GRALOA will have meetings to conduct official business, but most of our meeting time is spent on training. Attending GRALOA Training Meetings is a requirement for you to meet “Member In Good Standing” (MIGS) requirements. You must be a Member In Good Standing in order to be considered for MHSAA assigned post-season tournament contests. However, the biggest reason to attend the meetings is the opportunity to better yourself as a boys lacrosse official in West Michigan and beyond. We hope you can join us as much as possible.
For our Training Meeting dates, there is typically a “New Official” meeting that begins at 6:00 pm. This is followed by the “All Officials” meeting at 7:00 pm.
“New Officials” would typically be officials in their first three years of boys lacrosse officiating; although, experienced officials are allowed (encouraged) to attend as well. These training sessions will focus on more basic topics, more along the youth rules, and usually two-person mechanics. The “All Officials” training will cover more advanced topics, high school rules, and usually both two-person and three-person mechanics.
2026 MEETING SCHEDULE:
Training Dates for 2026 are:
Sunday, January 11, 2026, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, In-Person Training Aquinas
Monday, January 26, 2026, 6:00 PM New & 7:00 PM All, In-Person, Grandville HS
Monday, February 9, 2026, 6:00 PM New & 7:00 PM All, Google Meet Training
Monday, February 23, 2026, 6:00 PM New & 7:00 PM All, In-Person, Grandville HS
Monday, March 9, 2026, 6:00 PM New & 7:00 PM All, Google Meet Training
Saturday, March 14, 2026, TBD, In-Person Training, Scrimmages
Sunday, March 22, 2026, 6:00 PM All, Google Meet Training
Monday, April 27, 2026, 7:00 PM All, Google Meet Training
2026 TRAINING EVENT DETAILS:
Grand Rapids Area Lacrosse Officials Area Training Event @ AQ, Sunday, January 11 is set for our new winter training event at Aquinas College. This will be an event that includes academics and on-field (indoor) clinics. There will be various levels of instruction offered for all officials, from the person who has never officiated a boys lacrosse game before, up to the experienced high school boys lacrosse officials who want to fine-tune an aspect of their officiating. GRALOA members must attend an academic session and at least one clinic module in order to get the two MIGS points credit. Location is Aquinas College Sturrus Sports and Fitness Center (1580 Fulton St. E, Grand Rapids, MI). Training will take place from 10 am to 1 pm.
Saturday, March 14 is set for our annual Scrimmage Training Event (mostly at Grandville High School). This day will include an academic session, followed by on-field officiating of high school scrimmages. We expect the training (academics) to begin at 8:00 am. Newer officials will be paired with experienced officials to work those scrimmages. The scrimmages will be observed, with feedback provided to all officials. We will hold scrimmage training events at other locations as well, depending on the schools and the format allowed. The goal will be to assign officials to one of the training scrimmage events and to get everyone some time on the field, with an observation, and some good feedback on a couple of things to work on for improvement. You must attend the academics and work at least one scrimmage in order to get the two MIGS points credit.
MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING (MIGS) REQUIREMENTS:
For the 2026 season, you will need to achieve a minimum of four (4) training points in order to be listed as MIGS.
Members will earn one (1) point for each training meeting attended/viewed. (Online meetings will, hopefully, be recorded and can be viewed for credit. In-person meetings will not be recorded.) Members will earn two (2) points for FULL participation in either of the training events.
OTHER INFORMATION:
Meetings and training events are a GRALOA member benefit.
If you are someone who is not a boys lacrosse official, but are interested in learning more about officiating, we invite you to attend one meeting to help you explore your options. Contact one of our board members for an invite to one of our meetings. (Contact information is on the CONTACTS page of this website).
If you are a current boys lacrosse official, but not a member of GRALOA, you would need to join our association in order to attend our meetings.
The Aquinas College Training Event is open to anyone who is interested in knowing more about officiating boys lacrosse.
The Scrimmage Training Event is currently an exclusive event for GRALOA officials only.
Grand Rapids Area Lacrosse Officials Association 