The officiating at the youth level and middle school/jv lacrosse is absolutely atrocious, not much better at the high school level either. Having said that, unlike hockey lax officials are taught not to intervene in fights. Although it sounds like they let the game get out of control, once the fights start its the coaches that need to get their kids under control. That is my understanding of it, if we have a ref that wants to chime in please do.