At Big Walnut Lacrosse, we take great pride in fostering a positive, respectful, and enriching environment for our players, coaches, parents, and officials. Our mission is to keep as many kids playing for as long as possible in the best conditions possible.

A crucial part of making our mission a reality is ensuring we have well-trained referees officiating our games AND fans who respect their effort and dedication to giving back to the sport — no refs means no games. It’s really that simple.

Our Commitment of Youth Officials
Many of the referees officiating our youth games are Junior Officials — middle school and high school student-athletes who have taken on the responsibility of learning the game from a different perspective.

Becoming a certified youth referee is no small feat. These officials go through extensive training to ensure they can fairly and accurately enforce the rules of the game. 

Here’s what they must accomplish before stepping onto the field as certified referees:

Girls’ Game Officials

• Must complete USA Lacrosse certification to officiate K/1/2 through 5/6 games.
• Complete a 2+ hour Rules & Penalties Course.
• Complete a Professional Development Course.
• Participate in 3 hours of classroom instruction.
• Pass a 1.5-hour on-field evaluation.
• Achieve a 90% or higher on the Youth Rules Test.
• Obtain liability insurance through USA Lacrosse.

Boys’ Game Officials

• Must have prior playing experience.
• Complete a full-day, extensive USA Lacrosse course.
• Pass the Junior Official Certification exam with 90% or higher.
• Successfully perform an on-field evaluation overseen by COLOA (Central Ohio Lacrosse Officials Association), which also oversees high school officiating in Columbus.

Upholding Our #beBIG Culture
Big Walnut Lacrosse is built on the foundation of respect — for teammates, coaches, opponents, and, without a doubt, the officials. As parents and spectators, we play a crucial role in upholding this culture and ensuring our kids have a positive experience on the field. 

How?

First, Respect the Officials
Our officials are learning and gaining valuable experience, just like our players. They will make mistakes — it’s part of the learning process. Instead of criticism and heckling, they need encouragement and patience as they work to call the game, make split-second decisions, keep players safe, and have their eyes on all of the action, up, down, and across the field. We ask all parents and coaches to support their efforts, recognizing that without them, we wouldn’t have games at all.

Next, Sit Back & Enjoy the Game
Lacrosse at the youth level is about growth, teamwork, and having fun. There are NO college recruiters or scholarships being awarded at these games, so let’s keep the focus on watching our children develop, play with their friends, and build a love for the sport. Most parents, in a moment of honesty with themselves, will admit they don't fully understand the game and all of the rules yet and can learn from both the officials and their player by watching, asking questions, and referencing the rule books as needed.

And Last But Not Least, Support the Growth of Officiating in Central Ohio
As the number of officials willing and able to referee games continues to fall, it is imperative we work together to support, recruit, train, and develop referees for the future. The more opportunities these young officials get, the better they will become. Assigning them to scrimmages and games allows them to build confidence, gain experience, and keep the pipeline of qualified officials growing in Central Ohio.

At Big Walnut Lacrosse, we are committed to keeping the game strong, positive, and accessible for as many kids as possible. The Spring 2025 game schedule officially kicks off this weekend, and we thank you in advance for helping us uphold our mission and culture by treating referees with the same respect and encouragement we expect for our young student-athletes.

Let’s continue to #beBIG, support our officials, and have some fun this spring.