:00
Tuesday, March 6th 6:00 – 9:00

Waterstone Mortgage Conference Room   – 2nd floor
1133 Quail Ct, Pewaukee, WI  (Click for directions)

Madison Area 

Tuesday, March 6th 6:00 – 9:00
Tuesday, March 13th 6:00 – 9:00
Monday, March 19th 6:00 – 9:00

Hallman-Lindsay (Click for directions)
1717 N Bristol St Sun Prairie, WI

Wausau  Both New and Returning Officials 

Sunday March 11th.  One 6 hr session, start time TBD

Wausau West HS (Click for directions) 
1200 W Wausau Ave, Wausau, WI 54401

 

Appleton Both New and Returning Officials 

Sunday March 25th.  One 6 hr session, start time TBD

Appleton North HS (Click for directions)
5000 N Ballard Rd, Appleton, WI 54913

by WisconsinLacrosse

Girls Umpire Training

The US Lacrosse required RULES INTERPRETATION MEETING is scheduled for March 4, 2018 at 1-4pm.   at Steinhafels, W231 N1013 County Hwy F, Waukesha, WI 53186.

You must be a current US Lacrosse Member to attend, so please renew your membership if you haven’t.  Please RSVP by clicking the link below so we can plan accordingly.

NOTE: Steinhafels requests that we park in the South parking lot behind merchandise pick-up; not near the main entrance (which is reserved for customers).  After you park, please enter in the main entrance and go toward the left.  You will see a large meeting room near the bathrooms.

 RULES MEETING RSVP LINK  https://goo.gl/forms/jPX1RAZSahHL8hrx2

 

FIELD TRAINING:  Returning Officials need to complete 3 hours Continuing Education.  If you have attended a training or convention, that counts as your continuing ed. Please send us that information. If not, we have some current opportunities for you, please save the date:

•   April 7 – field training TBD at either USM OR Mukwonago

•   April 14 – field training at a Waukesha play day (Time TBA)

NEW OFFICIALS TRAINING is planned for Saturday, February 24, 2018 at the Arrowhead High School (North Campus).  New Umpire Candidates will meet in the Library Classroom.  The class runs from 9AM-4PM.  Cost is $40, which includes class, lunch, and dues for the first year of officiating.  The course will be in the classroom as well as some time in the gym.

WE NEED TO RECRUIT AS MANY OFFICIALS AS POSSIBLE THIS YEAR AND IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.  IF YOU RECRUIT A NEW OFFICIAL THAT COMPLETES ONE SEASON, WE WILL REIMBURSE YOUR DUES FOR THAT YEAR.

 

by MARK JAMIESON

Please don’t yell at the youth officials. 

I was at the Piggly Wiggly the other day and a young employee wearing a green apron, was stacking canned corn.  It was clearly his first week on the job and I could tell he was doing the best he could.  What caught my attention to this was a few adults standing about 20 feet from him, right there in aisle 5, screaming at the top of their lungs, “You’re doing it wrong! Learn how to stack cans! Go back to produce!”

Completely insane, right? Someone should call the cops.

Did this really happen?  Sort of.  But instead of a green apron and aisle 5. It was stripes and a lacrosse field.  Short of the canned corn, the story is true.

Next time you are at your son’s or daughter’s youth lacrosse game.  Take look at the young person who is officiating.   He or she, has taken the effort to learn their sport from an entirely new perspective.  They’ve passed the rules test and have spent multiple days in classrooms and field education for the right to wear the US Lacrosse patch on the sleeve of their stripes.

While most of these high schoolers only have a handful of years left to play the game, if they can master the art and science of officiating, they can stay active in lacrosse for the next 40.

Most of the young athletes who take the leap into officiating do so for lots of reasons, they can make a little money, their high school coach has encouraged them or they are looking to get a better understanding of their sport. Maybe they just want to work with younger players.

Every year we have a roomful of kids wanting to be officials and by the second season we’re lucky if a handful have returned.

So how come?

To be perfectly honest.  It’s you.  (yeah, I’m looking at you).

Think about it, the most important people in a young athlete’s life are parents, adult family, friends and of course coaches.  But when they put on the stripes it’s those very same people screaming non-constructive feedback.

