How to Become an Upstate Lacrosse Association Referee

The New York Upstate Lacrosse Association and the New York Upstate Indoor Lacrosse League are both part of the network of American Indoor Lacrosse Association. They focus on offering services and activities to enhance the skills and knowledge of lacrosse players. Before you contact these associations to become a referee, decide if you want to referee men’s or women’s lacrosse. Men’s lacrosse allows for physical contact and women’s lacrosse does not. Because the rules differ for the two sections, certification for each requires a different training.

Instructions

    • 1

      Contact the appropriate official to inquire about referee training. Contact your District Training Coordinator for men’s lacrosse and contact your Lacrosse Board Chair for women’s lacrosse. Find their contact information on the U.S. Lacrosse website.

    • 2

      Enroll in a training program and pay the training fees. Training fees vary by county, but at the time of this publication are a minimum of $50, which covers your U.S. Lacrosse membership. Be sure to inquire about any other fees, such as a trainer’s fee, facility charges and association dues.

    • 3

      Purchase all necessary training materials, such as uniforms, equipment and rulebooks. Ask your lacrosse contact what training materials you will receive in class so that you know what you need to purchase. Once you have purchased your U.S. Lacrosse membership, purchase a current rulebook through the U.S. Lacrosse online store.

    • 4

      Complete referee training, test to become certified and obtain proof of official insurance. The certification process varies by year so ask your training program exactly what it will entail. Once you have been certified, use your U.S. Lacrosse membership number to log onto the U.S. Lacrosse website and obtain your insurance number.

    • 5

      Contact the associations a few months before the beginning of summer or fall and ask to enroll in a referee clinic. The associations partner with the American Indoor Lacrosse Academy, which offers clinics during the summer and the fall each year. Enroll and complete a clinic that partners with the association; this will teach you the specific nuances of the associations and make you a more competitive referee candidate.

    • 6

      Email or call the New York Upstate Lacrosse Association or the New York Upstate Indoor Lacrosse League, depending on which you would like to referee for. Ask if they have openings for referees and express your interest.