UCBLL PROVING TO BE A STEPPING STONE FOR OFFICIALS AS WELL AS PLAYERS

The Upstate Collegiate Box Lacrosse League (UCBLL) was established to help college-aged players enhance their box lacrosse skills and advance to higher levels of play. Additionally, it provides referees with valuable experience officiating live games, which prepares them for higher-level positions, including professional and international games.

Joe Smith, Herbie John, and Mark Heintz are three UCBLL officials who have used their experience refereeing games during the summer to help them land officiating jobs with the National Lacrosse League (NLL). All three have recently officiated NLL games, with Heintz working with the league for multiple years, and John and Smith making their debuts on NLL officiating crews during this past season.

Herbie John's lacrosse playing career was cut short due to an injury, but his passion for the game kept him involved as both a coach and an official. In addition to working as a referee in the UCBLL, he is involved with the Can-Am Senior B Lacrosse League as an official, which led to an opportunity to help referee the Presidents’ Cup tournament last fall at the TRAC in Oakville, Ontario. It was there that a chance encounter with an officiating legend led to an offer to work for the NLL.

NLL Director of Officiating and retired National Hockey League official Don Koharski just happened to also be at the Presidents’ Cup tournament, and it’s where John made an impression on the man who officiated over 1,500 NHL games and 11 Stanley Cup Finals.  

While John was taking a break between games alongside his fellow officials, Koharski entered the locker room. “He was coaching up his staff members, I was sitting there enjoying my break, and all I heard was, “You! I really enjoy the way you ref,” John said, using a gruff voice to imitate Koharski. “I had my head down, I looked up, and he was pointing at me, and I was like “Thanks.””

After Koharski left the locker room, the other officials told John the identity of the man who had complimented him. The next day at the tournament, John and Koharski had another discussion that lasted a little longer than their first. John explained his background, and the pair exchanged contact information. Koharski then followed up with a phone call that ended with an offer to come work for the NLL as an official.

“I like to say that during that game when he was there, I must have made a really nice call,” John said jokingly.

John worked ten NLL games this past season as a shot clock official. His goal is to be an on-field official this year, which is why his time with the UCBLL is so important to him. Working with the program helps expand his knowledge of the NLL rulebook, which the UCBLL follows, and more about the mechanics of the game. “I look at it just like the players in this league; it’s an opportunity for us officials to get more development into the National Lacrosse League,” John said.

Following the UCBLL season, John will work the World Lacrosse Box Championships, which will be held in Utica, N.Y., this September, as one of three referees to represent the Haudenosaunee nation.

Joe Smith is one of the few people, if not the only person, to be a part of the National Lacrosse League as a player, coach, and now an official. He played lacrosse professionally for ten years, including five seasons in the NLL. The Orchard Park, N.Y. native played three seasons with his hometown Buffalo Bandits as well as with the original Philadelphia Wings and the Rochester Knighthawks franchises. Following his playing career, Smith coached for Team USA indoor lacrosse, at Canisius College, and served as an assistant coach under Regy Thorpe during the New York Riptide’s inaugural NLL Season.

He’s since turned his attention to becoming an official. Smith is currently in his third season as a referee in the UCBLL and was invited to work as an official for the National Collegiate Box Series championship in Utica, N.Y., last summer. He then joined the NLL officiating staff during this past season.

“Being able to do it all is pretty unique: playing in the league, coaching in the league, and now officiating,” Smith said. “You get to see it from all different angles, and get a better appreciation for these officials.”

Smith believes his time working with the UCBLL is a great way to prepare him for his NLL officiating career.

“It gives you the opportunity to dig deep into the rulebook and have the confidence to make calls,” Smith said. “You try to be as perfect as you can, but this is the time when there is a little room for error if you do happen to make a mistake.”

As someone who has made it to the top level of the sport in three different capacities, he recognizes how valuable the UCBLL is for developing the next generation of box lacrosse talent. “I know a number of these kids from coaching youth lacrosse in the area, and I tell them to keep plugging away,” Smith said. “Having not played box lacrosse until after college, this opportunity is fantastic, and I tell them to build on it and see where it goes from there.”

The 2024 UCBLL season concludes August 1-2 with the Mearns Cup playoffs.