Men’s

Interested in getting involved in the men’s game as an official? Men’s lacrosse in New Zealand is growing, and we’re always looking for enthusiastic people to join our officiating community! Whether you’re an experienced player, a parent on the sideline, or completely new to the sport. You can familiarise yourself with the game through the World Lacrosse Rules (https://worldlacrosse.sport/the-game/playing-rules/), and our officials team can help you get started and answer any questions. To learn more, please contact admin@nzlacrosse.nz

Strengthening Officiating Pathways – William’s Trip to Australia. Check out his story below! 

Why did I become a lacrosse official? Literally the last sport I did was golf as a teenager. Both my sons ended up
playing lacrosse through school. I was the typical parent on the sidelines each weekend. I didn’t know the rules but it
never stops anyone from having their own opinion of what is the right call. Every code struggles for support and I got
asked to help where I could. Next thing I know Im taking the kids to a course organised to educate people as officials. I
didn’t realise I was doing the training as well as them, until being advised to get out on the field and start shadowing and
officiating to get better. Next thing I know I am studying the rules and trying to cram experience in by learning on the
fly. It was an initiation by fire and didn’t help not ever having played the game myself in any league.
After one season I had learnt plenty but still had a long way to go. I was doing it for my boys and all the other players in
the Waikato region to make sure we had enough officials for the games to go ahead. I started going out of the area to get more
game time and experience, officiating in the Auckland men’s league. Again I had my abilities tested to new levels with
the advantage of more high level officials to work and train with.
Second season comes up and people with more faith in my abilities than me are suggesting pathways for my further
improvement. I am afraid that as someone over 50, officiating on the field is a younger persons career and I have never
visited physiotherapists more times than I have since reaching that milestone. I am encouraged by others that I am still
capable of going a long way in the sport so I believe in what they have to say and they are suggesting Australia U15
tournament as the next step. Both my sons have left school now and though they were playing at a high level, this is
when jobs and life changes push sports on to the back burner.
At short notice I get a call asking if I am keen to go to the Australian tournament. My boys are taking a break from
lacrosse now so I don’t have them as a reason to keep in the sport. It is now personal reasons and asking myself why I
should stay on as an official. Fitness is a good reason. I have become much fitter over the last 2 years purely from
lacrosse. Being part of a team and the social bonding it brings is another. The challenge of becoming better at something
you put your mind too. I put my application in and wait for a response from Lacrosse Australia.
Short wait, since I did say it was at short notice. I am approved as an official for Lacrosse Australia U15 National Boy’s
Tournament in Perth. Level 1 and 2 theory tests need to be done and successfully passed. Thanks to Waikato Lacrosse,
New Zealand Lacrosse, and all those who backed me for assistance and funding to get there. Thanks also to my loving
wife for letting me go, with a warning not to injure myself.
The boys tournament officials had group accomodation in 2 different houses. 8 days of total immersion with 6 days of
games. It was brilliant to live together for the week, including the educators. We needed to bond as a team on the field
and we continued that bond off the field. Evenings were filled with casual talks over how our games went and we got to
watch our games though the Australian Lacrosse Network feeds on YouTube. Everyone helped each other and having
an officials educator with us meant we always had that extra bit of help when the need arose.
Pre game started an hour beforehand. We discussed team goals, personal goals and situation management. 30 minutes
prior to the game we would go out to the field as a team. Field checks, scorer and timer confirmation, coach meetings,
captain meetings and coin toss gave us just enough time left to bring the teams out onto the field and get the game
started on time. The schedule was tight and everything needed to run like clockwork. We had rain, wind, sun and night
games to deal with. Golden goal matches and keeping time between 2 fields as everything was live streamed added to
the fun. Post game was filled with discussions over game situations, goal achievement and teamwork. For a team of 5
officials per game we all needed to work together and help each other to keep things flowing. Every single game we
did, we worked and bonded as a team, and I would happily officiate again with every single official for the tournament.
I had seen officials educators working once before so I knew what to expect as NZ does not have that full capability.
They watch your every move and take plenty of notes. Sounds a bit scary but they are there for support and will run
through gameplay situations to see why we made the calls we did. I found them incredibly supportive and gave you just
the right amount of tips to improve your game without overloading your brain. Some personal highlights were doing a
night game under lights, resulting in a golden goal finish, officiating 2 final day games and the personal growth I saw in
myself between the first day and the last.
Should others take up the opportunity to go to Australia to officiate? YES definitely! Be prepared to push yourself to
new limits, especially with fitness. Those 15 year olds are fast! It will give you a massive amount of experience in a
very short time as typically you have one game on field and one game on bench per day. Every game had multiple
officials educators who have a wealth of experience and can share it so well in a very supportive way. The officials
bonded well and I can say Team Zebra is like having all your best mates out for a weekend adventure. My only regret is
that I forgot to take any photos since we were so busy all week. The memories are even better though.

William.