Central Texas Lacrosse Officials Association Training

Step-by-Step Guide 

to become a 

Central Texas Lacrosse 

Certified Official

 

Becoming a certified official with the Central Texas Lacrosse Officials Association (CTLOA) is more than just a registration process—it is a commitment to the integrity of the game, player safety, and the mastery of the 2026 NCAA rules standards.

Step 1: Establish/Update USA Lacrosse Membership

Your first step is ensuring you have an active membership with USA Lacrosse and that your role is correctly designated as “official”.

  1. Access the USA Lacrosse Website: Navigate to the official USA Lacrosse website.
  2. Login to Your Account: Use your existing login credentials. If you are a new member, select the option to “Join” or “My Account” and select the Official involvement type during registration.
  3. Returning members: Select the option for “My Account” and follow next steps to ensure your account status is updated. 
  4. Verify Membership Status: After login check the membership dashboard to confirm your membership is current and active for the upcoming season.
  5. Update Involvement Type (If needed):
  • Go to your Profile or Dashboard settings.
  • Locate the “Involvement Type” section.
  • Ensure that “Official” is selected and saved as one of your primary roles. This step is critical as it unlocks the required courses and exams.

Step 2: Complete the E-Learning Rules Course

USA Lacrosse E-Learning courses provide the foundational interpretation and explanation of the rulebook.  We will meet as a chapter to discuss and explore rules and mechanics.  To access the online courses:

    1. Access the E-Learning Platform: From your USA Lacrosse Dashboard, look for the link or button typically labeled “My Transcript” or “E-Learning” 
  • (Note: USA Lacrosse often changes the specific button name; look for the section pertaining to education/certification).
  1. Locate the Required Course: Search the catalog or your Transcript for the appropriate course, which is usually titled under the tab for Boys Officials Annual Certification (2026):

To open the annual certification courses tab click the eye icon in the upper right corner of the desired selection. This will reveal a list of required courses.

  • “Boys Officials – Rules & Penalties Course” 
  • “Boys Officials – Professional Development Certification”
  1. Enroll and Launch: Click the link to enroll in the course, and then launch the module.
  2. Complete All Sections: Work through all video, text, and knowledge check sections. You must complete the entire course content before the final exam becomes accessible.

Step 3: Pass the Annual Online Rules Exams

Successful completion of the NCAA Rules Exam and Youth Rules Exam are required for your certification status.  To access the exams select “Boys Officials – 2026 Youth Rules Exam” and “Boys Officials – 2026 Collegiate Rules Exam“ respectively.

  1. Access the Exam: Once the E-Learning course is completed, the Annual Online Rules Exam should become available on your “Transcript” page.
  2. Launch the Exam: Click to start the exam. Note that the exam is typically open book and can be started, paused, and resumed, allowing you to use your rulebook and notes.
  3. Achieve the Minimum Score: Take the exam, aiming for a score of 90% or higher.
  • If you do not pass, you will generally be allowed to retake the exam after a waiting period (typically 24 hours), or immediately, depending on the current year’s policy. Use the results of your first attempt to focus your study on weak areas.
  1. Confirmation: Once you pass, the result will be automatically recorded on your USA Lacrosse Official’s record, and you will see the completion reflected on your Transcript.

 

Next Steps:

After completing all three steps above, you will have met the 2026 CTLOA Officials training requirements. Please coordinate with CTLOA Trainer and CTLOA Assigner for any future Training/Field Evaluation.

What you will need…

Here is a good resource for high school lacrosse rules. Additional resources from the Texas High School Lacrosse League can be found here.

Lacrosse Officials Equipment and Uniform

    • Black and white striped shirt
    • Black shoes
    • Black shorts or slacks (cold weather gear)
    • Black belt
    • Fox 40 whistle with finger grip
    • Yellow flags
    • Tape measure
    • Timer
    • Pocket scorecards