We are the organization that trains, develops and assigns Boys Lacrosse Officials for high school, middle school and grade school competitions throughout the State of Indiana. We are a not-for-profit organization, governed by an elected Board of Directors, and administered by Association Officers. (Here are our current officeholders.)
Join ILOA and USA Lacrosse, complete training courses/classes and scrimmage(s), and pass open-book USA Lacrosse exams. A more detailed explanation can be found on our Certification Steps page.
The USA Lacrosse guidelines recommend that a Junior Official be at least 14 years old and 2 years older than the level of play. (That second item may be reduced if the official demonstrates high competency and poise on the field.) Junior officials are typically current or former players.
We continue to urge youth programs to schedule contests on Sundays so that Junior Officials can work while avoiding conflicts from their own practices or schoolwork.
Yes, in January and February ILOA holds online sessions on various topics to train and prepare officials for the coming Spring season. During these meetings we teach you how to apply rules to game situations, along with positioning, signaling and game management — what we call “mechanics.” Please refer to our schedule page for dates.
There are also 2 required open-book exams, one for NFHS rules and a shorter one for Youth rules modifications. These tests are administered by USA Lacrosse on their website (see the Certification Steps page for information on how to access and take them).
The short answer is Yes. We will assign you to a scrimmage where you will work alongside experienced officials to get a feel for being on the field. We’ll help with your positioning, foul recognition, and basics like blowing a whistle, throwing flags and signaling penalties.
Next we will assign you to “shadow” an veteran official on an actual game. At some point you will exchange positions and the official will follow you. Eventually, he will observe from the sideline to further evaluate your abilities and provide feedback.
After successfully shadowing, you are eligible for paid game assignments. If you are not yet comfortable being on the field, or if your observer believes you need more work, you may have an additional shadowing assignment. Please note that shadow assignments are not paid.
And when you move on to those paid assignments, experienced partners, ILOA observers, and continued communication with our trainers will be available for questions and guidance.
Current game rates and mileage reimbursement info can be found on our Fee Schedule.
You will never be assigned to “out of region” games without your prior approval. (Assigners will generally ask for volunteers through a broadcast email.) We use the ArbiterSports online service to assign games, which gives you the ability to define maximum travel distances in your account profile. Be aware, however, that setting a low value may severely limit available assignments for you.
ILOA assignors make every effort to assign Officials from within the region where the competition is held. Travel within a region is not eligible for reimbursement. However, in cases where an official must travel from one region to another, or to a designated “remote” area, a standard mileage fee will be due, based on the origin and destination. Details on regions and fees can be found on our Fee Schedule page.
Officials are “independent contractors”, which means you get to decide your availability to work. ArbiterSports has a calendar feature that lets you “block” days or times on your schedule, for both regular and one-time events. In fact, our Assignor(s) send frequent reminders to members to keep their availability (i.e. blocks) up to date on Arbiter. If you keep declining games, Assignors will assume your interest in or commitment to officiating is low, and will decrease the number of games offered to you. Here is a video that explains how to set blocks.
ILOA dues for 2025 are $70 for returning adults. Junior officials and New officials do not pay dues. USA Lacrosse membership is $55 for adults (23yo+), $35 for under 22yo. Combined, these dues cover your training, evaluations, ArbiterSports fee, rule book, liability insurance, and make you eligible to receive game assignments from the Association.
You are responsible for your uniform, equipment, and travel expenses. See what is required on our Uniform and Equipment Page.