English officials selected for 2024 World Lacrosse Women's U20 Championship

Two English officials have been selected as on-field officials for the 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship, World Lacrosse has announced.

Paul Bibby and David Morris are part of a 38-strong team of officials travelling to Hong Kong, China for the competition that’s set to take place from 15-24 August.

Both Bibby and Morris are highly experienced officials having taken charge of matches at various international competition around the world as well as some of the most high level domestic games in England.

The 38 officials represent 12 nations and three Continental Federations with World Lacrosse’s Officiating Committee helping to select the group of officials in consultation with National Governing Bodies and Continental Federations based on the officials’ quality and past performance in internationally sanctioned events.

The group of officials will be supported through the championship by a team of educators who will mentor, evaluate and assess their performance.

Leading up to the event, the individuals will continue to officiate in their home countries, attend online workshops, undergo fitness testing and take rules exams ensuring that they are best prepared for the championship.

Each official selected for the championship has a World Lacrosse 1 or higher certification, in line with World Lacrosse’s recent efforts to develop an officials’ certification program to ensure a consistent standard across world championships.

England Lacrosse launch Coaching & Officiating Survey

England Lacrosse is pleased to launch its 2024 Coaching & Officiating Survey as it seeks feedback from those involved in the game to give it a full picture of the current landscape in England.

Feedback is welcome from any and all coaches and officials involved in lacrosse in England from all age groups and abilities.

The survey responses will allow England Lacrosse to better understand the experiences of coaches and officials within the sport, particularly after the turbulent past few years.

England Lacrosse will then be able to provide support in the right areas and help make a positive difference to coaches and officials within England.

Please note, the survey closes at 5pm on Monday 15 April.

Sign up for England Lacrosse membership ahead of the 2023/24 season

England Lacrosse membership is now available to purchase or renew ahead of the upcoming 2023/24 lacrosse season starting in September.

If you were an England Lacrosse member for the 2022/23 season, your membership will expire at 23:59 on 31 August and in order to play, coach, or officiate during the upcoming 2023/24 season, you will need to renew before that date; if you have set your membership to renew automatically, then you are not required to do anything.

If you were not a member last season, simply follow the buttons below to grab yourself an England Lacrosse membership and enjoy these benefits:

• the ability to compete in any England Lacrosse sanctioned event, league, or competition;

• priority access and a discount to all England Lacrosse courses, seminars, and training days;

• priority notification and access to all England Lacrosse events;

• access discounts and special offers from England Lacrosse partners;

• access to funding for lacrosse projects;

• access to the England Lacrosse insurance package.

The prices for England Lacrosse membership for the 2023/24 season are as follows:

• Senior | £39.50 per year

• Junior | £19.75 per year

• Student | £19.75 per year

• Armed Forces | £19.75 per year

• Fan | £6 per year

For more information about England Lacrosse membership for the 2023/24 season, click below.

Wendy Reynolds appointed as Chair of Umpiring Advisory Group

England Lacrosse is delighted to announce that experienced official Wendy Reynolds has been appointed as the new Chair of the Umpiring Advisory Group (UAG).

Reynolds brings more than 35 years of lacrosse experience, 20 years of that as an umpire, to the role and succeeds Paul Bibby who left the role last year.

Assistant Head at Heathfield School, Ascot, Reynolds began playing lacrosse in 1987 as a goal-keeper and represented England for 14 years picking up a World Cup silver medal (1993) and bronze medal (1997) in the process.

After retiring from playing, Reynolds had a desire to remain involved in lacrosse at a high level and eventually moved into umpiring, representing England once again at every U19 and senior World Championship between 2003 and 2013 and being a part of the umpiring teams in two gold medal games.

Since 2014, Reynolds has been a member of the World Lacrosse Officiating Committee and a World Championship Lead Mentor/Assessor and in 2017, she was awarded the World Lacrosse Emeritus Award for Women’s Officiating.

Upon her appointment, Reynolds said:

“I have already chaired this committee under a different title, from around 2006–2009 and then had to take more of a back seat due to work commitments. I was still involved assessing at events but now want to get more involved again and help the next stage of officiating development.”

