View Full Version : Getting Refs training
WI_LAX_COACH
01-10-2008, 09:16 AM
hey all,
I love this section of this site most, as a newer coach/administrator. Seems like every time I log on I learn something.
At our sign up and info meeting on Monday, I had 4 parents ask me about Ref training. we have a youth program in the area that is exploding (we had over 30 kids in 3/4th grade sign up). How do I get a program going for Refs in the Youth level? Can I get certified as a trainer, or is just contacting US Lacrosse for the materials and running the classroom sessions enough? Our association by laws state that only US Lacrosse refs and umpires are allowed.
Thanks in advance for all the help.
Rich
LaxRef
01-10-2008, 10:59 AM
hey all,
I love this section of this site most, as a newer coach/administrator. Seems like every time I log on I learn something.
At our sign up and info meeting on Monday, I had 4 parents ask me about Ref training. we have a youth program in the area that is exploding (we had over 30 kids in 3/4th grade sign up). How do I get a program going for Refs in the Youth level? Can I get certified as a trainer, or is just contacting US Lacrosse for the materials and running the classroom sessions enough? Our association by laws state that only US Lacrosse refs and umpires are allowed.
Thanks in advance for all the help.
Rich
I'm assuming you're in Wisconsin; PM me with your exact location and I can let you know who some of the trainers in your area are.
You do need to have someone authorized to conduct the training; you can't just order the materials and do it yourself, since you have to be on "the list" to order the materials. But getting a youth officials program (training people to work youth games) and/or a junior officials program (training high school players to work youth games) going is a great idea.
laxzeeb
01-10-2008, 02:25 PM
I would also suggest taking the classes and becoming certified yourself, especially if you want to start some program to train high school players to work youth games. You will get training materials that will teach more of the specifics. I don't recall but have to believe the materials you get are copyrighted and I don't think anyone should be copying them for use outside of the MDOC training program. But it will give you the knowledge to use other information, such as the numerous places on the web with descriptions of the rules plus other sites that discuss the mechanics. There is quite a bit of helpful infomation on the zlax site, http://www.zlax.net/.
I think we all also know how fast the sport is growing and the strains that puts on available officials. I would pay close attention to the youth modifications in the back of the NFHS rule book, especially in regard to checking, if you are going to use high school players as officials. Depending on age, either no checking or only limited checking is allowed. In our area, we discourage not having certified officials for 5th/6th grade games, or at least one. Further, in order to promote the fundamentals of the game, we have a "one pass rule". The kids have to complete a pass into the box or within the box before a shot is taken. Feel free to PM me as well if you want further information from someone who officiates but is also a youth program administrator.
MElaxRef
01-11-2008, 09:41 AM
At our sign up and info meeting on Monday, I had 4 parents ask me about Ref training. we have a youth program in the area that is exploding (we had over 30 kids in 3/4th grade sign up). How do I get a program going for Refs in the Youth level? Can I get certified as a trainer, or is just contacting US Lacrosse for the materials and running the classroom sessions enough? Our association by laws state that only US Lacrosse refs and umpires are allowed.
I'm not in your geographic area, so you'll need to contact a certified trainer; LaxRef indicated that he'd send you some names.
Here is the process that I use in Maine:
[1] I seek a contact from the USL chapter or youth league(s)
[2] I communicate with the youth representative to schedule sessions and to determine costs.
a. Scheduling has to work around other lacrosse events
b. Costs have to cover materials (~$20 per USL training package, $ for trainer time / travel, $ for training site)
[3] I expect the youth representative to organize the sessions, including
a. Arranging a location
b. Obtaining training aids (projectors, etc.)
c. Publicizing the event
d. Recruiting parents and high school players to officiate
e. Collecting registration data (address, phone, age, USL #)
e. Collecting the money
f. Giving me 2 weeks notice of how many people will be trained
[4] I order the agreed upon number of USL training packages (training manual, rule book, patches). This cost is non-refundable, so you have to generate a good count of attendees and should collect money in advance! (Your trainer might not order the packages until he has received money for them; discuss this point up front!)
[5] At the session, I have the youth representative handle registration. I handle training and testing.
CardinalPuff
01-11-2008, 11:50 AM
"SP"?....is that Stevens Point?....holy crap....i never thought i'd see the day...
WI_LAX_COACH
01-11-2008, 01:09 PM
"SP"?....is that Stevens Point?....holy crap....i never thought i'd see the day...
Not Stevens point, but Sun Prairie.
CP wrote:
"i never thought i'd see the day..."
Some coaches, I understand, are still waiting for your vision to return....
CardinalPuff
01-11-2008, 04:13 PM
CP wrote:
"i never thought i'd see the day..."
Some coaches, I understand, are still waiting for your vision to return....
very true....sadly, for them, my hearing is fine....
3rdPersonPlural
01-11-2008, 11:41 PM
very true....sadly, for them, my hearing is fine....
Scott? This is the odious Cardinal Puff.
Ignore him.
Except for when he reluctantly agrees with me, in which case you can be assured that he had to look it up first.
He will remain odious until Torrey Pines crushes Cherry Creek on April 11, at which time he will become still objectionable but delightfully cowed.
CardinalPuff
01-12-2008, 10:00 AM
Scott? This is the odious Cardinal Puff.
Ignore him.
Except for when he reluctantly agrees with me, in which case you can be assured that he had to look it up first.
He will remain odious until Torrey Pines crushes Cherry Creek on April 11, at which time he will become still objectionable but delightfully cowed.
at least i'm consistant....i stink equally to both teams....
stripes182
01-13-2008, 05:10 PM
He will remain odious until Torrey Pines crushes Cherry Creek on April 11, at which time he will become still objectionable but delightfully cowed.
at least i'm consistant....i stink equally to both teams....
3PP, how about you give your brain a break from those (obviously) harmful UV rays in Cali, and I'll fly back home from the east and we'll work that one. I'd love to "R" a game watching my two partners fight at the X at halftime. My only concern would be the huge pay cut I'd take coming back home. What do you guys say?
3rdPersonPlural
01-13-2008, 06:19 PM
3PP, how about you give your brain a break from those (obviously) harmful UV rays in Cali, and I'll fly back home from the east and we'll work that one. I'd love to "R" a game watching my two partners fight at the X at halftime. My only concern would be the huge pay cut I'd take coming back home. What do you guys say?
Stripes, Plural, and Puff? I'd do it but I have discovered that Colorado is like California in that it has only half of the utilities provided by the maker. We in Coddy-FAWN-yuh have plenty of air but little water, and Colorado has plenty of water, but little air.
I gasp like a gilled critter out of water up there, and would wind up officiating from the midfield line. We would have to work up a quick 3 man mechanic that includes a prone team member.
DELETED
CardinalPuff
01-14-2008, 12:09 PM
3PP, how about you give your brain a break from those (obviously) harmful UV rays in Cali, and I'll fly back home from the east and we'll work that one. I'd love to "R" a game watching my two partners fight at the X at halftime. My only concern would be the huge pay cut I'd take coming back home. What do you guys say?
due to the fact that the measurable officiating skills in both states rose upon your departure from the great state of Colorado, i think it is best you remain where you are....
stripes182
01-15-2008, 07:21 PM
due to the fact that the measurable officiating skills in both states rose upon your departure from the great state of Colorado, i think it is best you remain where you are....
...so does that mean you need me to mail you my old numbered jerseys so your out-of-pocket expenses won't be as great as you fill my shoes? See you in Vail, but now I get in on a technicality and get to be one of those "imports."