Becoming a Lacrosse Official

The Philadelphia Women’s Lacrosse Umpires (PWLUA) mission is to develop, train, and educate women’s lacrosse umpires in the Philadelphia Area. This mission has been accomplished on an unparalleled level for many years. We have developed some of the finest umpires in the nation and indeed in the world.

Historically our umpires have been leaders in helping to develop umpires nationwide. Through our meetings and clinics we have helped our umpires to develop excellence at every level. 

How do I become a Lacrosse Umpire?

1. Please click here to review the steps to becoming an official. Please be patient as we update our information for the upcoming 2019 season. Please take note of meeting dates and playdays! Please make sure that you register with PWLUA by paying your dues on time (January), and thus ensuring your membership eligibility and confirming your name on our roster! 2. ACTIVE MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING: Membership policies for PWLUA: Individuals pay annual dues to PWLUA (required), PIAA (state-optional), and/or US Lacrosse (national-optional) Please be sure to review all meeting and membership requirements for each option group you choose to join. Please note that each group covers your liability as an official differently. While PWLUA is not able to mandate you, we highly encourage you to choose BOTH PIAA and USL as to insure your optimal liability coverage. You must, however, join at least one, PIAA or US Lacrosse (USL). Please visit our homepage to review our PWLUA Policies and Procedures, By-Laws, and Code of Conduct Ethics and Grievance Procedures here. Where do I get training? Youth and Adult training has a variety of sessions and opportunities throughout the area. The opportunities provide classroom instruction and on field training. For classes in your area, please contact one of our US Lacrosse trainers and register for required lacrosse classes and sessions. You can check the PWULA website for updated training days. Once you have completed your classroom portion of your training, you will be expected to register with US Lacrosse (if applicable). Your trainers will send the local board chair your name to begin this process. How do I become a USL certified official in Pennsylvania? PWLUA highly encourages that all of our members have official’s memberships with US Lacrosse. As a member of a group of working professionals we feel this is essential to stay current with the latest interpretations of rules, educational resources and guidelines, trainings, as well as additional insurance (please be aware that there are many schools that are NOT PIAA.) Please be sure to register and become a member with US Lacrosse. If you have more questions, please visit USL here. How do I become a PIAA certified official in Pennsylvania? 1. PIAA is the governing body for HS and MS games in Pennsylvania schools. PWLUA encourages you to register with http://www.piaa.org. There is a written test which you must take. This test is given 4 times a year: .In June, October, February, and August.   What if I only want to do youth games? You can do this if you are trained and certified as a US Lacrosse umpire. To do this you must attend the required meetings, playday and rating session. What is the uniform and what equipment do I need? PWLUA takes particular pride in the appearance of our officials. We ask that you be dressed neatly and crisply in the required uniform. You will need:  Whistle  Rulebook-provided by US Lacrosse or PIAA  Striped shirt  Black kilt, shorts or trousers  Black shoes  Yellow Flag  Green, Yellow, and Red Cards  Watch  Black hat or visor  Other: Tape measure, umpires manual (available on line), pen or pencil, coin, chopstick, Sunscreen. Why do I have to attend all of these meetings? PIAA requires that we attend 6 meetings and one interpretation meeting. Those not certified by PIAA must attend the minimum of 4 meetings and an interp. meeting. Excellence is maintained by having all members attend meetings for current rules interpretations and explanations. Our board pioneered the format adopted by many boards throughout the country and feel these meetings are necessary to develop the skills and techniques necessary to professionally umpire a lacrosse game. What is a Playday/Clinic? The playday/clinic opportunities were developed to help train and evaluate umpires on the field. These are on field experiences where umpires can get experts to watch them and evaluate their skills as well as give feedback for growth in the game. How do I get games? After you have completed your required training and can manage a game, you can be assigned to games appropriate for your evaluated level of competence. The assignor for all Middle school, High school and Division 2 and 3 games in this area is Roberta Butler-bertbutz@comcast.net. The assignors for the PAGLA Youth Lacrosse games are: PAGLA regions http://pagla.org/Page.asp?n=55772&org=pagla.org Assignor West Region – Karen Schnellenbach schnell@chartwellip.com 484-437-9514 cell Assignor South Region - Kathy Pugliese kspugliese@verizon.net 610-306-0592 cell Assignor Tri County Region — Kristin DelGrippo Kris1058@aol.com 484-614-9574 cell Assignor East Region - Melissa Maiolino mkmaio@verizon.net 267-981-9010 cell   Summer Lax Tournament Opportunities During the summer months primarily June and July there many lax tournaments close to the Philly area. These tournaments are a great opportunity to do games with more experienced officials, to work on your game mechanics and get feedback. One of our officials will be putting together a summer tournament file with all the information so you will be able to contact the assignor if you are interested. Whew!! That was alot of reading!! Please don't get overwhelmed!! It really is a step by step process that is easy to follow; our goal is to make you the best lacrosse official you can be! Our lacrosse board is comprised of helpful and nurturing leaders, and boast an elite group of mentors that have years of lacrosse games under their belts! We are here for YOU!! Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. One more thing...actually a couple of things. :) Could you please reply and send me the following:  -ADDRESS:  -PHONE NUMBER:  -USL member # (if applicable)  -PIAA member: YES or NO  -Are you an adult or youth? Also, official PWLUA registration will occur in January. I know it all seems confusing but you will get the hang of it. Sincerely, Mary Sue Christopher & Trish (Chilkotowsky) Reidinger PWLUA Recruitment and Retention Chair