Susan Ganzenmuller

Highly-regarded college and high school official, dedicated national and local leader in lacrosse organizations, 11-time NCAA final four umpire, Rules and Umpiring VP of IFWLA, two-time IF- WLA World Cup umpire, chair of USWLA National Umpiring Committee, Wells College graduate, outstanding service award recipient, passionate advocate of umpire development and player safety.

A quiet, unassuming leader both on and off the field, Susan Ganzenmuller has always been a willing volunteer, someone to count on to follow through and get the job done well. Her efforts in nurturing and developing this rapidly expanding sport, so dependant upon officials for growth, have been remarkable.

A native of St. Louis who never played lacrosse, Susie today is an accomplished umpire and one of the most sought after teachers and clinicians in women’s lacrosse both home and abroad. Susie began umpiring in 1981, earned her US national rating in 1989, and her international rating in 1991.

In 1997 Susie wrote and directed the production of the “Stars and Stripes Rules & Umpiring Video.” That same year, she was awarded the “Nancy Chance Award” for outstanding service to the women’s game. Since 2000, Susie has been the Rules & Umpiring Vice President of International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse Associations. In this role she was the Head Technical Delegate at the 2001 IFWLA World Cup in England, the 2003 IFWLA U19 World Championships in the USA, and will serve again in this role at the 2005 IFWLA World Cup in Annapolis, Maryland.

With a keen interest in the safety of the game, Susie was instrumental in revising the IFWLA crosse specifications in 2003 and contracting an independent testing laboratory at Brown University to evaluate women’s lacrosse sticks against the new specifications. In addition, her passion for umpire development and training has seen her teaching umpires throughout the USA and worldwide, including clinician visits to the Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, England, Japan and Scotland.

Susie is active in the Washington Lacrosse Umpires Association, teaching new umpires and conducting clinics. She also served a term on the US Lacrosse Board of Directors. A resident of Potomac, MD, Susie and her husband Tuck have two sons, Tim and Austin.