Category Archives: New Officials

Who’s Got the Count. Gotta Have that Count (owww)

Posted on March 28, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Counts DiagramSome of the most difficult NFHS rules and mechanics for newer officials to master are the three counts involved in advancing the ball:  the four second goalie count (Rule 4-19 and 20 Art. 5, the 20-second clearing count  (Rules 4-14)  and the 10 second count (Rule 4-15).  While the basic requirements and mechanics for each are fairly straightforward, the challenge emerges when an official is tasked in game situations with BOTH recognizing  and communicating when each count begins and ends. You gotta have the count!

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Posted in Mechanics, New Officials, NFHS Rules, Rules Interpretation, Training, US Lacrosse, Youth Rules

Summer Training Classes TBD

Posted on March 23, 2013 by | Leave a comment

We have completed all training classes this season.  Please check back in May for summer dates and locations.

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Posted in Classes, General, New Officials, Testing, Training, Uncategorized, US Lacrosse

Unecessary Roughness: Hits that make you go “ooooohhhh!”

Posted on February 28, 2013 by | Leave a comment

UR As Gordon Corsetti likes to say, the Unnecessary Roughness penalty is for the hit that makes the crowd go “ooooooooohhhhh.”   It is imperative that these hits be penalized, particularly at the Youth Level.  A body check that has met ALL of the requirements of a legal check (two hands on the crosse, above the waist, below the neck, from the front to side and with the body not the crosse between the hands) may still be ruled illegal if the official deems that it was unnecessary .   Continue reading →

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Posted in General, New Officials, US Lacrosse, Youth Rules

MAYLA, AYL and GLL Youth League Rules

Posted on February 21, 2013 by | Leave a comment

It is essential that officials working youth games know the US Lacrosse Youth Rules, but they must also be aware of the specific adjustments each league or tournament is playing under. Below you will find a number of league rules from in and around the Atlanta area. Continue reading →

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Posted in General, New Officials, NFHS Rules, US Lacrosse, Youth Rules

Tips for New Officials

Posted on February 7, 2013 by | 1 Comment

You’ve completed all the requirements: been through the Level 1 training class,  taken the online course, done your field work , taken the rules test, watched the rules video, registered with US Lacrosse as an official and received your patch.  So now what? The class you took taught you a lot about the rules of the mechanics of  officiating, but there are probably still  many questions you might have about being a referee. Here are some helpful tips and advice for you as a begin your career.  Continue reading →

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Posted in General, Mechanics, New Officials, Training

2012 Lovett High School Lacrosse Videos

Posted on February 6, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Watching these videos of the 2012 The Lovett School Lacrosse Team in Atlanta, GA are a great way to improve your mechanics and familiarize yourself with the game. The quality is great.  Note that some dead ball situations are edited out.  Remember, the best way to learn these mechanics is to attend a game.

Please feel free to contact me with questions, comments or suggestions!

Play On!

Greg Hite

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Posted in GHSA, Mechanics, New Officials, NFHS Rules, Training

Trail’s Responsibility: Watching the Shooter

Posted on February 5, 2013 by | Leave a comment

shooterOne of the most common mistakes newer officials make is ball watching. It is imperative that each official know their responsibilities (Lead or Trail) and focus on their area (On or Off) at all times.  One situation in particular is especially important to cover: watching the shooter after he has taken a shot. A similar situation involves hits on a player, especially the goal keeper, after they have thrown a  pass. These incidents can have a huge impact on your game: everyone sees them but you can’t make the call because you did not see the whole play (or you only heard the hit)!  And if you are not focusing on your responsibilities you will only catch the retaliation.

Check out the video below for a great example of why this mechanic is so important! What would you call in this situation?

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Posted in Mechanics, New Officials, NFHS Rules, Point of Emphasis, Training, US Lacrosse

Steve Stenersen on Uniform Youth Rules

Posted on July 13, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The sport of lacrosse achieved a long-overdue milestone on September 10 when The US Lacrosse Board of Directors approved national youth rules and age breaks for both boys and girls youth lacrosse. The vote concluded a nine-month process that included input from dozens of youth league administrators from around the country, as well as a national survey of thousands of youth coaches, officials and parents.   Read more.

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Posted in General, New Officials, NFHS Rules, Rules Interpretation, Training, US Lacrosse, Youth Rules

Greg Winkler column: Referees need love too

Posted on July 12, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Greg Winkler  argues that quality refereeing at the high school level begins at the youth level and that the behavior of parents and coaches has led to a dearth of qualified officials who can move up.   Read More.

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Posted in General, New Officials, Training

Officiate GA Day: July 21, 2012 at the Gwinnett Conference Center

Posted on July 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment

GAOA LogoI encourage all Georgia high school officials to attend GAOA’s Officiate Georgia Day on Saturday July 21 2012, at the Gwinnett Conference Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097. This is a wonderful event and an incredible opportunity for you to hone your craft. Continue reading →

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Posted in General, GHSA, Mechanics, New Officials, NFHS Rules, Point of Emphasis, Rules Interpretation, Training