US Lacrosse Hosts Assignors Summit
Dee credited former 10-year chapter president Dave Hallam for creating a “great situation to inherit,” along with fellow chapter volunteers John Chapin and Jeff Culkins.
“Those three guys have been
Vermont lacrosse. They’ve been committed to the US Lacrosse vision for years,” Dee said. At press time, the Vermont Chapter was preparing to host a US Lacrosse Fast Break Initiative (FBI) Super Weekend at the University of Vermont March 8-9. The FBI infuses Coaching Education Program (CEP) and Offi cials’ Education Program (OEP) clinics into select communities so locals can teach and offi ciate the sport properly and safely. The chapter also will host its annual recognition dinner after the season. Dee said the chapter is looking forward to taking on the new initiatives of US Lacrosse (such as the certifi cation option for coaches and offi cials) and promoting and delivering the programs and services of the sport’s national governing body (see page 60). “The Vermont Chapter has been among our most active, and it hasn’t missed a beat under Mike’s leadership,” said Steve Kirr, director of regional development at US Lacrosse. “He’s a great communicator, and the chapter is a great
A Publication of US Lacrosse
example of commitment to what US Lacrosse stands for.” In addition to owning the
Vermont Voyageurs, a men’s Senior B box team in the Quebec Senior Lacrosse League, Dee has been the president of the Vermont City Marathon and the Charlotte Little League, a cub master with the Charlotte Cub Scouts, a fi refi ghter and a coordinator in Northern Vermont Lacrosse. Dee’s wife, Justine, also contributes to family lacrosse duties while co-owning Dee Physical Therapy and teaching at the University of Vermont. “These things in our democracy are our responsibility, these freedoms. A little stewardship is good,” Mike Dee said. “It’s a community- based responsibility — if we got that much good out of lacrosse, we need to give something back.” LM
US Lacrosse boasts more than 400,000 members nationwide. “The 400K Club” is a Lacrosse Magazine series telling the stories of donors, staff and volunteers that continue to make it happen.
April 2013 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 25
Of 85 assignors who filled out a questionnaire, the average number of games they assigned in 2012 was 1,071 each for a total of 91,046 games.
How do offi cials get on the fi eld to work games? Enter the assignor, who has the unenviable task of juggling leagues, tournaments, facilities, coaches and offi cials to make sure games are covered by offi cials. It’s often a thankless job, but US Lacrosse has begun the process of offering assignors an assist. Nearly 100 assignors met at the fi rst assignors summit hosted by US Lacrosse Jan. 11 in Philadelphia to work through the challenges of assigning offi cials to youth and high school games. Marti Fessenden, former chair of the US Lacrosse Board of Directors and an active women’s offi cial from Atlanta, facilitated the summit. The majority of the time was dedicated to small-group discussions on different scenarios, including: availability of offi cials, quality and consistency of offi cials, last-minute changes to schedules or turn-backs from offi cials, and risk management and background screenings. Every group discussed different solutions to each issue and documented its best solution. “The most important thing I took from the summit was that whether you’re in an established lacrosse area or an emerging one like mine, the challenges faced by the assignors are universal,” said Bob Hoffer Jr. from Bellevue, Neb. “I also learned
from a peer that the lacrosse experience is like a cube. The six sides of the cube are the parents, players, fans, offi cials, coaches and assignors, and everyone has to work together in order to be successful. You can’t have one group pulling the weight for everyone else; otherwise the cube will have holes and not function properly.”
“The long-term goal is to create a guide that can be implemented and supported by US Lacrosse over the next three years,” said Erin Smith, director of education and training at US Lacrosse. “We hope to identify challenges and continue an open dialogue with assignors nationwide so that we can create a manual that assignors can turn to for guidance.” Of the 85 assignors who fi lled out a questionnaire, 41 assigned in the
men’s game, 42 in the women’s game and two individuals assign both in their area. The average number of games they assigned in 2012 was 1,071 each for a total of 91,046 games. —Emily Gibson
Assignors juggle multiple factors while ensuring games are covered with qualified officials.
©TIM CASEY (OFFICIAL)
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