Like anyone new to the job, there’s stuff to learn. Nobody’s perfect on day one. (Heck, I have yet to be perfect after day 1400)

But here’s the deal.  Lacrosse needs those kids.  Not only to officiate the youth games of today and the high school games of tomorrow.   These are the soon to be men and women who will officiate future national championship games.

Or not.

Please don’t crush them before they get started.   Instead, do something completely unexpected.

Thank them.

 

Mark Jamieson is the Communications Director for the Wisconsin Lacrosse Federation and a Certified US Lacrosse Level 3 Official.

Earlier this season he spent 2 completely miserable, cold, rainy, early Wisconsin spring days helping with the field training of the youth officials. Not once did any of the young people complain or quit early.       

 

by WisconsinLacrosse

Wisconsin Women’s Lacrosse Officials needs you!

As the wonderful sport of lacrosse grows, Wisconsin is in need of adult girls lacrosse officials.

Please consider joining the third team on the field and come to our upcoming training on Saturday, February 25th at the Arrowhead High School (North Campus). There will be a classroom session in the Junior Study Hall from 9:00 – Noon then the West Gym from 1:00 – 4:00.

SIgn up here. 

If you cannot make the training date, please still sign up. We’d love to hear from you!

by Chelsea Mueller

Lacrosse Preseason

Preseason captains’ practices started last week and I shoveled snow off my driveway this morning. With temperatures below freezing, it’s hard to imagine that green grass, months like April and May or short sleeves still exist; however, in seven short weeks the first games of the 2017 season will be played. Snow will (hopefully) be gone, fields will be lined and players will step onto fields, bundled in layers, to begin another season. Watching players in these first practices is so exciting because we get see the beginnings of a team and their potential. Walking into open gyms, beginning to pass, getting in the first rounds of wall ball for 2017, rust begins falling off of sticks that sat idle for too long in the offseason. Returning players step up and take ownership of their team – setting the tone for practices and games to come. New girls who have never touched a lacrosse stick learn the fundamentals. With every caught pass and moderately on target throw, their confidence – and by extension, the team’s confidence –  grows. To think that come May, these same girls – girls who currently can barely cradle let alone catch a pass on the fly – will be zooming up and down the field only builds anticipation for the weeks and months to come.

This is when a team begins. Of course, there are returning players and already formed relationships, but each season is full of fresh perspective and new approaches to the game. Key players graduate, leaving space for new players to show up and deliver. New plays are hashed out, skills are added to the arsenal. There are many exciting moments in a season – first goals, big upsets, deep playoff runs … the list could go on; however, preseason is one of my favorites because it is full opportunity. It’s a bit of a blank canvas and with our players we can create an incredible team and season. Best of luck to the coaches, officials, players and parents beginning the season, make it a great one.

by WisconsinLacrosse

What’s the rule?

Each season the US Lacrosse Officials Education Program receives emails from coaches, players, parents, and officials on game situations wondering what the correct ruling is. Here are the top 10 questions from the 2016 season.

1. Player A is legally body checked and falls to the ground. While on the ground, he still chops at the other player’s stick with his own. I called this as illegal procedure, but the coach wanted to see it in the rulebook. Was this the right call? I could not find any ruling in the rulebook. My thoughts were it gave him an advantage to be on the ground.

A: There is no advantage gained from playing while on the ground. That player is likely more disadvantaged than the opposing players because his movement is significantly limited while on the ground. Remember that NFHS Rule 5.3 states that it is illegal to body check an opponent who is on the ground (stick checks are okay), and the rulebook does allow for the player on the ground to legally participate in play if he is able to.

2. Can a player be flagged twice for going offside once, returning to his half of the field, and then going offside again?

A: No. NFHS Rule 4.10 Situation F is clear on this game situation: “The same player going offside twice is one technical foul.” This is why many coaches will tell the player that went offside to go and play defense because the team may then play with 8 defenders (7 + 1 goalie) and increase their chances of putting the ball on the ground during the flag down.

3. Offensive player shoots and scores, the ball enters the goal first and then the player touches the crease due to his normal momentum. Is the goal good or does the player entering the crease wipe out the goal?

