Hello, This is the Referee in Chief for the Saanich Lacrosse Association.
There was a significant drop in Official's last season province-wide. As a result, the Saanich Lacrosse Association and other associations (Peninsula, Esquimalt etc.) across the province and nation are currently in need of more officials this upcoming season. Referees (and shot clock personnel) are essential in order to play the game and we wish to limit the cancellation of games. We are looking to recruit male and female referees of all ages (13+ as of Dec 31st), young and old. No prior experience with the game of lacrosse is required. Any effort to recruit friends, family, or anyone else would be tremendously appreciated. You would be personally helping to keep the great game of lacrosse alive, and we would love to have them on board. Please spread the word and anyone with any interest or questions is more than welcome to contact me (Ryan White) at headofficial@saanichlacrosse.
Some Benefits of Officiating:
The potential benefits of officiating are too long to list but some stand out. Many benefits are enjoyed by all officials, while other benefits are much more personal and determined on an individual basis:
1. It is fun, leading to great memories and experiences.
2. It pays above minimum wage with highly flexible scheduling tailored to your availability, and earnings can increase based on division, as outlined in the rates below.
3. It enhances your skills and comprehension as a player, coach, parent, and/or fan by expanding your knowledge of the rules and gaining a deeper understanding of the game.
4. It promotes health, fitness, weight loss, vision, anticipation, and reaction time.
5. It is a great way to grow and develop character as a person, promoting lifelong skills that are resume-building. See below.
(decision-making and judgement skills, work ethic, teamwork, courage, confidence and self-esteem, interpersonal communication, emotional regulation, people management, leadership, respect, critical thinking through logic and reasoning, relationship building, responsibility, integrity and dependability, self-control and discipline, time management and organization, ability to block out distractions and concentrate, pride and belonging, attention to detail, the ability to be calm and collected under stress, fairness and equality, safety management, active listening and learning, dedication and commitment, mental toughness and stress tolerance, conflict resolution, goal setting, perseverance, resiliency and determination).
6. It increases valuable social interaction and skills leading to lifelong friendships through camaraderie and other valuable contacts or connections for other job opportunities etc.
7. It is a great way to stay actively involved in the sport. Figuratively, you’ll have the best seats in the arena while getting paid to exercise.
8. Officiating serves as a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the community, sports, and the development of young individuals. Sports officials play a crucial role as positive role models, entrusted with upholding the principles of fair play and promoting good sportsmanship. It provides a unique opportunity to positively influence young people and enhance their lives.
9. Potential for paid travel opportunities (regular season, tournaments, playoffs, provincials and nationals).
10. Potential career paths with room for development. Elite levels get paid hundreds of dollars per game.
Refereeing has significantly enriched my life, making it more enjoyable and fulfilling. The sport has been exceptionally rewarding, and I encourage anyone contemplating a referee course to register and embrace the many amazing things that officiating can offer to enhance your life.