NLL Insider

The NLL players’ union (PLPA) has a slogan: “We make the game.”

Keeping with that theme, the NLL refs should go with the mantra: “We make the game possible.”

Let’s face it, without the men in strips, it’s not a game — it’s a shootaround.

While fans, players and even media types can bemoan penalties and shake their heads over bad calls, the plain hard fact of the matter is nobody in the building during a game is more qualified to be calling the action than the three guys in black and white.

Period.

Do they blow call sometimes? Yes. Do players blow passes and shots? Yes. Are refs perfect? No. Is there a better option? No.

It’s easy to forget the refs in the NLL aren’t getting rich plying their trade (they make around the rookie minimum, according to the league). While there’s been many feel-good stories written about the sacrificies players and coaches make with their families and work to be part of the league, there’s been none (to my knowledge) about the refs.

That led me to this column idea. I realized last week I knew next to nothing about how NLL officiating works in terms of recruiting, clinics and ongoing training.

The NLL, understandably, doesn’t recommend their refs speak to the media. However, Doug Fritts and the league granted me an interview with Brian Lemon, the vice president of lacrosse operations. Essentially, the bucks stop with him when it comes to officiating.

As well, I got to speak to veteran official Tom Sutton. That column will appear tomorrow.

This column isn’t about my opinion as much as it’s a fact-finding operation. Call it a public service for NLL fans - and maybe some players. Here’s what I learned from Lemon about officiating in the NLL.

• The current mix of refs in the NLL is close to a 50/50 split between Canadians and Americans. While you’d think going from the box game to the NLL product would be easier than the switch from field (as is the well-documented case with players), Lemon said the league has other concerns to worry about when it comes to the ratio.
“We can’t put all our eggs in one basket, so to speak,” he said, in large part to Visa isssues. “We need a nice blend of U.S. officials and Canadian officials and we train them accordingly. Either way, we have to train them to the NLL way to officiate because both the field and the Canadian indoor are a different game than the NLL.”

• Just like coaches and GMs, Lemon and the league scouts for new talent. Lemon spends time in the hotbeds of Ontario and B.C., as well as U.S. locales. Lemon also talks to head refs in various associations and regions across North America. The NLL also receives resumes (often with DVDs of said applicants game action) and follow those up with reference checks and interviews if the applicant looks promising.

• For those unfamiliar, thee-man crews ref NLL games: The technical ref, assistant ref and crew chief. Newbies start out as tech refs (working faceoffs, watching line changes and assisting crews are their three main responsibilities). The hope is they move up based on positive evaluations and competency.

•Which, leads us to the ongoing evaluation process. Lemon watches every minute of every NLL game, he explained. He evaluates each ref on each game they work. The official gets a numeric mark as a performance grade as well as a written analysis of calls they made (good or bad) with a DVD of the game to match the two up. Teams also submit evaluations of the officials each and every game.

•All refs, regardless of experience, get together every year before the season for a weekend clinic. Refreshers are given, new rules discussed and focus calls (things to watch for and crack down on passed down from the competition committee) are discussed.

• Every Wednesday, the refs have a conference call and watch video clips Lemon has pieced together. They can call up the videos on their computers and see the calls as each is discussed. Lemon points out the good and the bad and critiques them. Last season, Lemon amassed 75 clips throughout the season for study. This year, they’re on pace for 200. Using video as a tool to improve officiating has become integral to the NLL, said Lemon.

• The NLL has discussed instant replay, especially for the controversial crease calls - goal or no goal. One idea was to have a monitor in the penalty box the crew chief could consult. The talk was tabled for this season but will be brought up again in the off-season.

In my estimation, it seems the two biggest beefs fans (and players, coaches and media) have with the reffing in the NLL is consistency and perceived bias. Lemon said the NLL understands the need for consistency and all the review and video training is supposed to address that.

As for the perceived bias that some refs love some teams or players, Lemon watches all the games and doesn’t buy it.

“I would say that with my experience with the officials, there’s no favourtism in the NLL,” said Lemon. “These guys take this job seriously and they’re professionals. They go out there and try to do the best job they can. That’s a perception.”

For those that scoff, think of it this way. If there are biases, they’ll be hard to hide with the increased video review and analysis.

This info may not change your opinion of NLL refs but it does underline that the league takes officiating very seriously and are working to make it the best it can be.

At the end of the day, think of it this way: One thing I know for sure is I can’t go one-on-one like Tracey Kelusky, fire a backhand like John Grant Jr., take a faceoff like Geoff Snider and I certainly can’t ref as good as an NLL official. Can you?

Tomorrow, Tom Sutton.

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