Beginning your Boy’s Lacrosse Officiating

Journey

STARTING OFF ON STARTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOTTHE RIGHT FOOT

Presented by Buzz Lynn and Nick

Tropiano

OVERVIEW

This presentation is a guide to help “New” Boy’s Lacrosse officials develop and

nurture their skills

PREPARATION

A Good Official is well prepared bothMentally and Physically

KEEP IN GOOD SHAPE

Do not lay around and expect to get in shape during the

season.

KEEP FIT Remember as you get Older the players

get Younger Get on the treadmill Build your stamina Exercise Ride a bike Walk

Know the Rules

Read the Rule Book Make notes Go to your Local Officials Associations

Meetings Ask questions Keep a journal Have a study group

KEEP YOUR PRIORITY’S IN ORDER

Keep “Your Home Team” Happy. Juggling your Schedule between Home,

Work and Officiating. Concentrate on the Game at Hand.

APPEARANCE

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

Look Professional – Clean Uniform, Shined Shoes.

Get New Uniforms each season (Hat. Shorts, Socks etc.)

Keep an Extra Uniform in Your Car or Game Bag.

PRIOR TO YOUR GAME

Call your Partner Call the School If there are any conflicts, let your

Assignor know immediately. Give your self plenty of time to get to

the game, it is better to be early then late.

A GOOD PRE-GAME CONFERENCE

-In the locker room-In the parking lot-On the phone

THINGS YOU SHOULD COVER Rules - New and Old Recent Interpretations Memos from Assignor or Supervisor Mechanics – 2 or 3 man coverage Game Expectations - What are your

potential problems – Rivalry / Tensions Bench Decorum – Acceptable /

Tolerated Behavior

GAME TIME

Meet with the Coaches (as a Crew) Head Coach First, Get His Certification Ask for Captains and In-Home Numbers Ask if there is anything Special: National

Anthem, Announcements etc..) Visiting Coach, Get His Certification Ask for Captains and In Home Numbers Relay any Special things the Coach told

you

ON THE FIELD

Talk to the Table Personnel

ON THE FIELD

Tell the Coaches that you are available to check their players sticks

Check the sticks away from the Coaches

ON THE FIELD

Get your Captains for the Coin Toss 10-15 minutes prior to the Game

ON THE FIELD

Line-Up Check to make sure the In-Home is on

the field Face Off

ON THE FIELD

Be in position Anticipate the play, not the call Make the call if it happens, not before

ON THE FIELD

If you’re in the right position to make the call, you’re much more likely to get the benefit of the doubt from the coach.

ON THE FIELD

Hustle, but don’t hurry Don’t move for movements sake. Know where you want to be in certain

situations

ON THE FIELD

It is very important to give good, clear, crisp signals. You are not only communicating with the Table and the Benches…You are letting your Partner know what you are signaling.

ON THE FIELD

Get the Call right. If you have to get together, do it! Nobody remembers how long it took

you to get the call right, what they do remember is when you get it wrong

ON THE FIELD

Confidence is not Cockiness Be Confident Look Good, and Get it right

INTERMISSION

Take a Five Minute Break

ON THE FIELD Be Inconspicuous, but have

a presence

Help players play according to the rules

You are there to make sure the game is played fair and safely

Be a Good Dead Ball Official

POSTGAME

Leave the field as a Crew…Quickly

Do not seek out a Coach, you’re the last person that he would like to see. You don’t need him to tell you that you did a good job- you and your partners will know

Anything unusual- report immediately to your Assignor or Supervisor

continued… Ask your partner for feedback. If you have time go out and have a “Few

Milkshakes”, discuss the game, Ask yourselves, What could WE have done better? Or Talk about recent games.

Don’t wear your stripes in a Bar or Restaurant

REMEMBER THE SIX C’s

COMMUNICATION COMMON SENSE COURAGE CONSISTENTCY COOPERATION CLOCK MANAGEMENT

COMMUNICATION WITH COACHES

Good officials know how much criticism they will take. They know where to draw the line. Then “TCB”

Be a Responder, not an Initiator

Acknowledge Questions, not Statements

continued…

Speak to them at all times the way that you would like them to speak to you.

Sometimes it is good to let them vent, as long as they are not nasty.

Remember, they could be frustrated with their team and not you.

Keep your composure. Cooler/calmer heads prevail.

Do not make coaches the enemy.

CONFRONTATIONS

Gauge the coach’s anger from 1 to 10, and react at least 2 “points” lower, but never higher than a “4”.

COMMUNICATING WITH PARTNERS

Your partner is youronly friend on thefield.

Do not let the Coachdivide you.

Do not talk to theCoach with out yourpartner present.

COMMUNICATING WITH THE TABLE

Table people are on“our team”.When addressing thetable, make it clearand concise. Youmight have to explainit a couple of times.

Be Very Patient.

COURAGEMake the calls thatyou have to make.

Do not let the Coachinfluence your call.

No matter whatyou call 50% of thepeople will not like

it.

CONSISTENTCY

Be on the “same page” as your partners. Remember call it the same way at both

ends of the field. If it’s a foul in the First Quarter than it’s

a foul in the Fourth Quarter. If you don’t call it in the First Quarter then don’t call it in the Fourth Quarter.

COMMON SENSE

Do Not Wake the Coaches up!

Three Types of Fouls A Foul that hurts or injures A Foul that will cause an unfair advantage

A Foul that the “Other Coach” sees

COOPERATION

Cooperate with the Game Managers, Coaches etc.

Cooperate with your Assignors Cooperate with your Fellow Officials

CLOCK MANAGEMENT

Face Offs- The players should never have to wait for us to be ready

Quick Restarts Know the “Game Situation” Under 4 minutes

MISCELLANEOUS

DO Be Positive, Courteous, Helpful, Firm,

Sincere, Pleasant and Confident

MISCELLANEOUS

DON’T Be Antagonistic, Excitable, Overly

Officious, Indecisive and Slow to react

MISCELLANEOUS

Do not acknowledge the Fans. Most think it is ‘fair game” to yell at

the Referee. They for the most part do not know the

rules

MISCELLANEOUS

Most fans and Coaches are not yelling at you personally, so do not take it personal

They are yelling at the Stripes

MISCELLANEOUS

If you have a problem with a fan, ask the Game Manager or Head Coach to take care of them. DO NOT engage at all with the fan. If a Coach or Fan come after you after a game and you feel threatened Call the police and report it to your assignor.

HAVE A MENTOR

Call your Mentor with any concerns you have. (problems in a game, assignments, rule questions)

Accept Constructive Criticism. (Do not be “thin skinned”)

Write down things you need to work on.

Most of All…HAVE FUN!!!!!!!

Good Luck this Seasonand

Have a Rewarding Officiating Career!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!