FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETORONTO, ONTARIO – The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) has announced the appointment of four outstanding individuals to the Women’s Officiating Leadership Team ahead of the FIL Rathbones Women’s World Cup in Guildford, England this July.
Joining Stephen Taylor (Women’s Officiating Committee Chair) and Jan Jackson (Women’s Rules Committee Chair) will be Head Assignor, Nancy Madsen (USA), Head Mentor / Assessor, Wendy Reynolds (England) and Head Clinicians, Nancy Coffman (USA) and Shoko Noda (Japan).
“I am confident that these four appointees will help us achieve our collective goals and I, on behalf of the FIL, am honored to be working alongside them.”
—Stephen Taylor, FIL Women’s Officiating Committee Chair
Stephen said he was very pleased with the four appointments and the vast experience that they bring from around the world. “Nancy, Nancy, Shoko and Wendy have over 100 years of lacrosse experience from three continents and more than 25 world events between them which will benefit the umpires and the competition as a whole.”
Since the first Women’s Field World Cup was held in Nottingham in 1982, the demands on its officials have grown with every event. This summer, the leadership team, with the help of 13 off-field officials, will provide the 39 umpires with a program of training, mentorship, and assessment designed to ensure the highest level of performance. According to Stephen, “We have 25 teams participating from four continents and they deserve to have their games called by umpires who are physically, mentally and educationally prepared to deliver the best officiating any FIL world event has seen.”
The Women’s Officiating Committee has worked closely with the Men’s Officiating Committee, to learn from their successful program and incorporate their best ideas.
“With almost 100 games over the 10 days of competition in Guildford, our officials are going to be put through their paces starting with three days of clinics and testing overseen by the off field officials and the leadership team,” Stephen said. “I am confident that these four appointees will help us achieve our collective goals and I, on behalf of the FIL, am honored to be working alongside them.”Nancy Madsen, is a National Elite level NCAA women’s field official who umpires Divisions 1 & 3 collegiate seasons and postseasons as well as being a US Lacrosse and Capital District Volleyball Assignor. Nancy has worked extensively with the US Lacrosse National Ratings Board and the NCAA on US National Ratings and brings over 25 years of rating and assigning experience to our event.
“I would like to thank FIL for entrusting me in the position of Head Assignor for the 2017 FIL Rathbones Women’s Lacrosse World Cup in Guildford, England. I am very excited to have this opportunity to work on my first international lacrosse event. I look forward to the challenge of assigning this event and working with the entire Leadership team.”
Nancy Madsen,
RWLC17 Officials
Leadership Team
Head AssignorWendy Reynolds represented England as goalkeeper for 13 years, playing in both the Edinburgh (1993) and Japan (1997) World Cups. After hanging up her goalie stick, she became an umpire and, since 2003, has participated in every World Event, both U19 and Senior, and was honored to umpire the U19 USA v Australia Gold Medal game in 2007. In 2011, she moved to the sidelines as an assistant coach for the England team. Since 2015, having completed both London and Edinburgh marathons, a subsequent back injury has meant less time on the field but has given her more time to assist up-and-coming umpires.
“I am delighted to accept the position of Head Mentor / Assessor and especially so because it is being held in England. The World Cup provides umpires with the opportunity to officiate the best teams in the world, to catch up with old friends and make new ones. I wish all officials a wonderful time here in Guildford and urge you to make the most of every opportunity.”
Wendy Reynolds,
RWLC17 Officials
Leadership Team
Head Mentor/AssessorNancy Coffman has a love of the game that started as a player at a young age. While playing in college, she learned to officiate for the younger players. As her playing career was ending, she coached in a high school program, helped to start a youth program and did more and more officiating. With that came administrative positions on the officiating board, and then national administrative positions involving the training and retention of officials. As she reached international status in her officiating she continued to give back to the sport, becoming Vice President of Administration for the International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA) and serving on the Development Committee.
“Having participated in some capacity at every women’s world championship event since 1995 either as a timer/scorer, official, technical delegate, clinician and/or assessor I am looking forward to being part of the leadership team for the 2017 FIL Rathbones Women’s Lacrosse World Cup – the largest ever!”
Nancy Coffman,
RWLC17 Officials
Leadership Team
Head ClinicianShoko Noda has been involved as an official on a world level since the first IFWLA U19 World Championship in Haverford, Pennsylvania, where she gained her international certification in 1995. With extensive experience as an official both at home in Japan and at FIL events, Shoko brings with her an amazing talent to see the game and how it needs to be officiated to benefit the players, coaches and spectators. Her use of visuals to review, evaluate and provide feedback has helped many umpires get to the next level of officiating.
“I think the evolution of women’s lacrosse has been wonderful. The equipment has evolved and the game has become faster with a greater variation of tactics making the sport even more exciting. I am thankful to everyone working on the 2017 FIL Rathbones Women’s Lacrosse World Cup and look forward to contributing to its success.”
Shoko Noda,
RWLC17 Officials
Leadership Team
Head Clinician—Stephen Taylor, Women’s Officiating Committee Chair
