Get season ready!

New and Returning officials must complete a series of steps each year to either earn or renew their official's certification. Once you've completed the necessary requirements, you'll be matched up with games through ArbiterSports.

We want to make your experience as seamless as possible: if you have questions or concerns about the certification process or training requirements, please reach out to us at wwloaboardchair@gmail.com

Follow the checklist below to ensure you are certified to hit the field this season!

Officials' Season Ready quick reference list:

Complete the 2025 WWLOA Officials Agreement form- you must fill this out in order to remain on the All-Officials email list.
Create or Renew your USAL Membership- must be current through the end of the 2025 lacrosse season (cannot expire prior to May 31, 2025).
While in your USAL account, verify that your NCIS Background Check is current (Adult officials only, background checks are good for 2 years)
Sign up for and attend a classroom training clinic.
Take the USAL Online Rules Course (for new officials) and the Annual Development Course (all officials) as soon as these courses are available.
Take and Pass the USAL online rules test for youth and/or high school depending on the level you will be officiating.
Register for and Attend the ADULT on-field training clinic or the YOUTH on-field training clinic - REQUIRED FOR ALL YOUTH OFFICIALS, and ADULT OFFICIALS only if your rating is/will be expired prior to May 31st, 2025. (registration for this will open in February 2025)
Accept your invitation to Arbiter or sign into your existing account and set up your blocks for dates and times you are not available for games.
Set up your Arbiter Pay account (new Officials) Returning officials, be sure information in your Arbiter Pay account is current and active.

See below for more specific instructions on how to complete any of the above steps.

1. annual official's agreement form

All Officials must complete the WWLOA Official's Agreement Form annually prior to officiating as a WWLOA member. Have your USAL member # and expiration date ready!

(NOTE: The annual agreement form is also linked to the clinic registration form, see below)

2025 Annual Agreement Form

2. USA Lacrosse Membership

Ensure that your USA Lacrosse membership is up-to-date for the upcoming season. Please read this carefully, and do not skip this step!

New officials will need to create an account and Returning officials will need to renew their membership. If you are currently a member of USA Lacrosse and registered as a coach, player or parent category, you must update your membership (to add "Official" and "Washington Women's Lacrosse Officials Association") online within your account.

***If you are a New Junior Official, parents should be able to add "official" to their child's involvement type on their USAL account. They should also update the email on the junior official/HS player's profile. (CLICK HERE for detailed instructions on how to make these changes for junior officials)

Updating your membership category to include "Official" will unlock access to online training resources (like a mandatory rules course, and the rules test). You will also get a digital copy of the rule book with your membership. Renewing thereafter should be easier and can be done online.

Contact USA Lacrosse Membership Department at membership@usalacrosse.com if you need assistance. If the $60 annual membership fee for an Official is cost-prohibitive, please contact wwloaboardchair@gmail.com to inquire about a needs based grant.

USA Lacrosse Membership

3. ncis background check

A Background Check (free with USAL membership) is required only if you are 18 or older when you submit your Official’s Agreement Form.

Complete a background check (valid for 2 years) by following these steps.

Visit usalacrosse.com.
Click on “My Account” at the upper right corner of the page.
Sign in with your User Name and Password.
Click the background check button under your profile
Follow the instructions for completing a Background Check.

go to usa lacrosse

4. USA lacrosse online rules course & Annual Professional Development Module

> Complete the USA Lacrosse online "Girls Lacrosse Rules Course" *once*

> Every year thereafter, complete the Women's Game Officials Annual Professional Development Module released by USAL in January.

The Girls Rules Course is designed to walk officials through the rule book to introduce rules and penalties BEFORE a new official participates in a classroom clinic or field training. Both new and returning officials must complete annual Professional Development Module (much shorter than the full course).

You must be registered as an official with USA Lacrosse to have access to these.

Found after you log in to your account/Menu/E-Learning.

5. Attend a classroom clinic

All Officials must attend a Classroom Clinic prior to the upcoming season.

2025 Classroom Training Clinics:

Jan 11th-Spokane Public Library-Central
Jan 26th-Eastside Catholic, Sammamish
Feb 8th-Bellarmine Prep, Tacoma
Feb 22nd-Snohomish PUD training center, Everett

Feb 23rd-Seattle Prep, Seattle

(Registration links will be activated first week of December!)

There will be a clinic fee for all officials for these trainings, more to come on this in the coming weeks.

When registration is open in the fall/winter, use the link below to view and register for an upcoming session.

If you have any questions about the Classroom Clinics, please reach out to wwloaeducation@gmail.com

6. Pass the annual usA lacrosse rules test

All Officials must take and pass an annual Girls Rules Exam online.

Adult and Junior officials take their respective tests each year:

Adult officials who only officiate HS games are required to pass the USAL "Girls High School Rules Exam”.
Adult officials who officiate both HS and Youth games are required to pass the USAL "Girls Youth & High School Rules Exam."
Junior officials are required to pass the USAL “Girls Youth Rules Exam”.

Adult Officials covering only NCAA or College-Club games, must take the appropriate rules online test as well as other requirements - see www.collegiate-womens-lacrosse-officiating.org the governing body for NCAA/College Club officials for more info.

The USAL Girls Rules tests will be available on the USA Lacrosse website for members who have "Official" in their membership category.

***The Online Rules tests have not yet been released by USAL

7. Attend an on-field training

All New Officials, All Junior Officials, and many Returning Officials are required to participate in on-field training to earn a rating.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!

On-Field Training for 2025:

High School Rating: March 8th and 9th

Youth Rating: March 15th and 16th

(registration for this will open in February 2025)

***Officials will be expected to participate in on-filed training for a 3-4 hour time slot on one of the two training days. Registrants will be notified of their scheduled time slot and location the week prior to training weekend. ***

You can skip this step if you are a Returning Adult Official in good standing with a current multi-year rating. If you aren't sure what your rating is, please email registrar@wwloa.org.

8. arbiter sports account

ArbiterSports is used to manage all aspects of game assignment and payment of Officials.

If you are a New official, you must complete Steps 1-7 above before you receive an invitation to setup an ArbiterSports account. Returning officials should also complete Steps 1-7 and ensure that their contact information is up-to-date.

Once you have your account updated - it is vital that you set your calendar blocks and travel limits for the season. Use the guides below to walk through setting your blocks and travel limits. Your calendar blocks can be adjusted at anytime to match changes in your personal schedule.

We have already paid for WWLOA members' access to the ArbiterMobile app. Download the app on your phone for much easier access to game information.

For Arbiter questions or problems, click on the link below, or call (800) 311-4060 for assistance. https://arbitersportshelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us

Go to Arbiter

9. arbiter pay account

WWLOA uses ArbiterPay to help pay officials. Your payments will be deposited directly into your ArbiterPay account.

You must have an ArbiterSports account established before you will receive access to ArbiterPay.

Set up an ArbiterPay account by following these steps:

Sign into your ArbiterSports account
Click on “Payments” tab.
Click on “ArbiterPay” tab.
Click on “ArbiterPay” logo.
Click on “Sign Up Today”.
Follow ArbiterPay registration instructions.

Send an email to support@arbitersports.com call (800) 311-4060 for assistance.

go to arbiter

Completed all of the steps?

Use the guide below to understand the game assignment process!

Read Game Assignment Process

Once you have your account updated - it is vital that you set your calendar blocks and travel limits for the season (and keep it updated!). Please ensure you have blocked your schedule on days you are not available to officiate. It's essential you monitor your schedule and email account on a daily basis so that you can respond to game assignments within 48 hours.

Have a great season!