Officiating in the Ohio Valley Region

If you would like to become certified as a new USA Volleyball Official, sign up for information and to attend a clinic. This is for new officials only! Renewing officials must register.

The Ohio Valley Region supports development of officials at all levels to ensure a high standard for OVR-sanctioned events. Visit any or all of the following sections for information on requirements and certification.

Professional Officials		Junior Olympic, Provisional, Regional, Junior National, National, and International officials certified to work USAV events
Junior Officials		Junior players competent to serve as second referee and scorekeeper

OVR Scorekeepers' Test

The scorekeepers' test to say will be available online and must be taken by all returning officials. The OVR password is (sign in for password), and the deadline is Feb. 15. Please direct any questions to Terry Miller, OVR Scorekeepers' Chair (miller@ovr.org).

OVR Referee Memo: Pre-Season News from OVR Referees' Chair, Brian Hemelgarn [27 Aug 2007]

Although the 2007-08 season is still a few months away, here are some preliminary dates and information to help referees with planning for the upcoming season:

Online Registration

• Your current USAV membership expires on October 31. After September 1, the OVR's online registration system will be up and running. You may register online any time between September 1 and November 30.

• Once you have completed the online registration, you must submit your signed OVR-USAV waiver/release, background screen consent form (if applicable) and registration fee ($50 + $20 if a background screen is required) within one week. Please submit to:

  Stephen Donahue
  OVR Verification Officer
  5401 Rochelle Drive
  Stow, OH 44224-5512

• Background Screening: Please review the background screening information on the OVR website. Remember, a USAV background screen is required, and each screen is good for two years. (Other background screens are not accepted by USAV-OVR.) If you did not have a USAV background screen for the 2006-07 season, one is required this season.

• If you have any concern about registering prior to November 30, please contact me at your earliest convenience so that we can make appropriate arrangements.

• Note: If you are also a coach, club director, chaperone or adult player, you must register first as an official by the November 30 deadline, and then be added to your club's or team's roster.

Pre-Season Officiating Clinics

Below are the officiating clinic dates for the 2007-08 season. Clinic attendance is required for all referees each season. Specific times and location details are published on the OVR website in the Clinics & Camps section.

• Nov. 25: Toledo
• Dec. 1: Westerville
• Dec. 2: Westerville (NEW Officials ONLY)
• Dec. 9: Dayton/Cincinnati
• Jan. 5: Pittsburgh
• Jan. 6: Cuyahoga Falls
• Jan. 6: Cuyahoga Falls (NEW Officials ONLY)

Online Rules/Scorekeeping Exams

After October 15th, the USAV Form A exam will be available online. (Professional officials, sign in for the password, which Brian also e-mailed on October 23.) The USAV exam is not available through PAVO local boards and may not be taken in conjunction with the NCAA exam. All officials must take the Form A exam each season. (Form C is for junior players or prospective referees only.)

OVR News & Notes

• The OVR board of directors has approved a raise for referees! The new rate for junior tournaments will be $165. This equates to $27.50 per match. A similar raise will be in effect for adult tournaments: $165 per day for each referee, or $235 per day if there is only one referee per court.

• Contact information: Please be sure to update your online account information (address, e-mail, phone numbers, etc.) if you have moved or made any changes since the end of the season. You'll need to log into your OVR account to do this. If you have any trouble, drop me a note.

• Certification Upgrades: Referees interested in upgrading their current USAV certification should notify me on or before January 7, 2008.

• Prospective Referees: If you are aware of anyone who is interested in becoming a USAV referee, please direct her/him to the OVR website (www.ovr.org) in mid-October. Information for prospective referees will be available online at that time. They can also contact me directly via e-mail.

• OVR Referee Handbook update: At the October Board meeting, I will present the final copy of the OVR Referee Handbook to the Board of Directors. After the Board's review, the document will be available online as a PDF file for download.

• Lastly, if unusually circumstances prevent you from registering, taking the exam or attending a clinic as noted above, please contact me at your earliest convenience so that we can make necessary arrangements.

If you have any questions about this information or any other topics, don't hesitate to drop me a note. I'll reply to all e-mails as quickly as possible.

Thanks again for your hard work this season, and I'll look forward to working with you this season.