USA Lacrosse offers recruiting, training, retention, and leadership grant opportunities to support Officials organizations. We offer grants to aid local officiating organizations with the recruiting of new officials, as well as grants to assist in fulfilling the annual learning and development requirements for their officials.
Types of Grants
Junior Officiating Academy Support Grant
This grant is open to local officiating organizations interested in beginning a junior officiating academy or reinforcing an existing one. A junior officials program utilizes high school aged officials to cover youth games throughout the year.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA & GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
This grant is open to local officiating organizations that meet the following requirements:
- Plan to or currently utilize junior officials on youth lacrosse games
- Have a designated Junior Officiating Coordinator selected by the organization
- Junior Officiating Coordinator must pass a USA Lacrosse NCSI Background Screening if selected to receive this grant
- Have a designated USA Lacrosse Certified Trainer and Certified Observer assigned for junior officiating development
- Have in writing, the local league supporting the use of junior officials
- Carefully and thoughtfully complete a grant proposal form
WHAT A RECEPIENT RECEIVES
A local organization that is chosen to receive this grant will have the option of how they wish to utilize the funds provided. Proposed funding plans are subject to review and acceptance by USA Lacrosse. Some examples include but are not limited to:
- Classroom space rental
- Purchase of training materials or other resources
- Purchase equipment items needed by Junior Officials
Training Support Grant
This grant provides financial and/or logistical support for Local Officiating Organizations hosting annual officials training and classroom sessions. This grant may be applied to classroom rental fees, purchase of training and curriculum packets, technology rental, or other trainer support needs.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA & GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
This grant is open to local officiating organizations that meet the following requirements:
- Demonstrate a concerted effort to certify their officials through USA Lacrosse
- Designate a Training Coordinator, selected by your LOO
- The Training Coordinator must complete, or be in process of completing, both the USA Lacrosse Certified Trainer and Certified Observer programs
- Have at least one USA Lacrosse Certified Trainer and Certified Observer in addition to the Training Coordinator for the LOO
- Carefully and thoughtfully complete a grant proposal form
WHAT A RECEPIENT RECEIVES
A local organization that is chosen to receive this grant will have the option of how they wish to utilize the funds provided. Proposed funding plans are subject to review and acceptance by USA Lacrosse. Some examples include but are not limited to:
- Classroom space rental fees
- Purchase of training materials or other curriculum packets
- Technology Support
- Other trainer or observer support
Observation Program Support Grant — Local Officiating Organization Grant
The goal of this program is to develop officials, not grade them. As such, observers will be trained to identify and communicate key areas for improvement in working officials and will be tasked with checking to see if these officials have implemented the suggestions into their games. Experienced officials will be trained in observation, evaluation, and communication, and then sent to observe working officials throughout the spring season. Since the goal of the program is to help officials grow, each official will be observed at least twice in order to determine if he/she was able to implement the suggestions for improvement. We will award an LOO in each USA Lacrosse Officiating Region one (1) men's and one (1) women's observation grant annually.