Resources for:

Officials Trainer Certification

About Certified Trainers

The important role that local trainers play in the overall growth, development and quality of officiating is something USA Lacrosse recognizes and hopes to provide expanding support for.

All officials, as part of their annual USA Lacrosse Certification, are required to attend and complete annual learning requirements. This education and development is typically conducted locally and led by local experienced officials tasked with training the officials in their area.

As the sport continues to grow, the need for trainers to conduct annual training of officials grows as well. USA Lacrosse, through this program hopes to standardize the requirements for trainers at the local level by providing additional support and development opportunities tailored to them to increase the quality and consistency of training throughout the country.

Apply Here

Application Timeline
  • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Trainer Certification

The goal of this program is to develop trainers, by utilizing online resources emphasizing proper mechanics, correct rule interpretation, and showcasing different methods of engaging learners; while providing trainers with resources to enhance their training classes. As such, Certified Trainers will be trained to communicate and work with officials at all levels of play, and will be tasked with reporting training data to USA Lacrosse.

Interested applicants should be:
  • An official with at least three years of officiating experience at the high school level in their area
  • Past experience assisting in training classes is a plus, but not required
How Will USA Lacrosse Evaluate the Applications?

Applications are evaluated by USA Lacrosse Officials Development well as USA Lacrosse Regional Managers and based on the following criteria:

  • Quality of the application:
    • All fields are complete.
    • Questions are clearly answered.
    • Includes two recommendations from local area officials

Certification Requirements

There are eight requirements for new certified trainers. Requirements 1-4 must be completed in order. Requirements 5-8 may be completed in any order.

  1. Apply using the links on this page
  2. Have a current USA Lacrosse Membership with Official Participation.
  3. Register into the Certified Trainer program and pay the $25 one-time registration fee.
  4. Initiate a background check through USA Lacrosse's background check provider NCSI.
  5. Complete the USA Lacrosse Boys' or Girls' Rules Online course at usalacrosse.com/myaccount.
  6. Complete the USA Lacrosse Certified Trainer Online Course (link provided after registering).
  7. Participate in the annual Certified Trainer Webinar (link provided after registering).
  8. Pass the upcoming season's rules tests (NFHS or Collegiate + USA Lacrosse Youth) with an 85% or better at  usalacrosse.com/myaccount.
  9. Complete the USA Lacrosse Cultural Competency Online Course at usalacrosse.com/myaccount. 

Annual Recertification Requirements

Trainers completing all of the requirements are automatically enrolled in the Certified Trainer Recertification Program for the following season at no cost to the trainer. Recertification requirements are:

  1. Maintain a USA Lacrosse Membership with Official Participation.
  2. Maintain a current background check through US Lacrosse’s background check provider NCSI.
  3. Participate in the annual Certified Trainer Webinar (live or recorded).
  4. Pass the upcoming season's rules tests (NFHS or Collegiate + USA Lacrosse Youth) with a 85% or better on the  usalacrosse.com/myaccount.

Benefits to Certification

Upon completion of all requirements trainers are granted access to the CTO Resource Library. A one-stop shop where you can download:

  • Training PowerPoint Presentations.
  • Electronic versions of Manuals and Trainer Guides.
  • Penalty videos.
  • Mechanics videos.