First Annual Officials/Umpires Appreciation & Recruiting Week Campaign (April 11-18, 2026)
Sponsored by
Give 60 for 60 Foundation
in memory of Jake Anderson
https://www.give60for60.org
Restaurant
To Be
Announced
The “Referee Appreciation & Recruiting week long campaign” consists of three things:
1. APPRECIATION…We want to encourage the entire lacrosse community to thank and show appreciation for our men and women in stripes during games during the week of April 11-18. Goal: Have coaches, players, administrators, ADs and fans at all age levels show some appreciation and thank our referees.
2. RECRUITING…We want to recruit players, former players, fans and refs from other sports to become the next generation of lacrosse umpires and officials. Goal: 20 new men’s officials and 20 women’s umpires. See
3. COACH, OFFICIAL & UMPIRE CHOICE AWARDS…In a show of mutual respect we want to establish a unique cross voting twist for the Men’s & Women’s Coach, Official & Umpire Choice Awards after the spring season is over. The men’s officials & women’s umpires vote to select the Um[pires & Official Choice men’s and women’s Coach of the Year, while the head men’s and women’s (youth-college) coaches vote to select the Coaches Choice Umpire and Official of the year. We will outline criteria for voters to consider before casting their votes and have the form email out by all the league and association coordinators. Goal: Have everyone vote and announce the winners of the awards after the voting in June. We hope to have enough dinners for two at a local restaurant to present to all the winners. (Old Southern BBQ has committed to two dinners so far). We are looking for several more restaurants to sponsor nine (9) more dinners for two and be associated with this great cause. We also plan to promote the campaign and restaurants sponsors with PSAs, email press releases, and social media posts.
Media & lacrosse team lists to promote the campaign…We need a comprehensive list of media and lacrosse team contacts in order to promote our campaign via PSA (radio & video), press releases and social media. If you can help with any of these, please contact Mark Hellenack at 952-457-4515 or mnlaxhalloffame@gmail.com.
UMPIRE’S CHOICE AWARD (Women’s Coach of the Year)… This award is voted on my the women’s umpires for coach of the year at the girl’s youth, girl’s high school and women’s college levels. So. three awards in total. The voting form and criteria for selecting a coach will be emailed to all umpires by their Women’s Lacrosse Umpires Association. All the umpires from every age level will vote to select a coach of the year. It can be a girls youth, HS or women’s college coach. The coach with the most votes wins.
OFFICIAL’S CHOICE AWARD (Men’s Coach of the Year)… This award is voted on my the men’s officials for coach of the year. The voting form and criteria for selecting a coach will be emailed to all officials by the Northland and UMLOA Men’s Lacrosse Official Associations ner the end of the spring season. All the officials from every age level will vote to select a coach of the year. It can be a boys youth, HS or men’s college coach. The coach with the most votes wins.
WOMEN’S COACHES CHOICE AWARD (Women’s Umpire of the Year)… This award is voted on my the women’s coaches for umpire of the year. The voting form and criteria for selecting a umpire will be emailed to all coaches by their league coordinators and associations near the end of the spring season. All the coaches from every age level will vote to select an umpire of the year. It can be a girls youth, HS or women’s college umpire. The umpire with the most votes wins.
MEN’S COACHES CHOICE AWARD (Men’s Official of the Year)… This award is voted on my the men’s coaches for official of the year. The voting form and criteria for selecting a official will be emailed to all coaches by their league coordinators and associations near the end of the spring season. All coaches from every age level will vote to select a men’s official of the year. It can be a boys youth, HS or men’s college or box official. The official with the most votes wins.
Interested in becoming a men’s official or women’s umpires?
Visit these links for more details:
Training Contact: Harold Buck
Website: www.northlandloa.org
Training Contact: Brad Scibak
Website: www.UMLOA.org
Training Contact: Will Donovan
Website: www.MLUAlacrosse.org
HELP PROMOTE THIS…If you would like to Help promote the annual Officials & Umpires Appreciation & Recruiting Week Campaign, Please contact…
MN Lacrosse Hall of Fame , president, Mark Hellenack at 952-457-4515 or mnlaxhalloffame@gmail.com
