Policies and Fees
Policies and Procedures
The policies and procedures of the TXLOA are set forth in the following document.
The TXLOA COVID-19 prevention guidelines are set forth in the following document.
Charitable Events
The following policy was adopted by the TXLOA Board of Directors on how to handle requests for officials to provide their officiating services for tournaments or charitable fundraising events:
Tournament hosts should pay, and should expect to pay, standard tournament rates for officials’ game fees and for the assigner’s fees.
For events supporting bona fide charitable causes, TXLOA will work with the host to facilitate individual officials in giving back all or part of their games fees to the charity, with appropriate recognition for their donations. Such donations will be individual decisions for participating officials and are not directed by TXLOA.
Instructions - for the organizer or host of the tournament/charitable event
Donation letter - to be signed by the organizer and given to the lacrosse officials who choose to donate all or some of their game fees back to the event
IRS Form W-9 - to be filled in by the lacrosse official to document the income earned from the event
TXLOA retains the authority to agree to reduced games fees or assigning fees in special cases, but such an agreement should be exceptional and with the authorization of the TXLOA Board of Directors.
TXLOA will continue to interact with other Lacrosse Officials Associations (LOAs) around the country to share information and best practices.
Costs for TXLOA officials
The following rates are current as of July 1, 2023.
A. CHARITABLE EVENTS
The rate structure for charitable events is the same as it is for tournaments or regulation-length games. No special accommodations or fee structures apply to charitable events. However, if officials wish to donate back some or all of their game fees, they may do so. However, the TXLOA does not get involved in this personal decision by each official.
B. TOURNAMENTS
Rates for officials when the games start every hour on the hour
Note: Rate increase for tournaments went into effect on 6/01/2023:
6/01/2023 through 12/31/2023 = $60 per official per game
On the full-sized field (usually required for 5th grade and above)
5th grade through high school JV, the requirement is to use two paid officials per game = above rate x 2 officials
Varsity high school, the requirement is to use three paid officials per game = above rate x 3 officials
For games on the small-sized field (i.e., 7v7 teams playing games on one 60 yard x 35 yard restraining box), which is usually for 4th grade and below = above rate x 1 official
GHYLA is not using officials for 1st-2nd grade regular-season games but will likely use one official per 8U game in tournaments, depending on the circumstances = above rate x 1 official
For other tournament arrangements, please contact the assigner at assigner@txloa.net
C. REGULAR SEASON OR PLAYOFFS FOR HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE (THSLL)
Rates for officials who officiate regulation-length games
Texas High School Lacrosse League (THSLL) - for 9-12th grade games
Varsity Class A, B, C, or D games (four 12-minute stop-time quarters) = 3 officials @ $100/game = $300 total per game, plus any travel fees. Exception: Class D programs can opt to use only two officials per varsity game, but they must request this to the TXLOA assigner before the beginning of the season.
Junior Varsity Class A, B, C, or D games (four 10-minute stop-time quarters) = 2 officials @ $85 per official per game = $170 total per game, plus any travel fees.
Travel Fee (THSLL games only)
The THSLL has approved an extra travel fee for any official who travels 15 or more one-way miles to a game.
Travel distance is calculated from the official's home address to the field address using the shortest distance via Google maps. Mileage is not calculated using the distance from wherever you happen to be coming (e.g., from work). One-way mileage is the only metric that matters for the $15 flat fee. Round-trip mileage does not matter, except for the IRS rate, which is applicable to all miles for sites that are 70+ one-way miles from the official's home address. Below is a summary of THSLL travel fees:
Travel distance (one-way) is 0-14 miles = $0 travel fee.
Travel distance (one-way) is 15-34 miles = $10 travel fee per official who qualifies (applies only once regardless of how many games are officiated at that site for that trip).
Travel distance (one-way) is 35-69 miles = $15 travel fee per official who qualifies (applies only once regardless of how many games are officiated at that site for that trip).
Travel distance (one-way) is 70+ miles = IRS rate for all round-trip mileage.
Toll road fees are not reimbursable.
For trips out of town (i.e., greater than 200 miles), please contact the assigner at assigner@txloa.net.
D. REGULAR SEASON OR PLAYOFFS FOR YOUTH LACROSSE (GHYLA)
Rates for officials who officiate regulation-length games
Formerly called the Greater Houston Youth Lacrosse Association (GHYLA) - for 8th grade and below games
14U (8th/7th grade) games (10v10 on full field) - four 10-minute stop-time quarters = 2 officials @ $85/game = $170 total per game. No travel fees.
12U (5th/6th grade) games (10v10 on full field) - four 10-minute stop-time quarters = 2 officials @ $85/game = $170 total per game. No travel fees.
OR (depending on what the league decides)
12U (5th/6th grade) games (7v7 on small field) - four 10-minute running-time quarters = 1 official @ $85/game = $85 total per game. No travel fees.
10U (3rd/4th grade) games (7v7 on small field) - four 10-minute running-time quarters = 1 official @ $85/game = $85 total per game. No travel fees.
8U (1st/2nd grade) games (7v7 on small field) - two 12-minute running time halves = 0 officials @ $75/game = $0 total per game since TXLOA usually does not officiate these games.
