USL Certification Information

This page details the steps every official must take in order to complete your US Lacrosse certification. Officials who are between 14 and 18 years old and still in high school MUST complete USL certification in order to work.  Adults (over 18 and high school graduates) are encouraged to complete their US Lacrosse certification as that will be the only insurance other than their personal insurance when they work non-GHSA games. In addition, many summer and fall tournaments now require officials have USL certification.

Classes for youth officials are only held in the Fall around the Labor Day weekend.  Adults are trained in the Fall and in January prior to the Spring high school season

Table of Contents:

It is VERY IMPORTANT that you read ALL of this information carefully. 

US Lacrosse Membership

All youth officials (18 and under and not graduated from high school MUST be US Lacrosse members.

Adults who plan to do GHSA games who are not USL members are encouraged, but not required to join.  Adults who only want to work youth games MUST be USL members. 

Non-US Lacrosse Adult Members

Adult officials (18+ and graduated from high school) who are not USL members must take the Fall GLOA Rules Exam and pass with an 85 or higher. All Adult officials who work GHSA games are required to take the GHSA test in January prior to the Spring season.

Five Steps to Completing Certification

To become a certified US lacrosse Official you must complete ALL five (5) of these requirements.

Please click the links to learn more about each step.

  1. Register with US Lacrosse. Many of the problems that arise are a result of expired or linked memberships. If there is a problem you will need to call the US Lacrosse members services at (410) 235-6882, ext. #102 or email membership@uslacrosse.org.

    Do not use your parent’s email address!  

  2. Complete the “Boys’ Lacrosse Rules Online Course” via the US Lacrosse Learning Platform on the USL website before the class. This course is a brief introduction to the rules and officiating. THIS IS NOT THE RULES TEST.  You only need to take this online course once.  

    learning.uslacrosse.org go to dashboard:  Catalog: Men’s Game Officials: Rules Course and Webinars: Boys’ Lacrosse Rules Online Course

  3. Attend the Class.  Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to get settled and checked in. We suggest you bring a snack and a water bottle, pen and paper.  Learn the rules, mechanics, penalty administration, positioning, etc. (6-8 hours). THIS FALL ALL CLASSES ARE ONLINE.

  4. Pass BOTH the NFHS and Youth Tests (85% or higher) BEFORE Field Training. These must be taken online! Please wait to take these AFTER you have your rule book and have taken the class.

    learning.uslacrosse.org go to dashboard:  Catalog: Men’s Game Officials: Annual Rules Exams: 2021 NFHS Boys Rules Exam and 2021 Youth Boys Rules Exam

  5. Complete Field Training. Signups for these games will be available after the class via SignupGenius and open to these who complete all requirements on a first come, first served basis. Make sure you complete the tests in time to sign up. I will remove you from a spot if you have not sent me your test scores.

    Please note you MUST be in full uniform for these games. More information will be sent out once you have registered.  If you are unable to do so or have a conflict we will work with you to schedule a game on another date. However, If you can’t complete this field training this fall you start the process over. 

Learning.USLacrosse.org

This is the place where you can access the “Boys Lacrosse Rules Online Course” and once you have completed the class, where  both tests you will need to complete can be found. 

Visit https://learning.uslacrosse.org/. Select: Catalog, Officials, Men’s Game Officials, and then “Boys Lacrosse Rules Online Course.”

You must use the email you have registered with your US Lacrosse account; NOT your parents email. The course MUST be completed under your account, if not you will need to retake it. 

Please complete on a laptop or desktop computer. You may experience technical issues on tablet or mobile browsers.

This course is FREE for all current USL members. If you are being asked to pay, check with member services regarding your account (see above).

Both the NFHS and Youth tests are located under Annual Rules Exams.

Please DO NOT TAKE either rules test until AFTER you complete the in person class. 

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE!

Payment 

Please note that payment is required, preferably via PayPal, prior to attending class. If you are having difficulty, please contact Greg Hite at ATL.LacrosseRef@gmail.com.

Communication Policy 

Becoming an official is a serious undertaking.  Your child will be responsible for maintaining a safe, fair and fun contest ever time they officiate. They are in charge, not the coaches or the parents.  When they join a league or association, they will be responsible for regularly communicating with assignors, league and team administrators and your fellow officials.

You must have your own email address. Parents can not share and email with their child. 

