About the Great Plains Lacrosse Officials Association

Building confident officials through clear training, strong mechanics, and consistent mentorship.

Great Plains Lacrosse Officials Association members in Kansas City

Our mission

GPLOA is a lacrosse officials association serving the greater Kansas City metro in Kansas and Missouri. Our mission is to build confident officials through understandable education, sound mechanics, consistent expectations, and a supportive professional community. Better-prepared officials improve safety, fairness, and the experience of players, coaches, families, and leagues at every level of the game.

We welcome people at different stages of officiating. A first-year official may need a clear explanation of positioning, signals, equipment, and certification. A returning official may be ready to refine game management, study a difficult rule, or mentor someone new. GPLOA creates a shared structure in which both groups can learn, practice, and receive useful feedback.

Practical development for real games

Effective training must translate to the field. Classroom sessions establish rules and responsibilities, while on-field instruction turns those concepts into movement, angles, communication, and confident decisions. Mentors help officials understand why mechanics matter, how to recover from a missed position, and how to communicate calmly when a game becomes difficult.

Consistency is central to our work. Players and coaches should encounter officials who apply the rules with the same core standards across the Kansas City area. That consistency is strengthened when officials prepare together, discuss unusual situations, and continue learning throughout the season instead of treating certification as the end of development.

A community built around service

Officiating offers a flexible, paid role, but it is also a meaningful way to serve the sport. Officials protect participants, support competition, and help local lacrosse programs grow. Former players can remain close to the game, students can develop leadership skills, and adults can contribute experience while choosing assignments that fit their schedules.

GPLOA serves Kansas City, Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Shawnee, Lee’s Summit, and neighboring communities. We value preparation, respect, accountability, and steady improvement. Prospective officials can review training resources or contact the association to learn which certification path fits their goals.