Women's Division Officials Council Explained

This Web site services the more than 2,400 umpires of the women's game of lacrosse.  All of us are members of the WDOC.

Our council's umpire membership is led by the National Umpiring Committee. The committee consists of 13 members (six At-large members, six Super Region Chairs, and the Chair) The At-large members are voted on by the executive committee after applications are submitted via the Nominating Committee. At-large members serve a two year term. The Super Region leadership elects the Super Region Chairs every two years. The Chair serves a three-year term, plus one year as chair-elect, and one year as past-chair.

This committee meets three times a year to organize the training and programs for the USLacrosse umpires. A two-day meeting at the end of November is the organizational meeting for the upcoming year. The Umpire’s Manual is updated, clinics across the country are planned, policies are reviewed, committees are chaired, interpretations are reviewed, the National Rules Interpretation Clinic Agenda (USLacrosse National Convention) is planned. The January meeting held prior to the USLacrosse Convention is where plans are made for the National Tournament, rating procedures, and evaluation chairs are put in place, Honorary Awards are considered, the "Chairs Meeting" is held, as well as Region business meetings are conducted. The required National Rules Interpretation Clinic for all 64 Local Umpiring Board chairs is held at the National Convention. The National Tournament weekend held in May of each year for the women's game, starts with a Friday meeting of the National Umpiring Committee to discuss ratings, policies, potential rule changes, and the rating format taking place for the following two days. The Women's Division Officials Council Annual Meeting is held in conjunction with the USLacrosse National Tournament.

To become a US Lacrosse umpire, membership and service is required through a Local Umpiring Board. There are 64 contacts for this purpose within our Women's Division Officials Council Directory. Our council's structure annually updates, trains, and evaluates umpires. Each umpire is annually required to take a written exam to maintain membership. Field ratings are required annually until a specific proficiency is met within the rating system. The Apprentice rating is earned by fulfilling requirements and proficiencies needed for a lower level game. The Local rating is earned when competency is shown to be able to manage high school level play. The District rating shows competency at the college level, and the National rating shows the highest proficiency within the United States Women's Division umpires. 

More information regarding the rules interpretations, local board membership, quick forms, Flags & Whistles Newsletters, and the assignors directory are found within this Web site.