If you have a question, YOUR CHILD should be the one to contact me. 

Uniform

It is essential that you begin to put your uniform together immediately. You will be officiating your field training game, so you need to be in full uniform. Most of the stuff we use we buy online.  Be aware that you need to allow for delivery time, so plan ahead.  It is important to look professional, but you do not need to spend a lot of money to do so.  Target, TJ Maxx, and Amazon are great places to get deals on shorts, socks, and shoes for officiating. When in doubt go all black!
 
If you are a new official, focus on the key pieces:
 
  • Good hat (black with white pipe for Spring, all white for summer and fall)
  • Correct short-sleeve shirt (2″ for GHSA games, 1″ for youth and/or green shirt for fall and summer games)
  • Black shorts
  • Black shoes
  • Black ankle socks.
You can always add to your collection (long sleeve shirt, jacket etc). You can check out more info on uniforms and equipment including where to buy online and in Atlanta on our Uniform and Equipment page. 
 
There are differences between youth and adult uniforms as well as spring and off season uniforms, so please read carefully.
 
slider2summer1Fall leagues are a little less formal. Most GLOA adults officials wear white hats (you can use any white hat or purchase a GLOA logo hat) and green summer/fall shirts.  These can be purchased on our GLOA Gear Store.  Adult officials who work games this fall will be reimbursed for their shirt.  Please SAVE YOUR RECEIPT.  The biggest piece of equipment adult officials need to purchase is a 20-second timer.  
 
Youth officials should purchase a 1-inch shirt sleeved vertical black/white stripes with black collar and black cuffs and a pocket on the left breast. Youth and USL adult members will receive a US Lacrosse Patch at your field training.  Youth officials who wish to purchase a green GLOA summer shirt are more than welcome to do so, but will not be reimbursed.  
 
20-Second Timer
20-second Timer (ADULTS ONLY) There are 2 types: the 20 second timers and the 1:40/20 second timers, the later is great for managing time outs and time between periods. This is the most expensive piece of equipment you will purchase.  You CANNOT work High School games without one. 
 
Youth refs do NOT need to purchase a 20-second timer as the games they work do not have a 20-count.


Gentlemen, congrats on becoming a certified official.  If you are a US Lacrosse member I have mailed your USL patch to you.  
 
Patch 
 
Make sure you have your USL patch sewn professionally on your shirt 3″ below the top seam on your left shoulder.  Do not iron it on.  
 
If you did not receive a patch, please let me know and I will mail one out to you. 

Getting Games

 As we stated in class US Lacrosse DOES NOT assign games.
 
In order to get games, you need to join a league or association. 
 
registerThe largest association is the Georgia Lacrosse Officials Association (GLOA), that is the group that I am a member of.  The group that ran your training was the GLOA. You can visit our website at galaxref.com. You will also find regular updates on rules and mechanics on the main page.
 
You can join as an adult or youth official here.
 
If you can’t drive, may also contact your local youth team or your high school coach to see how they assign officials. 
 
ArbiterSports
 
Most leagues (but not all) use an online assigning system called arbitersports (think of it as signupgenius on steroids).
 
Once your application has been approved by your league or association, they will send you an email inviting you to their arbiter account.  Be sure to be on the lookout for that email as it might go to your spam folder.  
 
Here is an article on how to use Arbiter.
 
Remember: You must check your email DAILY.  
 
If you do not accept a game, you will be removed after a few days and assignors will be unlikely to assign you again.  If you accept a game, you MUST show up for the game.  If you do not block a date, you are telling the assignor you are available, so be sure to update and manage your calendar REGULARLY.
 

Recertification

You are certified through January. 
You should automatically receive a copy of the NFHS rule book from US Lacrosse each year.  
 
Each spring you will need to recertify by:

    • renewing your USL membership
    • retaking the NFHS and Youth tests
    • watching the rules changes videos
    • attending a free ONLINE recertification clinic with GLOA.

Adult officials must also attend training sessions in January. 

Be sure to check galaxref.com regularly for updates.  

You must continue to put work into being a referee by staying in the rule book and the mechanics manual, working games and asking questions.  Remember, this is the beginning of your training not the end of it!  If you have any questions please let us know!
 
As always if you have questions, please reach out to me.
 
Greg Hite
GLOA Lead Trainer
US Lacrosse State Coordinator and Clinician