E. REGULAR SEASON OR PLAYOFFS FOR OTHER YOUTH LACROSSE (e.g., in house leagues, such as those for Spring Branch or HYLAX)
Rates for officials who officiate regulation-length games
Spring Branch/Memorial Sports Association (SBMSA) - for 6th grade and below games
12U (5th/6th grade) games (normal length) - four 15-minute running-time quarters = 1 official @ $85/game = $85 total per game. No travel fees.
10U (3rd/4th grade) games (normal length) - four 15-minute running-time quarters = 1 official @ $85/game = $85 total per game. No travel fees.
8U (1st/2nd grade) games (normal length) - four 15-minute running-time quarters = 1 official @ $85/game = $85 total per game. No travel fees.
F. SUMMARY OF THE RATE TABLE FOR TXLOA OFFICIALS
Click to view a one-page summary of the rate table for TXLOA officials and assigners.
Click to view the eight-page THSLL-TXLOA contract, which contains the details of the assigner's fees and officials' fees, both for tournaments and for the regular season.
G. PAY VOUCHERS (recommend that you download the *.doc voucher form, save it to your computer, and then edit the form in MS Word before printing.)
Click to view the TXLOA Pay Voucher form (one voucher per page).
Click to view the TXLOA Pay Voucher form (two vouchers per page).
Click to view the TXLOA Pay Voucher form (two vouchers per page; with blank information fields).
Selection of officials for playoff or all-star game assignments
For all playoff games or all-star games, the following is a list of criteria used to determine which officials receive primary consideration for these assignments. Note: Officials must not circumvent the process by directly contacting the assigning authorities or coaches.
Pre-season preparation:
Renewed US Lacrosse membership on-time and informed the TXLOA secretary in a timely manner.
Paid TXLOA annual dues on time. Dues are nonrefundable.
Took the required rule tests promptly and passed them.
Attended all required training.
Taking care of business:
Updated one's profile in Arbiter - head-shot picture, current address, email/text message alerts.
Blocked out all “blackout dates" in the Arbiter calendar as soon as possible.
Accepted game assignments:
Promptly (i.e., did not have to be chased down to confirm assignments),
Without complaint, and
With no or minimal rejections in Arbiter.
Responded to emails promptly and professionally.
Confirmed games assignments 24 hours in advance by contacting the home team (if the Crew Chief) or by contacting the Referee (if not the Chief Chief).
Arrived at game sites in a timely manner.
Arrived with a clean, proper uniform and with all required officiating equipment.
Conducted oneself professionally before, during, and after the games.
Submitted post-game reports promptly (<24 hours) and accurately:
The assigned Referee is responsible for submitting the game report.
All games listed in the TXLOA scheduling system require a game report.
The TXLOA Chief Referee reviews and approves all game reports.
The game report is our TXLOA legal record that the officiating services were provided, as required by the contracts with our leagues.
Developed good working relationships with:
Other TXLOA officials,
Head coaches and assistant coaches,
Team/school administrators, and
Scorer's table staff.
No inappropriate or disparaging comments posted on social media, especially those that create an impression of bias.
Keep your social media interactions conversational and informal, yet professional and tasteful.
Be nice.
Show respect for the opinions of others.
Dishonorable content, such as racial, ethnic, sexual, religious, or physical disability slurs, will not be tolerated.
Be careful discussing topics where emotions run high (e.g., politics or religion).
Do not air "dirty laundry." Workplace-related conflicts must stay offline.
As a sports official, you represent many institutions (e.g., TXLOA, GHYLA, THSLL, NFHS, NCAA, NILOA, NOCSAE, and US Lacrosse). Defend and protect the image and reputation of your affiliated institutions. Honor the game. Adhere to the NCAA credo: "Respect - It's the Name of the Game."
If you are about to post something that you would be ashamed to say out loud or which could haunt you in the future, then you should think twice about posting it. Silence cannot be misquoted.
Never directly/indirectly criticize lacrosse players, coaches, teams, officials, fans, trainers/table staff/game personnel, administrators, leagues, sponsors, tournament organizers, vendors, equipment manufacturers, governing bodies, or rule-making committees. Assume the entity being criticized will eventually read your post.
Be aware that what you post becomes permanent.
Adhered to the USA Lacrosse and TXLOA codes of conduct and ethics:
Had no TXLOA ethical or professional conduct violations.
Excellence and Game Performance
Regularly officiated games for that playing level throughout the season.
Received acceptable feedback scores from coaches via Arbiter or via email.
Performed well during games observed by the TXLOA clinicians and observers.
Deemed as worthy of playoff assignments based on discussions with clinicians and experienced, senior TXLOA officials.
Duties of the Chief Bench Official (CBO)
THSLL utilizes a fourth game official, called the Chief Bench Official (CBO), during its statewide Super-Regional playoffs and Championship Weekend games. The role of Chief Bench Official (CBO) is not defined in the NCAA rulebook. Therefore, the TXLOA has created its own description of the CBO role and duties based upon inputs from other rulebooks that define the duties of a CBO.
Duties of the Chief Bench Official (CBO), if used:
Certification Levels and LAREDO Training
The USA Lacrosse policy is that "attendance at a training clinic does not guarantee certification at a higher level." The LAREDO application form lists this verbiage as a specific item that must be acknowledged by each official who applies for a LAREDO training clinic (see the picture below). Certification level changes are considered by the Training Committee based on inputs from a variety of sources. If you complete a LAREDO successfully, your evaluation does not guarantee that you have achieved the higher level of certification, even though the evaluation form you receive from the LAREDO might indicate otherwise.