The UAG, working under the guidance of the Officiating Advisory Group and National Lacrosse Committee, is responsible for leading on the strategy for the future of umpiring in England.

The Group provides guidance and expertise on the application of rules for the domestic game, works with regions to promote umpiring across the country, and acts as a point of contact for any relevant umpiring issues.

New set of level 2 umpire courses announced

England Lacrosse is delighted to announce a new series of level 2 umpiring courses for spring and summer 2023.

The level 2 umpire award is perfect for those officials with an existing and valid level 1 certificate who want to make that next step up in the world of officiating.

To attain a the level 2 award, participants must complete two online webinars with work to be completed between sessions.

Following the completion of the online webinars, participants will be emailed with assessment opportunities at regional events and tournaments around the country.

There are 15 online courses altogether, seven for webinar 1 and eight for webinar 2; participants must attend one of each of the webinars in order to complete the course and attain the level 2 umpire award.

Please note, officials must have a valid level 1 certification and England Lacrosse Membership to undertake the level 2 course.

A list of dates for the webinars can be found below with each taking place 7:30pm-9pm and you can book onto the level 2 umpire course by clicking the button at the bottom of this article.

For more information about officiating courses, please contact England Lacrosse Officiating Co-ordinator, Ryan Griffiths, on [email protected].

Course Dates

Webinar 1

Wednesday 22 March
Thursday 6 April
Monday 17 April
Tuesday 9 May
Wednesday 24 May
Thursday 8 June
Monday 19 June

Webinar 2

Tuesday 28 February
Wednesday 29 March
Thursday 13 April
Monday 24 April
Tuesday 16 May
Wednesday 31 May
Thursday 15 June
Monday 26 June

England Lacrosse announce autumn/winter 2022 level 2 umpiring courses

England Lacrosse is delighted to announce our autumn/winter 2022 level 2 umpiring courses as we look to expand our ever-growing pool of umpires.

It is the perfect opportunity for those who already hold a level 1 umpiring qualification with England Lacrosse to grow their knowledge and improve their officiating as we head towards the new season.

England Lacrosse will hold a total of six courses throughout the back end of 2022 and early into 2023 with each course consisting of two online webinars with learners being given work to undertake between sessions.

Following the completion of the online webinars, learners will be emailed with assessment opportunities at regional events/tournaments.

There are five available dates for Webinar 1 & six available dates for Webinar 2 and learners need to ensure they are able to attend one of each webinar dates in order to undertake the course (all webinars take place from 7:30pm - 9pm).

Webinar 1

Wednesday 21 September
Thursday 6 October
Tuesday 25 October
Tuesday 17 January
Wednesday 18 January

Webinar 2

Monday 26 September 
Wednesday 28 September
Thursday 13 October
Tuesday 1 November
Tuesday 24 January
Wednesday 25 January

If you would like to enrol on a level 2 umpiring course, click the button below.

Host an England Lacrosse Youth Officials' Course!

Last week, Berkhamsted School hosted England Lacrosse’s first Youth Officials’ Course in over 18 months which saw 16 young people spend time working towards an EL officiating qualification.

The Youth Officials’ Course is part of England Lacrosse’s aim to get more young people aged 14-18 involved in the officiating side of lacrosse, learning more about rules, hand signals, and on-field discipline amongst other things.

As well as the formal course, delivered by experienced tutors, the attendees also benefit from extra on-field training to enhance their experience and assist their progress as officials.

At the end of the course, the attendees will receive a Level 1 umpire qualification which they can use to officiate lacrosse matches and will allow them to progress to level 2 and beyond if they so wish.

If your school or club would like to host one of England Lacrosse’s Youth Officials’ Course like the one hosted by Berkhamsted School last week, simply send an email of interest to England Lacrosse Officiating & Competitions Co-ordinator, Ryan Griffiths, on [email protected].

If you are aged 16 and above, our online officiating courses are also available and can be purchased HERE.