FAQ

7 Steps to Becoming a Women's Lacrosse Official

1. Send an email to your local Umpire Board indicating you are interested in becoming a Women's Lacrosse Umpire. If you want to officiate in the Orange and​ Riverside County area, send an email to Steve Perry. Give us your contact information (name, address, email, phone and indicate if you are interested in umpiring youth only or all levels of lacrosse), and we will use it only to get in touch with you about lacrosse training clinics.

2. Attend an Officials Clinic! At the clinic, you will be taught the rules of the game as well as how to control the match so it is played in a safe and fair manner. You will also be given the information on how to complete your umpire training as well as how to join US Lacrosse.

3. Join an Umpire Association! At the conclusion of the New OfficialsClinic, you will be provided a form to join an Officials Association. For a nominal membership fee, you receive training and assignments once you receive a rating. New umpires will need to provide themselves a whistle, lanyard, flag, warning cards, a black-and-white striped shirt, black shorts/kilt and black shoes.

4. Join US Lacrosse! All members are required to join US Lacrosse before umpiring any games. US Lacrosse provides umpires with insurance, rule books and training. NEW members will receive information regarding joining US Lacrosse at the new umpire clinic, or can join at the first meeting - returning umpires must renew their membership with US Lacrosse online prior to the September 30 annual renewal date.

5. Take the Umpire test! Upon completion of classroom training and joining US Lacrosse, y ou will need to take and pass the annual Rules Examination. All umpires must pass an annual rules test based on the level of play they officiate.
   

   • Passing scores and determined by your ratin gand are as follows:

   • Youth/Junior = 80% or better on "Youth Rules Test"

   • Apprentice = 80% or better on "USL Rules Test" AND 8/10 on "Youth Questions"

   • Local = 86% or better on "USL Rules Test" AND 8/10 on "Youth Questions"

   • District = 90% of better on "USL Rules Test" AND 8/10 on "Youth Questions" or 8/10 and/or "NCAA Questions"

   • National = 92% or better on "USL Rules Test" AND 8/10 on "Youth Questions" or 8/10 and/or "NCALL Questions"

1. Get field trained and rated! Upon completion of classroom instruction, umpires will be scheduled for field training, during which they will umpire on the field with a mentor/trainer and receive additional instruction. If successful, the will receive a rating.

2. Register with Arbiter, our assigning software. Once you are ca certified umpire, we will create a user account for you on Arbiter. Your assignments to games will come to you via email and will be available for viewing online at http://www.arbitersports.com.

Note: All umpires in our Associations are required to attend an Annual Rules interpretation at the start of the seasons, usually in late January.​​​​​

Last updated: 2025-Feb-15 by D.Lim

For existing/returning referees:

1. pay your OCUB dues

2. Have a valid USA Lacrosse membership

a. Under your user profile, your "involvement" should be "Official",

and "Game Type" should be Women's/Girl's

b. You should have a valid (unexpired) background check

c. Basically on the landing page, you should see under "Your Profile" that it says

- "Official" next to your picture

- Under your Membership number, it should show "Valid thru:" a date like 11/2025

and "Background Check Expiration" should show a valid date like 11/10/2025

3. complete the NFHS test and the professional development course

a. login to https://www.usalacrosse.com

b. click on "My Transcript"

c. You should complete the courses:

i. Girls Officials Annual Certification (2025) - (OFFGIRLSANN25), which is comprised of:

- Girls Officials - Rules and Penalties Course (Comp-2123)

- Girls Officials - 2025 Professional Development (Comp-9143)

ii. Girls Officials - 2025 NFHS Rules Exam

iii. If you are going to ref youth games, then also complete

Girls Officials - 2025 Youth Rules Exam

iv. Girls Officials - 2025 High School Rules Interpretations

and forward the certificate to Steve Perry

4. You may need to attend classroom training, field training and/or game evaluation depending on your referee level

You can buy OCUB gear at this web site

Last Updated: 2025-Feb-15 by D.Lim

OCUB dues for 2025 are $60 for adults and $30 for youth officials. Adult members who are away at college will pay $30.

You can Venmo the money to @oclaxub

Zelle the money to OCUB at 949-293-0385

or write a check to OCUB and mail it to:

Nicole Wallevand

8 Las Castanetas

Rancho Santa Margarita 92688-3220.

Last Updated: 2025-Feb-15 by D.Lim

When you become a registered official of USA Lacrosse, you are entitled to a free digital copy of the rule book. See this web page for instructions on how to get it. The same page also has instructions on purchasing a printed copy.

Last Updated: 2025-Feb-16 by D.Lim

From USA Lacrosse:

- Pregame_responsibilities

- pregame checklist