Kentucky Umpire Joins US Lacrosse Women's Officials Education Development Team

Kentucky Women's Umpire, John Slider, has been invited to participate in the US Lacrosse Women's Officials Education Development Team.  The team involves US Lacrosse Officials Development staff members, Charlie Obermayer (Senior Manager, Officials Development), Liz Brush (Manager of Officials Development Operations), and Jenn Larkin (Manager of Officials Development Content and Curriculum).  The team functions as a part of the Content and Curriculum area.

The eight-member team is chaired by Coleen Spiegelhoff.

The team will be working with all aspects of the curriculum for education of women's umpires.

The team is divided into ten working groups of two to four persons with each member of the team on multiple groups.  John will be involved in three working groups that will focus on revising the Certified Observers On-Line Course; revising the Certified Observers Webinar; and updating the Officials Training Manual for 2020.

John will continue to serve as the Women's Game, Kentucky Coordinator, Officials Development, US Lacrosse.

US Lacrosse (Women's Game) Officials Development Structure

The structure for US Lacrosse Women's Game Officials Development may seem complex to many.  Here is an organizational chart based on a resource from US Lacrosse and including leadership for the game in Kentucky:

Interested in Becoming Girls Lacrosse Umpire?

Officiating is a great way to stay actively involved in the game and enjoy great camaraderie.  It is also ideal for persons who have not played Lacrosse, but who want to be involved with the development of young persons through a growing sport.  The officiating community is the “third team” on the field and through officiating you can develop friendships and connections with others committed to the game.

For more information go to "Become an Official: at the US Lacrosse site: CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION

You may complete a brief form that will go directly to the State Coordinator for Officials Development, who will in turn contact you and pass your interest on to the recruiting coordinator for state's local officials organization: CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE BRIEF FORM

We look forward to YOU becoming a part of the "Third Team on the Field."

Requirements for New Umpires

What are the basic requirements needed before a new umpire is USL certified and works a game?

• Classroom Training: Learn the rules, mechanics, penalty administration, positioning, etc
• Online Course: Rules Online Course is Mandatory (one time)
• Annual Rules Exams: NFHS High School and USL Youth exams
• On Field Training and Evaluation (Rating) - MUST include participants officiating live games

The USL certification process provides the necessary minimum preparation for working games as well as appropriate liability and injury insurance.

For more information contact the KLUB Recruiting Coordinator or the Officials Development Coordinator, John Slider.

Free Voluntary Background Checks Offered to US Lacrosse Umpires

Beginning on August 5^th, US Lacrosse will be providing adult officials, as members of US Lacrosse, an option to voluntarily complete a background check through NCSI. The background check is provided at no cost to the member.

Currently, KLUB does not require a background check for its members, but USL is moving toward requiring USL certified or registered umpires to complete this check.

This offer is a great opportunity for individuals to get ahead of the trend and to save anywhere from $20 to $75 (depending on a person’s state of residence).

Currenlty USL is exploring the feasibility of making background checks a mandatory requirement for officials.  It is already a requirement for coaches and for umpires who seek certification as trainers, observers/raters, or assigners).

For more information on the background check policy please go to: https://uslacrosse.org/safety/safesport.

You may also contact the Coordinator for Officials Development, John Slider, with questions or comments you may have.

Tentative Umpire Training Dates for the 2020 Season Are Set by the Kentucky Lacrosse Umpires Board

The Kentucky Lacrosse Umpires Board (KLUB) has set the tentative umpire training dates for the upcoming 2020 outdoor season.  With the rule changes that will become official after the US Lacrosse Conference in January 2020, training will very important.

Please notice that the dates are tentative at this time.

The training schedule reflects KLUB adherence to the US Lacrosse requirements for training.

• 18 and 19 January 2020 - New Umpire Training.  This session is usually 3-4 hours. The two dates reflect two options in Louisville and Lexington.  Only one session is required.
• 25 January 2020 - All Umpire Training (Lexington).
• 1 February 2020 - All Umpire Training (Louisville).  All Umpires should be attend either the Lexington or Louisville session.
• 15 February 2020 - All Umpire KLUB rules interpretation clinic and business meeting.  This session will be held at a site between Louisville and Lexington.
• 22 February 2020 - Training and Rating Day (Louisville) with High School teams for returning Level 1 and above.
• 29 February 2020 - Training and Rating Day (Louisville) with Middle School teams for new umpires.
• TBA - Training and Rating Day (Lexington)

Renewal dates are:

• US Lacrosse Membership - renew by 1 October 2019.  If you are working games in the off season, your USL membership provides both injury and liability insurance.  If your membership has lapsed, so has your insurance.
• KLUB Membership - renew by 29 February 2020.  Assignors do not assign persons to games who do not have current USL and KLUB membership.
• It is recommended that New Umpires join USL prior to orientation and clinics.  USL membership provides rule books and access to tests.
• Access to Arbiter is at no cost to umpires.  New Umpires will need to be invited to join both Arbiter accounts by the assignors.

Dates for tests are set by USL.  Two tests are required for assignment to games by KLUB:

• NFHS High School test
• USL Youth test