November 4, 2008
By now, you know their names. You know how they played, how they coached and how they helped shape the game that we know today.
They've helped make lacrosse for us. But what made lacrosse for them?
In the November issue hitting mailboxes this week, Lacrosse Magazine presents our profiles of the National Hall of Fame's Class of 2008. The honorees will take their place alongside the game's greatest figures in the annual induction celebration, presented by Bollinger Insurance, on Nov. 8 in Hunt Valley, Md.
Join US Lacrosse today to start your monthly subscription to LM.
by Jac Coyne, Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
When you speak with Pat Dillon, you get the message pretty early on that she doesn't suffer fools lightly. When it comes to talking about women's lacrosse, Dillon, one of the premier women's lacrosse umpires in the country, doesn't dally in idle chit-chat or tangential topics. It's strictly business.
And Dillon knows her business. A staple of the NCAA Division I championship game, as well as the chair of the US Lacrosse Women's Division Rules Committee and editor of the NCAA Rules Committee, Dillon has had a hand in shaping the current state of the game. And when you catch as much grief as Dillon did -- especially over relatively new concepts like hard boundaries -- it's understandable that she keeps her guard up. Lurking just below the Teflon exterior, however, is a woman who is known to many as a nurturing figure in the world of women's lacrosse officiating.
"I think part of that is having a little bit of that hard exterior because she is very professional when she steps on the field," said Patti Cleary, a member of the US Lacrosse Women's Division Officials Council's (WDOC) Executive Committee. "She's there to call a fair game. She's not out socializing with the players; she's giving them the feedback they need. But when she's off the field or when she's out of that role of having to be totally professional, she has a soft side, too."
Along with being known as one of the preeminent umpires in the country, Dillon is also known for her ability to coax along younger umpires to her level. She does it by mandating they match her perfectionist attitude, but also by taking the time to officiate all levels of the sport -- even though she doesn't have to.
"One day she'll be doing a game at UVA, and the next day she's doing a high school game with a new official," said Cleary. "And she's giving that person feedback and being supportive of that official. I don't think you find that across the board." "You hope that when you're new, you have somebody who is willing to help you and mentor you, and then you feel the duty to do the same for younger officials coming behind you," said Dillon. "I was lucky, because I had some great role models coming up and saw how the more experienced officials were willing to work with the younger ones. They were willing to help you improve and move you along."
Even with her induction into the National Hall of Fame this year, Dillon won't be moving along any time soon. She is still at the top of her game and continues to bring others to her stratum.
"I enjoy it, working with the other officials and the camaraderie with working with the coaches," she said. "As long as it's still fun, I'll keep doing it."
Just don't her expect her to put up with any nonsense.
National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Class of 2008: LM's Profiles
* Roberta Brennan: All Jokes 'Til Gametime
* Lyn Craunn: Craun-ing Achievement
* Pat Dillon: Clear Signals
* Tom Marechek: Hollywood Ending
* Chris Sailer: Playing for Chris
* Dom Starsia: The 'Frozen Rope'
* George Tracy: Street Sense
* Dick Watts: 'Pappy' Gets His Due
Nov. 4, 2008
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They've helped make lacrosse for us. But what made lacrosse for them?
In the November issue hitting mailboxes this week, Lacrosse Magazine presents our profiles of the National Hall of Fame's Class of 2008. The honorees will take their place alongside the game's greatest figures in the annual induction celebration, presented by Bollinger Insurance, on Nov. 8 in Hunt Valley, Md.
Join US Lacrosse today to start your monthly subscription to LM.
by Jac Coyne, Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
When you speak with Pat Dillon, you get the message pretty early on that she doesn't suffer fools lightly. When it comes to talking about women's lacrosse, Dillon, one of the premier women's lacrosse umpires in the country, doesn't dally in idle chit-chat or tangential topics. It's strictly business.
And Dillon knows her business. A staple of the NCAA Division I championship game, as well as the chair of the US Lacrosse Women's Division Rules Committee and editor of the NCAA Rules Committee, Dillon has had a hand in shaping the current state of the game. And when you catch as much grief as Dillon did -- especially over relatively new concepts like hard boundaries -- it's understandable that she keeps her guard up. Lurking just below the Teflon exterior, however, is a woman who is known to many as a nurturing figure in the world of women's lacrosse officiating.
"I think part of that is having a little bit of that hard exterior because she is very professional when she steps on the field," said Patti Cleary, a member of the US Lacrosse Women's Division Officials Council's (WDOC) Executive Committee. "She's there to call a fair game. She's not out socializing with the players; she's giving them the feedback they need. But when she's off the field or when she's out of that role of having to be totally professional, she has a soft side, too."
Along with being known as one of the preeminent umpires in the country, Dillon is also known for her ability to coax along younger umpires to her level. She does it by mandating they match her perfectionist attitude, but also by taking the time to officiate all levels of the sport -- even though she doesn't have to.
"One day she'll be doing a game at UVA, and the next day she's doing a high school game with a new official," said Cleary. "And she's giving that person feedback and being supportive of that official. I don't think you find that across the board." "You hope that when you're new, you have somebody who is willing to help you and mentor you, and then you feel the duty to do the same for younger officials coming behind you," said Dillon. "I was lucky, because I had some great role models coming up and saw how the more experienced officials were willing to work with the younger ones. They were willing to help you improve and move you along."
Even with her induction into the National Hall of Fame this year, Dillon won't be moving along any time soon. She is still at the top of her game and continues to bring others to her stratum.
"I enjoy it, working with the other officials and the camaraderie with working with the coaches," she said. "As long as it's still fun, I'll keep doing it."
Just don't her expect her to put up with any nonsense.
National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Class of 2008: LM's Profiles
* Roberta Brennan: All Jokes 'Til Gametime
* Lyn Craunn: Craun-ing Achievement
* Pat Dillon: Clear Signals
* Tom Marechek: Hollywood Ending
* Chris Sailer: Playing for Chris
* Dom Starsia: The 'Frozen Rope'
* George Tracy: Street Sense
* Dick Watts: 'Pappy' Gets His Due
