How to Become a Certified Volleyball Referee in the Ohio Valley Region and Vicinity

USA Volleyball Referees (formerly USVBA): Certification is through the USAV Region under the supervision of the Regional Referees' Chairperson. In the Ohio Valley Region (OVR), required clinics are held at various sites within the region (as announced on the OVR website, www.ovr.org/officiating/clinics.php. You must attend a clinic and pass the online, open-book rules and scorekeepers' tests. You must also pass an evaluation as 1st referee, 2nd referee, and scorekeeper. You will be observed during a sanctioned tournament in January or February. (See details at www.ovr.org/officiating/prospective.php.) If not already a member, you will need to join USAV ($50/year in the OVR), plus submit to a required background screening ($20 every two years).

In the OVR (Ohio, West Virginia, border counties of Pennsylvania) contact Brian Hemelgarn (hemelgarn@ovr.org, 734-457-4528/h).
In the Hoosier Region (Indiana) contact: Terry Sweasy (terry@reliable-net.net, 812-579-6324/h).
In the Lake Shore Region (Michigan), contact Ron Mutter (tmmut@wideopenwest.com).
In the Pioneer Region (Kentucky) contact: Don Goodwin (usaref@bellsouth.net, 502-267-8152/h).

In the OVR, all professional USAV referees must attend a USAV clinic and take an open-book test each year. Junior National and National referees take the test closed-book.

Ohio High School Referees - Contact the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA), 4080 Roselea Pl., Columbus, OH 43214, (614) 267-2502 (bus), website www.ohsaa.org. You will need to attend a state rules meeting and four local association meetings each year to maintain your standing as an OHSAA volleyball official. For further information contact OHSAA. Ohio high schools use the rulebook published by the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations. There are many significant differences between Federation and USAV rules. An outline of those differences is published each year and is available from Brian Hemelgarn.

Pennsylvania High School Referees - contact the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) at: 550 Gettysburg Rd., PO Box 2008, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-0708, (800) 382-1392 or (717) 697-0374, website is: www.piaa.org.

West Virginia High School Referees - contact the West Virginia High Secondary School Activities Commission at: Route 9, Box 76, Parkersburg, WV 26101-9158, (304) 485-5494, website is: www.wvssac.org.

Indiana High School Referees - contact the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) at: 9150 North Meridian Street, PO Box 40650, Indianapolis, IN 46240, (317) 846-6601, website is: www.ihsaa.org.

Kentucky High School Referees - contact the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) at: 2280 Executive Drive, Lexington, KY 40505, (859) 299-5472, website is: www.khsaa.org.

Women's College Referees - The Professional Association of Volleyball Officials provides training, education, and certification for officiating women's collegiate volleyball. The PAVO website is at www.pavo.org.

The rulebook is published by the NCAA. There are some significant differences between NCAA and USAV rules. An outline of those differences is published each year and is available on the PAVO website or from Brian Hemelgarn.

Sources of Information

USA Volleyball National Office, 715 S. Circle Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80910.
Website: www.usavolleyball.org.
The current USAV Rule Book is available as a free download, along with various other publications.

NCAA, PO Box 6222, Indianapolis, IN 46206, (888) 388-9748: 2002 NCAA Rule Book ($7.50 + shipping), website is www.ncaa.org.

National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSHSA), 5804 Churchman By-Pass, Indianapolis, IN 46203-6109, (800) 776-3462, website is www.nfhs.org : 2000-2001 Volleyball Rule Book ($6), 2000-2002 Volleyball Case Book and Manual ($6)

Brian Hemelgarn, Regional Referees' Chair, Ohio Valley Region – USAV, 2715 W. Stein Road, La Salle, MI 48145, 419-410-2291 /m, hemelgarn@ovr.org.

Ohio Valley Region website - www.ovr.org : listing of referees, tournaments, clinics, etc.

Terry Sweasy, Referees' Chair, Michiana Region USAV, 13551 E. 300 S., Columbus,  IN 47203, 812-579-6324/h, terry@reliable-net.net.

Don Goodwin, Referees' Chair, Pioneer Region USAV, 10205 Bayport Rd, Louisville,  KY 40299, 502-267-8152/h, usaref@bellsouth.net.

NCAA Rules Interpretation Hot Line - (800) 245-RULE. You may get a recording. If you can describe the problem concisely, leave complete message about the situation. If it is easier to have the NCAA National Rules Interpreter (Marcia Alterman) return the call, please leave both day and evening phone numbers. Follow up your phone call with written documentation to: Marcia Alterman, NCAA Rules Interpreter, 2314 S. Parkridge, Wichita, KS 67209, mavbref@sbcglobal.net.

USA Volleyball Rules Interpreter – Steve Thorpe, 4454 Honeysuckle Lane, Doylestown,  PA 18901, 267-880-1684/h, stjets@aol.com.Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your inquiry. All inquiries will receive replies. Because of the translation of international rules, some queries may involve consultations, but answers will be forwarded as promptly as possible.

Ben Jordan, Chair, USA Volleyball Rules Testing Commission, 608 Apache Lane, Seffner, FL 33584-4750, btjordan@tampabay.rr.com.Suggestions for changes, results of experiences, innovative proposals and other rules-related ideas may be transmitted to Ben Jordan. Explanation and rationale of proposed modifications must be in the Chairman's hands prior to January 1, 2001, if they are to be considered at the annual meeting of the Rules Testing Commission.