NLL Insider

The NLL is moving forward with a two man officiating crew for 2010. (Photo: Dave Sanders)

In the wake of this week’s broken off talks between the National Lacrosse League and National Lacrosse League Official’s Association, NLL Insider has learned that the NLL plans on moving forward this upcoming season using a two man gameday officiating crew, completely removing the technical referee.

The use and compensation of the technical official, often also referred to as a third official, has been the major hurdle keeping the two sides apart, ultimately leading to this week’s standoff.

NLL Insider confirmed the league’s decision to scrap the technical official through NLL commissioner George Daniel Wednesday evening, Daniel reiterating, “Due to time constraints required in making preparations for the upcoming season, including processing visas and travel arrangements, the league was required to conclude the bargaining process and move forward with assembling a staff for the 2010 season.

“The league will be using a two man system for the 2010 season.”

Daniel also stated that the league moving to a two man system was first recommended by the NLL’s Competition Committee in the spring, the league’s Board of Governors later approving the implementation, and the league then presenting that change to the NLLOA during the negotiating process earlier this off-season.

After the NLLOA overwhelmingly rejected scrapping the third referee on gamedays, Daniel says the league then looked at the option of offering a reduced rate for the technical official, which was included in their absolute final offer to the NLLOA earlier this week.

As reported on NLL Insider yesterday, after the two sides were unable to reach an agreement this week, the league then presented individual contracts to both members and non-members of the NLLOA, telling the official’s association they would indeed be taking that action if their last offer was rejected. As of yesterday, the league has indicated that they have already signed an adequate amount of officials to continue with this year’s season using two gameday officials.

Although the NLL has confirmed that they have signed what they describe as ‘veteran NLL referees’ who officiated last season, NLL Insider has been unable to confirm which or how many officials may have actually signed the individual contracts presented to referees this week.

“We wish to confirm that we have signed a number of NLL referees from last season,” Daniel told NLL Insider last night. “We will have training sessions for any new officials signed and are confident that the officials will meet our standards.”

Through a statement issued earlier this week, NLLOA President, Tom Sutton, stated, “We know that officials throughout the United States and Canada have been contacted by the league to work for the 2010 season.

“We know some of these referees are currently officiating at much lower levels, some are youth referees. We believe it is irresponsible for the league to contact replacement officials. It is reckless that some may not currently have the experience to work at the professional level. We trust that the NLL players and team management would find this to be unacceptable as well. The NLLOA has worked endlessly to better ensure the safety of the players. Not using NLLOA referees for this season would be a huge step in the wrong direction.”

Daniel also confirmed that at this point even if the NLLOA were to back down from their stance of keeping the technical referee in place, it is far too close to the start of the season to go back to the negotiation table, the league seemingly very much prepared to move forward with the staff they’ve signed on individually this past week.

“The offer we made was a last offer,” Daniel added. ”It was the best we can do under our current fiscal budget.  The NLLOA members were all invited to sign their contracts for this season and some have elected to do so and others have not, so we now most move forward with the staff we have.”

The league will kick-off the two man system in coming weeks during the first set of exhibition games, confidant their new staff will be able to handle the changeover. “Most of our referees were trained in a two man system in box leagues and we believe this will provide a very smooth transition into the NLL,” said Daniel. “With the move to the two man system, our staff will be well equipped in preparation for the 2010 season.”

The contracts currently being signed by officials are for a single season, the league telling NLL Insider that they would be willing to again negotiate with the NLLOA or any other organization that is legally authorized to collectively bargain on behalf of their currently employed officials for future seasons.

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