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BECOMING A VOLLEYBALL REFEREE |
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Women's college volleyball is played on various levels ranging from junior colleges to the highest levels in NCAA Division I.
Whatever your intentions and goals as a volleyball official may be, the steps you take to develop your skills are very important in establishing the strong foundation of techniques that top-notch officials possess. |
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It is important even for experienced officials to attend annual clinics to review current rules, learn new rules, and understand the techniques that are implemented for the current season. PAVO has established the Officials Training Program (OTP) to help educate referees.
One part of the OTP consists of approximately 25 annual clinics targeted at experienced collegiate referees. These are held across the United States each summer and emphasize rules, techniques, philosophy, and match control . The Officials' Division of USAV endorses these clinics, and many regions use them as preparation for the upcoming USAV season as well.
The other part of the OTP is a series of referee camps that are held at spring collegiate tournaments. These camps combine classroom sessions with on-court video evaluations to provide comprehensive training for volleyball officials of all experience levels.
PAVO has developed training materials for line judges and scorekeepers as well. Clinics for these support officials are sometimes held in conjunction with OTP clinics, or may be organized by local boards. |
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For virtually all professional officials, taking written examinations and passing with an appropriate score is an important and often mandatory part of preparation for the season.
A committee comprised of representatives from USAV and PAVO creates a series of written examinations for referees each year. The examinations cover both NCAA and USAV volleyball rules.
The PAVO line judge certification and scorekeeper certification processes also include written examinations that serve as training tools for these important support officials. |
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It is important to gain a broad base of experience in your development as an official. Growth will come through experience, so officiate as often as possible in all types of available competition. Continue to seek increasingly difficult matches that challenge your officiating skills.
Whatever background you have in volleyball officiating, at some point in your career (possibly at several points), you will probably go through a formal on-court evaluation process. Approach each assessment as an opportunity to learn and improve your skills as an official, and consider the advice and suggestions you receive as constructive learning experiences. For more information on obtaining a formal certification, click.
Do not forget the importance of informal evaluations as well. Those are the ones you give yourself, or those that you receive when you talk with other officials. After a match, take a few minutes to share honest and direct performance evaluations with your officiating partner. The insight and knowledge you gain by participating in post-match reviews and networking with other officials will prove invaluable as you strive to improve. |
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How to Become a PAVO Referee |
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These are the steps to becoming a women's collegiate volleyball official:
- Study the rules, learn the techniques of officiating, and take the practice examination in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Rules book and the PAVO Officials' Guidebook.
- Consider attending the training camps and clinics administered by PAVO. More information on these programs is available here, or by calling (888) 791-2074.
- Attend interpretation meetings and officiating training courses that are conducted in your local area.
- Practice often and in a variety of environments.
- Contact the chair of a nearby PAVO board to find out when they conduct practical and written examinations.
- Complete the evaluation process to obtain a PAVO rating, remembering that maintaining high standards for officials is a primary goal for PAVO.
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Presenting a professional image starts the minute you step on the court. It will help you command respect and assume a leadership role immediately. Be sure your uniform is clean, unwrinkled, and does not show signs of excessive wear.
The entire official uniform for USAV and PAVO consists of the following:
- An all white polo-style shirt as described below.
- Navy blue slacks.
- Navy blue shorts allowable only for tournament play when high temperatures exist.
- Black or dark navy blue leather belt.
- All white leather shoes.
- White crew socks.
- Vest (optional). White, sleevless vest worn over the official uniform shirt. Approved vests can be purchased from the same vendors who sell the official uniform shirt. Vests can be worn while officiating a match, by either referee.
- Sweater (optional). White V-neck pullover sweater worn over the official uniform shirt. This must be an approved sweater (available in 100% cotton or orlon) with the official embroidered designation on the left chest. The appropriate patch should be worn on the right chest. Approved sweaters can be purchased from the same vendors who sell the official uniform shirt. Sweaters can be worn while officiating a match, by either referee.
- Jacket (optional). Solid-colored navy blue or white. The jacket is intended to be worn to and from the court, not while actually officiating.
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PAVO and USAV have designated a uniform for referees and scorekeepers. The official shirt is an all white polo-style shirt with the official embroidered designation on the left sleeve ("Volleyball Certified Official"), optional Velcro patch on the right side of the chest, and optional pocket on the left side of the chest. The shirt may be short-sleeved or long-sleeved.
The emblem worn on the front of the shirt may indicate a certification level , a conference, or an organizational affiliation. Complete specifications for uniform shirts and sweaters are available by calling (888) 791-2074.
The only fabrics (weight and type) and styles allowed are those approved by the PAVO/USAV Interface Committee and the PAVO Board of Directors. The approved logo for the uniform shirt and optional sweater is protected by copyright. A group of approved vendors have agreed to provide uniform shirts of the fabric weight and content specified by the PAVO/USAV Interface Committee, and they are listed at www.pavo.org. |
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The following are the "tools of the trade" for a professional volleyball referee:
- Whistles. Have an extra whistle in case of emergencies. Your whistle and whistle lanyard should be of a discreet color.
- Watch or timing device. You need to be able to keep accurate time for periods of several minutes as well as for 60-second intervals. Be sure that your watch shows minutes and seconds, and that you can read and reset it easily.
- Sanction cards. The red and yellow cards you carry should slide easily into the pocket of your pants and be completely concealed.
- Coin. Both referees should have a tossing coin with distinct images on each side.
- Rulebook. You may need to refer discreetly to a rule to clarify an issue or address a formal protest.
- Ball gauge and ball pump. These devices are available separately or as a unit. While some facilities will have this equipment, it is advisable to carry your own.
- Net measuring device. Most referees carry a small, pre-measured chain to measure the net before the match. This device can also be used as a plumb line to ensure that the antenna is perpendicular to the net.
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