A: NFHS Rule 4.9.2.n states that a player “may legally score a goal and touch the crease area, provided the ball enters the goal before the contact and with the crease and his feet are grounded prior to, during and after a shot.” As long as the player does not dive (remains grounded) and he touches on or inside the crease line then the goal stands.

4. Assistant coach of Team A is holding a stick while on the sideline during a game. Coach of Team B asks for that stick to be checked. Referee rules it violates pocket depth and issues the penalty per the rules. Does the stick check apply to coaches or just to the players?

A: Under NFHS rules a coach-requested equipment check must refer to a specific player on the opposing team. The major reason is because under NFHS rules the officials must also check the required equipment of a player, and that cannot be done on a coach. According to NFHS Rule 4.27.1 these requests must be made during a dead ball and only one player’s equipment and crosse may be inspected per coach request. The coach may not ask the officials to check the assistant coach’s crosse, nor may be point to a stick on the opponent’s bench and ask the officials to check it. The request must be for a specific player on the opposing team.

5. When are horns permitted? Some folks say they are no longer allowed; or is their use more narrowly specified?

A: Horns are no longer permitted in games played under NFHS rules. All substitutions must be made on the fly. There are youth provisions permitting horns for play in the U9 and U11 age divisions if the local league authorizes their use (NFHS rulebook page 107).

6. Team A is man up and loses possession of the ball right before the end of a period. Team B (man down) gains and maintains possession when the period ends (still man down). Question: Is there a faceoff to begin the next period or does Team B (man down) get the ball?

A: There is no faceoff. Team B gets possession to start the next period at the spot the ball was when the period ended. Rule 4.3.1. Exceptions 1: “In the event of an extra-man situation or a flag-down creating an extra-man situation at the conclusion of a period, the next period shall be commenced by awarding possession of the ball in the same relative position on the field to the team that had possession of the ball (or is entitled to possession by a play-on) at the conclusion of the prior period.” This is why many coaches when there is short time on the clock but longer time on the penalty tell their players to hold onto the ball and not shoot. This is only applicable on a flag-down or when there is an uneven situation. If Team A and Team B have one player in the penalty box then even if one team has possession at the end of the period the next period will start with a faceoff.

7. A goal is scored using a stick that is found to be illegal after a coach requests a stick check to an official during the dead ball before the next faceoff. Does that goal count or should it be waived off? Also, if the player scored multiple goals are all of the goals he scored waived off?

A: The goal should be waved off, the shooter serves the penalty time (1-minute deep pocket, or 3-minutes for any other violation), and the ball is awarded to the opposing team at Center X. Rule 5.5 Situation F states: “Team B is a man down and A1 scores. Before the next whistle, it is discovered A1 was playing with an illegal crosse. RULING: Goal does not count. A1 serves a one- or three-minute non-releasable penalty.” The only goal that gets waived off is the goal scored right before the equipment check that discovered the illegal crosse. If the player scored goals earlier then they remain on the board.

8. During play an official blew his whistle. The defense stopped playing once the whistle was heard, but the offensive player continued to advance toward the goal. He made a shot after the whistle and scored. The officials counted the goal. Should play have been stopped after the whistle?

A: Rule 7.13.3 states: “In the event of an inadvertent whistle, play shall be suspended immediately. The team with possession or entitled to possession when the whistle was blown shall retain possession.” In this situation the goal should not count because the official blew his whistle creating a dead ball. Had the ball been loose outside the crease possession would be awarded via AP. Loose inside the crease awarded to the defensive team. If a team had possession, they would retain possession for the next restart. Rule 4.9.2.f further clarifies that a goal is not counted “after one of the officials has sounded the whistle for any reason, even if the sounding of the whistle is inadvertent.”

9. If a player has five minutes in penalties, he has fouled out. However, if the player in question had three 1-minute fouls. He served 4.5 minutes for them, as we were in a running clock game. So is the 4.5 minutes of time served count towards the five minutes or is it based on the actual time called out by the referee for the foul(s); 3 minutes?

