SPORT HAS OFFICIAL PROBLEMS.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Special to the Daily News

A labor dispute between the Southern Section and game officials has imperiled lacrosse's inaugural season.

Southern Section game officials, represented by the newly formed Greater Los Angeles Lacrosse Officials Association, have declared a work stoppage, citing a pay disparity among themselves and their San Diego, San Francisco and North Coast section counterparts, who receive up to 22 percent more pay.

Southern Section lacrosse officials say officiating the sport is labor-intensive and that a higher pay scale is required to attract more officials to one of the nation's fastest-growing sports.

In lacrosse, a two-person crew - one referee and one umpire - are responsible for overseeing 24 players (12 on each team) on a venue about the size of a soccer field.

The fast-paced game features physical contact, and unlike in football - in which five officials call the game - the action in lacrosse does not stop.

``It's a contact sport, and we have to run around the field a lot more than officials in other sports,'' lacrosse official Mike Avenali said.

Some athletic directors have publicly expressed sympathy for the officials' position. Many players are less understanding of their plight.

``I just think it's kind of ridiculous to complain about $5 or $10,'' Oaks Christian senior Will Danielson said. ``All (the officials) are doing is taking away from the athletes who want to play.''

Avenali said officials are willing to work for free or within the current pay scale that pays referees $55 and umpires $48 on the condition that their fees are subject to future negotiations.

Southern Section lacrosse commissioner Thom Simmons said current GLALOA leadership representatives were present and voiced no complaints at an April 2005 section meeting in which the current pay scale was determined.

Simmons said the section office used emergency powers to develop the pay scale because there were no remaining section council meetings after the sport was mandated in March 2005 by CIF State officers. GLALOA representatives, he said, will have an opportunity to lobby for increased pay later this month before the section council, which consists of 83 athletic directors.

Simmons expressed concern that pay raises could create a trickle-up effect in all sports that could create financial hardship for schools already facing budget crunches.

``If we uniformly gave them a $10 (pay) increase guarantee, then officials in other sports will come to us asking for raises,'' Simmons said.

Some schools have had to be resourceful to get games in.

New Community Jewish of West Hills has had coaches Neil Kramer and Dan Greenberg officiate its team's games. Both are certified officials.

``It's not ideal, but it was that or not have a program,'' NCJ athletic director Sina Monjazeb said.