“Look at little Barb,” Patty Daley gushed during a USA Lacrosse Convention presentation, “Her signals are always big and crisp.”

Barbara Martinichio commands the game using every bit of her 4-foot-11 frame and the confidence of a seasoned women’s lacrosse official, but she did not develop confidence on her own. It grew slowly, as a new friend expanded her circle of support and widened her world.

Martinichio was a stay-at-home mom in Binghamton, New York with two kids, one friend and a general desire to stay in the house. To socialize, she joined an adult soccer league and found her way into officiating a few matches. It wasn’t long before she was encouraged to give lacrosse a try.

Turned out her trainer was one of the country’s best: Liz Brush, current manager of the Officials Development Program at USA Lacrosse. What began as a trainer-trainee relationship grew into a deep and rewarding friendship.

Brush brought Martinichio to her first USA Lacrosse Convention in Philadelphia in 2003. Now known as LaxCon, the event that annually draws more than 7,000 coaches, fans and officials will be back in person Jan. 14-16 in Baltimore.

“I remember walking in and seeing these big posters of the girls up high,” Martinichio said of her first time. “Being there and watching my friend, Liz, speak and getting to interact with all of my officiating heroes was the best feeling.”

With the passion to improve and a staunch supporter in Brush, Martinichio got better. From high school games to NCAA championship weekend  to clinics as a USA Lacrosse and Collegiate Women’s Lacrosse Officiating Association clinician, you’d think she’d always be raring for adventure.

“I’ve never been one who wants to travel,” Martinichio said. “But through lacrosse and Liz’s encouragement, I’ve been all over the country and met so many wonderful people.”

Best friends know how to convince you to do something that’s good for you. When an opportunity to run a clinic in Northern California came up, Martinichio hesitated. She preferred to stay at home and be with her dogs. Brush knew this and offhandedly mentioned, “Well, I just thought you’d enjoy being 17 miles from the Charles Schulz Museum.”

Martinichio’s obsession with Charlie Brown is well known among women’s lacrosse officials. It only took a little motivation to get her all the way across the country for some lacrosse, Snoopy and Woodstock.

Entering her 21st year of officiating, Martinichio is paying forward what Liz did for her. She’s bringing a mentee to LaxCon.

“I want this young kid to see all the ways lacrosse has helped me in my life for herself,” Martinichio said, “so that she can do that for another official down the road.”

It’s not just the new officials that need friends, either. Even those working the televised games need support. If Martinichio gets on herself after a tough game and needs to talk, her phone rings. Officiating lacrosse is about more than just working games; it’s about the friends you meet along the way that make your life far better than it was before.

MARTINICHIO ON RULES

If a foul happens directly on the 30-yard-line, with free movement we don’t have to restart with a player’s heels touching it.

Restart within playing distance or near the proximity of the foul.

Put your hand up and tell the restarting player, “Hold up and wait!” if a whistle is required.

MARTINICHIO ON MECHANICS

Look to the future of how play will be instead of holding onto the past of how things have always been.

The trail official’s job has intensified with free movement. Be ready to get to the far goal.

Gain agreement on who is handling what in a thorough pre-game meeting.

MARTINICHIO ON GAME MANAGEMENT

“Why did they get the ball?” the coach demands. Here are options when you don’t have the opportunity to answer in depth:

“I will find the answer for you, but I gotta go right now.”

“I hear you. Be back when I can.”

“I’ll find out.”

Use the ball exchange after a goal for a brief discussion of the coach’s concerns. Follow up with the coach about what was discussed.

This article appears in the January 2022 edition of USA Lacrosse Magazine. Join our momentum.