A: The rulebook is quiet on this calculation for running time games, and the convention is to use the penalty time that would be assessed in a stop-time game for the purposes of determining disqualification. Three-minutes of personal fouls (4.5 minutes in running time games) would mean the player still has two minutes of penalty time before being disqualified. As a point of clarification technical fouls do not count toward minutes before being disqualified, only personal fouls.

10. If there are 5 long poles on the field, what is the penalty? Illegal stick, 3 minutes non-releasable or something else? Offending team did not have possession.

A: This is not considered an illegal crosse. This is illegal procedure and is a technical foul according to NFHS Rule 6.5.2.p: “having more than four long crosses in a game.” If the ball is loose this is a turnover to the opposing team. If the opposing team has possession of the ball while there are 5 long poles on the field then a flag should be thrown.

The Officials Education Program enjoys reading and answering the questions. If you have a question from a game this summer let us know by filling out the form here.

by WisconsinLacrosse

How did you miss that?

The following is a post written by Gordon Corsetti, Manager of Officials Education for US Lacrosse.

We say officials have the best seat in the house. While it’s true that we are the closest to the action we can’t watch the game the same way everyone else does, which is typically watching where the ball goes. I love being on the field officiating, but I only see one-half or one-third of the entire game depending on if I’m working in a two- or three-person crew. That’s because proper mechanics demand that at least one official watches the action that no one else is paying attention to away from the ball.

In a two-person game the field is split diagonally between the two officials in settled situations. The Trail Official is the furthest from the goal and takes a position just above the attack box. The Lead Official is near Goal Line Extended (GLE). Depending on where the ball is on the field, one official is responsible for the area immediately around the ball, while the other official scans the off ball action. They are known as the On or Off official.

The clearest distinction between the two officials’ responsibilities is on a shot. When a player shoots the only official responsible for watching that player is the Trail official. This official stays with the shooter watching for late hits. The Lead official tracks the ball as soon as it leaves the crosse, and often has no eyes on the shooter at any point after the shot. These separate responsibilities make it possible for one official to cover the goal, while having another official focused on the safety of the player. That’s an easy situation though, let’s do a tougher one.

In transition, a penalty could occur on the far side of the field opposite the new Lead Official (the official running to GLE during the clear), and the new Lead Official may call a personal or technical foul near the far sideline because that official has an unobstructed angle to the play. The new Trail Official coming up field may not even have eyes on the play if there are two players behind that need to be watched to make sure nothing bad occurs away from the play upfield. But even if the new Trail Official is running up he might have a lot of bodies in front of him and has no way to make the call even if he is closer than his partner.

If more coaches understood the basic mechanics of officiating (the Men’s Officials Rules and Penalty Course is available on learning.uslacrosse.org) and why we stand where we do, I think a lot of calls would make a lot more sense. For example, I officiated a tournament not too long ago where I was the Trail official in a settled play. The offensive player shot the ball near the crease, missed the goal, was pushed from behind, and landed in the crease. I put my hand into the air for a loose-ball push, and at the same time my partner as the Lead put his hand in the air and whistled the play dead for a crease violation. I asked what he had, and he said “White stepped in the crease.” I replied, “Yes, but he was pushed in first. The ball stays with White.”

Two coaches on the Blue team were not pleased with me and while my partner readied the ball for play they asked me what happened. I told them their defenseman pushed the shooter into the crease after he shot the ball, giving the ball to the White team. Then one coach told me that that call wasn’t my responsibility. He then told me that while in the Trail position all I was supposed to call was offside.

If I only had to call offside when the Trail Official then lacrosse officiating would be one of the easiest jobs I could think of! I’m only responsible for one thing? Great! I’m just going to stand on the midline and focus only on this four-inch line, and when a player gets destroyed on a late hit I’ll calmly inform the coach that I’m only supposed to call offside.

I’m being facetious here to drive home the point that the official furthest away from where the ball is may be in the best and only position to make the correct safety or fairness call for the situation. We have fundamental mechanics that are drilled into us in every training class and field evaluation because the referees that came before us experimented with a lot of different ways to officiate the game until they broke down the most effective ways to position officials to watch for safety and fairness.

Gordon Corsetti is manager of men’s officials education for US Lacrosse. You can support US Lacrosse officials education efforts through the US Lacrosse Foundation.