Marlborough, Mass.- The NEWMAC is joining the NCAA in celebrating Officials Appreciation Week throughout the 2025-2026 academic year. This marks the fourth year of the Division III Commissioners Association (DIIICA) initiative to highlight and thank conference officials across all sports.
Over the course of this week, the NEWMAC will spotlight several of its long-time spring officials. Today, we recognize men's lacrosse official Jim Castrataro.
Institution Attended: Babson College
College Sport(s) Played (if applicable): Men's Lacrosse, Men's Alpine Skiing
How long have you been officiating? Since 2011, 15 years.
Where/how did you get your start as an official? I became an official in 2011 after a 10-year collegiate head coaching career came to a close. I joined the Eastern Massachusetts Lacrosse Officials Association, and my very first game was at Holliston High School. I haven't looked back since!
Why did you decide to become an official? I love the sport of lacrosse and simply wasn't ready to walk away from it. I wanted to stay involved and on the field. I had also been told many times that officiating was far more difficult than it looked… I was ready for the next challenge.
What do you enjoy about being an official in the NEWMAC? Every school in the NEWMAC fields competitive teams and puts in the extra work for their student-athletes across all sports. Visiting each campus is always a special experience, and I love the energy I feel the moment I step out of my car. There is nothing quite like a college campus!
What would you tell someone who is considering officiating? You have to be in excellent physical shape, maintain total control of your emotions, and study… a lot! Officiating at the college level is not for everyone, but I absolutely love it. Every game is different, yet the same.
What other work do you do outside of officiating? I have served as a Director of Summer Programs at several schools and as a Director of Risk Management for an insurance broker. I also work alongside new camp directors to help them launch their programs and advise existing summer programs on operations and compliance. I am fortunate to be able to officiate several times a week.
About the NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with eight Associate Members: Brandeis University (Women's Lacrosse, 2026-2027), New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 20 sports.