The document outlines the pre-game procedures for lacrosse officials, including meeting 30 minutes before the game to discuss expectations, checking the field, and conducting stick checks 15 minutes before the game where officials ensure players' sticks, gear, and uniforms comply with rules. The goal of the pre-game talk is to get officials on the same page about how to handle the level of play and game situations, and 5 minutes before the game officials note captains and conduct the coin toss.

1. Pre-game
In this presentation:
• Pre game procedure
• Goal of the pre game talk
• Stick check
Women's Lacrosse Basic Officiating
TIPS & TRICKS
video
Crew Communication
Conduct of an Official
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2. Pre-game
Pre game procedure
• Before the game, meet fellow officials and have a pre game talk
• 30 Minutes before Draw:
• Check the field: lines, cones, goals, bench area
• Discuss questions among the crew, new rules, expectations of
the game.
• 15 Minutes before Draw: stick check
• Two umpires per team
• Both teams line up and have their gear and sticks checked
• Table checks NLB player passes, Head Umpire signs the
rosters after they’ve been checked
• See the next slides for more details on the stick check
Women's Lacrosse Basic Officiating
TIPS & TRICKS
video
Crew Communication
Conduct of an Official
Dealing with Confrontation
Your First Time

3. Pre-game
Pre game procedure
• 5 Minutes before Draw: captain talk
• Note the captains’ numbers down
• Note special field circumstances (fencing, football goal posts)
• Coin toss
• Do not tell team what you are going to watch for. As an
official you are watching everything, always
• “You play, we officiate”
• “You score the goals, we make the calls”
• 2 minutes before Draw:
• Before Draw, check that the goals are still in good order
• Draw at appointed time
Women's Lacrosse Basic Officiating
TIPS & TRICKS
video
Crew Communication
Conduct of an Official
Dealing with Confrontation
Your First Time

4. Pre-game
Goal of the pre game talk
• Get all the officials on the same page
• Asses the level of play and how to respond to this as officials
• Lower level of play: warn more, explain more
• Higher level of play: expect players to know the rules
• Discuss challenging game situations
• Outline the first actions (pre game) on the field, before going out
onto the field
Women's Lacrosse Basic Officiating
TIPS & TRICKS
video
Crew Communication
Conduct of an Official
Dealing with Confrontation
Your First Time

5. Pre-game
Stick check
• During the stick check, umpires check the sticks:
• Hold the stick horizontally at face height to check the pocket:
• The top of the ball must be visible, remain above the
entire top edge of the sidewall
• The ball must move freely within all parts of the pocket
• This counts for the ‘open’ and ‘closed’ side of the head
• The length of the stick
• If the head is whole and attached to the shaft with a screw
• Has an end cap and/or rounded/stumped end
• Loose stringing are no longer than 4 cm
• See the basic rules course for more details on the stick
requirements and the WL Rulebook rules 3 and appendix G
Women's Lacrosse Basic Officiating
TIPS & TRICKS
video
Crew Communication
Conduct of an Official
Dealing with Confrontation
Your First Time

6. Pre-game
Stick check
• During the stick check, umpires check the players for:
• A fitting mouthguard. NOT white, clear, or with graphics of
teeth.
• Jewelry: no jewelry is allowed, including taped off jewelry
• Only medical alert ‘jewelry’ or aids (like an insulin pump)
are allowed, if taped off
• Correct uniform
• Eye guards (goggles) are allowed if they comply with the
safety requirements
• See the basic rules course for details and WL Rulebook rule 6
Women's Lacrosse Basic Officiating
TIPS & TRICKS
video
Crew Communication
Conduct of an Official
Dealing with Confrontation
Your First Time

7. Pre-game
Stick check
• The goalie:
• See former slide
• Goalies must also wear:
• A fitting helmet with facemask and throat protector
• Chest or body pad
• Goalie gloves
• The goalie’s stick:
• See two slides back
• The top half of the ball must be visible above the ball stop
• Put the ball in the pocket and hold the stick vertical to
the ground
• The ball must move freely within all parts of the head/pocket
• See the basic rules course for more details on the stick
requirements and the WL Rulebook rules 3 and appendix
Women's Lacrosse Basic Officiating
TIPS & TRICKS
video
Crew Communication
Conduct of an Official
Dealing with Confrontation
Your First Time