Frank Lawrence

Great Referee, Great Ambassador

Extraordinary Person

Written by Rad Joseph 

Frank Lawrence is likely known by most people in lacrosse for his career as an on-floor/field referee.  However, his contributions to lacrosse extends beyond refereeing and includes involvement as a team executive, league executive, team manager, coach, and unofficial Ambassador for lacrosse. Yes, Mr. Lawrence’s major reputation is for his career as an on-floor game official, Referee-In-Chief, Supervisor, and Mentor for numerous leagues, tournaments, games and young officials. However, his involvement goes beyond Ontario and includes extensive participation at the National level in Canada and at the international level across the World.

He has been a driving force of the development of referees for both Box and Field lacrosse. His efforts are outstanding in regards to dedication to developing referees for the sport. Mr. Lawrence has officiated OLA lacrosse for over an estimated 2500 games in both box and field lacrosse. He is respected for his expert knowledge of the rules of the game and exercising sound judgement during games at all levels he officiated. Frank Lawrence continues to serve as a role model and mentor to countless young officials. In addition, Frank Lawrence has been a great Ambassador for the game of lacrosse - across Ontario, within Canada and into the international lacrosse community. He was a mainstay of officiating for several years at the Ales Hrebesky Memorial Tournament held in Prague of the Czech Republic every April.

Frank Lawrence officiating in Prague at the

Ales Hrebesky Memorial Tournament

Situation Critical

On April 14, 2011 while refereeing a game between Welland and Niagara, Frank Lawrence suffered a tear in his Aorta. He was rushed to the hospital in Hamilton where he underwent surgery for an acute aorta dissection. Mr. Lawrence was unconscious for 18 days, but fully recovered. Amazingly, he refereed a critical game between the same two teams later in the same season where the winning team would qualify for the playoffs. How incredible is that!!!

An Amazing Career

The accomplishments of Frank Lawrence have been significant (see list below). His commitment has not gone unnoticed. He was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame into the Officials category in 2022, which was followed up with induction into the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2024 in the Officials category.

Frank Lawrence receives Ontario Lacrosse Association Presidents Award

in 2018 for service and commitment to the game of Lacrosse in Ontario

Final Thought

Over the decades of commitment, Frank established a reputation for his leadership, his reliability and his resilience. A genuine and humble ambassador for lacrosse, Frank Lawrence has left a legacy which serves as an incredible role model.

               INVOLVEMENT

Team/League                                                                   Position                     Years

1.Long time commitment - detailed in text                            Various               1990 ongoing

2.Referee-in-Chief – Ontario Field Lacrosse                           R-I-C                        1994-2011

3.Referee-in-Chief - CUFLA                                                         R-I-C                        1993-2010

4.Refereeing Field Lacrosse                                                       Referee                 began in 1992

5.House league in St. Catharines                                              Referee                 began in 1990

Accomplishments/Contributions/Awards

2024 – Inducted into the Officials category of the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame

2022 – Inducted into the Officials category of the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame

2022 – Referee Liaison at the Canada Games in Niagara, Ontario

2019 – Assessor at World Indoor Box Championships held in Langley, B.C.

2019 – Referee-In-Chief at Presidents Cup held in Kahnawake, Quebec.

2018 – Received OLA the President’s Award for service and commitment to the game of Lacrosse in Ontario

2018 - Awarded the Ontario Lacrosse Association Thomas “Tip” Teather Award given to the individual who has contributed the most to lacrosse

2018 –Was assigned as an Assessor at the World Field Lacrosse Championships held in Netanya, Israel

2017 – Refereed at the very first European Indoor Box Championship held in Turku, Finland

2015 – Was the first ever recipient of the Graham Lester Spirit of Lacrosse Award – an international award presented from England

2015 – Was the Referee-In-Chief at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships held on Onondaga Nation Reserve in Syracuse, New York

2014 – Was assigned as an Assessor at the World Field Championship, held in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.

