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National Referee Certification

National Rating Standards

Using the standards outlined below, PAVO National Rating Teams (NRT) have the authority to award and renew National ratings.

 

National Rating

Minimum initial certification standards are established by PAVO:

  • Pass a closed-book written examination (Form A or B) with a minimum score of 90. See the PAVO Theoretical Exam Procedures in the annual board packet, available from your local board chair.
  • Pass a practical examination at an NRT site with a minimum score of 90. There must be at least three raters, all holding National ratings.
  • Rating expires on December 31st four years after the year in which the rating is awarded.

 

Maintaining a National Rating:

  • Pass Form A of the theoretical examination with a minimum score of 90 without a rule book or other resources. If a score of 90 is not attained, the referee can be re-examined using Form B. See the PAVO Theoretical Exam Procedures in the annual board packet.
  • Submit a completed theoretical examination answer sheet or online test results to the NRT Director by September 15th each year. If a National referee fails to meet this requirement once, the referee is ineligible to receive renewal points for that season. Two failures to meet this requirement during one renewal term will result in losing the National certification.
  • NEW - Attend a PAVO-OTP clinic prior to each women's collegiate season. If a National referee fails to meet this requirement once, the referee is ineligible to receive renewal points for that season. Two failures to meet this requirement during one renewal term will result in losing the National certification.
  • Submit an annual survey to the NRT Director by February 1 each year for the previous season. If a National referee fails to meet this requirement once, the referee is ineligible to receive renewal points for that season. Two failures to meet this requirement during one renewal term will result in losing the National certification.

 

Renewing a National Rating

In addition to meeting the annual requirements outlined above, there are additional requirements for renewing a National rating:

  • Renewal fee of fifty dollars ($50) payable to PAVO in the renewal year, or every four years.
  • Demonstration that the National referee is still officiating at a highly skilled level. This requirement can be met by either of the following methods:
    • Pass a practical examination at an NRT site with a minimum score of 90.
    • Earn enough renewal points as specified in the Point Renewal System below.

Point Renewal System for Renewing National Referees:

The Point Renewal System awards credit to National referees who demonstrate a level of skill that earns them officiating and leadership opportunities. One point is awarded for the each item in the following three categories:

 

Category I - Women's Intercollegiate Volleyball

  • Semifinals or finals of a WOMEN'S NCAA conference championship, any division (one point maximum per event)
  • WOMEN'S NCAA Tournament play-in match
  • WOMEN'S NCAA First/Second Round or Regionals
  • WOMEN'S NAIA or NJCAA Regionals
  • WOMEN'S national championships (final round) in any division of NCAA, NAIA, or NJCAA
  • Referee at least four (4) women's collegiate conference matches in one NCAA Division I conference. Only one Category I point can be earned per season using this criterion, and a maximum of three (3) points can be earned per renewal period.

 

Category II - Training, Rating, Educating

  • Conduct a clinic for the Officials Training Program (one point per year maximum)
  • Actively rate for the PAVO National Rating Team
  • Serve on the staff at a PAVO Officials Training Program camp
  • Present a session at the PAVO Convention
  • Conduct a formal clinic or rating session at the local level, based on NCAA rules (Added in 2010) 

 

Category III - Other Volleyball Competition

  • Semifinals or finals of a WOMEN'S NAIA or NJCAA conference championship, any division (1 pt maximum per season)
  • WOMEN'S state junior college championship tournaments in states that are not affiliated with NJCAA
  • Finals of the Gold divison of the following categories at the USAV Volleyball Adult Open Championships (Opens, AA, A, BB, B, 45 and younger Men, 35 and younger Women)
  • Finals of the Gold division of the following categories at the USAV Girls or Boys Junior National Volleyball Championships: 16-yr, 17-yr, or 18yr 
  • Finals of the Gold division of the following categories at the AAU Girls National Championships: 16-yr, 17-yr, or 18-yr
  • Finals of the Gold division of the following categories at the USAV High Performance Championships: Boys International Junior or Girls International Junior 
  • Division I Gold Finals of the NCVF Club Championships
  • NAIA Men's National Championships
  • Men's Armed Forces Championships
  • International Olympic Games
  • Goodwill Games
  • World University Games
  • International tours, exhibitions, or tournaments that take place in domestic or foreign locations
  • AAA or AA finals of a girls' or boys' high school state championship where NCAA rules are used
  • Head referee at NAIA National Championships
  • Referee at least four (4) women's collegiate conference matches in one NCAA Division I conference. Only one Category III point can be earned per season using this criterion, and the matches must be different from the matches used for a renewal point in Category I.

 

To renew a PAVO National rating with the Point Renewal System, the National referee must meet the following conditions:

  • Earn eight (8) points during the four-year term of the rating.
  • A minimum of four (4) points in those four years must be earned in Category I.
  • Remaining points can be earned from any combination of the three categories.
  • In order to earn points in Categories I and III, the official must have officiated as a first or second referee. Positions such as line judge, scorekeeper, alternate official, and so forth do not qualify to earn points.

Applying for a National Rating

The National Rating Team conducts three to four rating sessions a year in various parts of the country. If you are interested in obtaining a National rating, you must apply as a candidate to a rating site by March 15 every year. Applications for the 2012 NRT sites are being revised, and will be posted here by 2/15/12.


Application Process and Candidate Criteria

To be accepted at a National Rating session, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Hold a current State rating for two (2) years, a current PAVO National rating, an Retired National rating, or be accepted as a reciprocal candidate from USA Volleyball (click here for details on reciprocation)
  • Pass a closed-book PAVO/USAV Theoretical Examination (Form A or B) with a minimum score of 90. The examination must be written for the same season as the NRT application. A copy of the completed answer sheet must be received by the NRT Director no later than two (2) weeks prior to the date of the rating session.
  • Refereed at a national, state, regional, or qualifying women's collegiate tournament in at least one (1) of the two (2) previous years, be accepted as a reciprocal candidate from USA Volleyball (click here for details on reciprocation) or obtained signatures from three (3) different individuals who serve in any of the following capacities: 
    • National Rating Team member (1 maximum).
    • Certifying board chair.
    • PAVO National referee with national tournament officiating experience.
    • Officiating coordinator or tournament director of a national, state, regional or qualifying women's college volleyball tournament (1 maximum).
    • College or university women's volleyball coach (1 maximum).

Submit the completed application and a $150 pre-registration fee by March 15th to the NRT Director. The application for the 2012 NRT sites will be posted here by February 15, 2012.  If you have any questions, email Mara at NRT.Director@pavo.org:

Mara Wager
8 Werner Ave
Delmar, NY  12054

Once an individual is accepted as a rating site candidate, the $150.00 pre-registration fee can be refunded only if the rating session is canceled or the site is filled and the applicant is unable to attend any other available sessions.

Selection Process

After March 15th, all applications are evaluated and confirmations are sent out by April 1. If there are more applications for a particular site than can be accepted, applicants will be selected for candidacy based on the information submitted, including experience level and strength of recommendations.

Criteria for Retired National Referees

A PAVO National Referee may choose to take retired status, and maintain an affiliation with PAVO in order to remain active as a trainer for the local association.  PAVO has established the following criteria:

  • Hold a National Referee rating for at least two four-year terms
  • Meet all requirements for local board membership and PAVO membership

A written request for retired status must be submitted to the NRT Director by the date when annual National Referee surveys are due.  The request must be signed by the applicant and the local board chair.