2014 – Referee Supervisor for the C-Lax Indoor Lacrosse Winter League

2013 – Received the CLA Award for Outstanding Support and Contribution to the game of Lacrosse

2012 to 2019 – Vice-President of Officiating on the OLA Board of Directors

2012 – Referee-In-Chief for the Founders Cup held on the Six Nations Reserve

2011 – Recipient of the Gerry Ravary Award for dedication to the game of lacrosse

2011 – Assessor at the World Indoor Box Championships held in Prague, Czech Republic – Unfortunately due to being hospitalized at the time, Mr. Lawrence could not attend the tournament

2010 – Assessor at the World Field Championships held in Manchester, England

2010 – Referee-In-Chief for the Founders Cup held in Mimico, Ontario

2009 – Received the Honorary Lifetime Award from the Ontario Referees Association

2009 – Referee-In-Chief for the Mann Cup Championship held in Brampton, Ontario

2009 – Refereed in Presidents Cup held In Six Nations, Ontario

2008 – Refereed the Ontario Summer Games held in London, Ontario

2007 – With the support of the OLA, Frank Lawrence initiated the Qualifier program started a training program by taking 1 official from another province and giving that person the opportunity to receive ongoing Supervision through a weekend period of “A” caliber lacrosse.  It was a very successful program because he Referee invited returned to his/her Province a much stronger, qualified and experienced official and passed on what they learned in Ontario to their home province officials.  Mr. Lawrence was an integral part of the program

2006 – Assessor at the World Field Lacrosse Championships held in London, Ontario

2005 – Refereed at the U-19 Field Lacrosse National Championship held in Winnipeg, Manitoba

2004 -Refereed at the European Field Championships held in the Czech Republic

2004 – CLA Convener at the Founders Cup held in Elora, Ontario

2003 – CLA Convener for the Minto Cup held in Kitchener, Ontario

2003 to Present – Invited to run Referee Clinics for all European Referees attending the Ales Hresbesky tournament held in Radotin, Czech Republic. 

2003 to Present – Has been refereeing and supervising the training of European officials since 2003.

2002 – Requested by OLA to travel to the Czech Republic as a volunteer to help train and prepare the Czech referees and players as to what to expect at the first World Indoor Box Championship

2002 – Refereed at the Founders Cup held in Halton Hills, Ontario

2001 – Refereed Minto Cup held in St. Catharines, Ontario

2001 – Asked by the Federation of International Lacrosse to help train Field Lacrosse Referees in Eastern Europe.  Travelled across 5 countries working with and teaching Field Lacrosse rules, positioning and mechanics to selected referees to prepare them to officiate at tournaments

2000 – Refereed at the Founders Cup in Clarington, Ontario including officiating the Gold Medal game

2000 – Invited to referee at the Nations Cup.  Since then, has refereed in 12 Nations Cups held in various Native Communities.  This is a prime example of the high regard and respect Mr. Lawrence has within the greater lacrosse community

1999 – Refereed in the Founders Cup held in Milton, Ontario including officiating the Gold Medal game

1999 – Refereed at the Ross/Victory National Field Championship (Canadian based Field Lacrosse)

1999 - Received the Jack Mann Award for dedicated work in the game of lacrosse, both on and off the floor, helping with program development in the OLA

1998 - Ongoing – One of two individuals asked by the OLA to be the Referee-In-Chief for the “A” Qualifier Program, developing referees from across Ontario to acquire the abilities to officiate from Junior to Major Series lacrosse

1998 to 2014 – Began instructing Box Lacrosse Referee Clinics for the OLA

1997 – Referee-In-Chief for the Founders Cup held in Mimico, Ontario

1996 – Along with Jim Price - enlarged the Training Program for Field Lacrosse with the objective of not sacrificing the integrity of the Field game by allowing the Box mentality to creep in (NO crosschecking, hits from behind, high sticking).  This was needed as most of the volunteer field coaches and players were coming from the Box game and the rapid growth of the Field game required altering the Box mentality and adapting to the Field game.  The program was a huge success as a Senior Official was on each field to work with the Referees and Coaches to explain situations

1996 – Began refereeing in the Cam-Am Lacrosse League in the U.S.A.

1996-2009 – Executive Member of the Ontario Lacrosse Referees Association, holding various and numerous positions over the years

1995-1999 – Referee-In-Chief for the Peterborough Lakers Classic tournament, supervising the entire tournament.  This helped to develop referees in the Zone as 4 referees were assigned to each arena

1995-2006 – Referee-In-Chief for Zone 9 implementing numerous Supervision programs and developing strong officials to attend Ontario Provincial playdowns

1994 – Received the Ontario Lacrosse Referees Award for the Best Performance at the Provincial Championships

1994 – Began refereeing OLA Junior to Major caliber lacrosse

1993 – Volunteered as the treasurer for the St. Catharines Jr. “A” team

1990 – Began his career as a referee in the St. Catharines Minor Lacrosse Association