Officials

Officiating in the Ohio Valley Region

OVR Officials' Handbook

Professional officials: the Ohio Valley Region Officials' Handbook covers all aspects of officiating in the Ohio Valley Region. Please direct any questions or feedback to Brian Hemelgarn, OVR Referees' Chair (hemelgarn@ovr.org).

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.

Officials who work at OVR sanctioned events are working as Independent Contractors and not as employees. This is true if the OVR is running the event or another organization is running it. Here is a sample Independent Contractor contract that each tournament director will request each official to sign before the official works at the event: Volleyball Officiating Contract

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

Registration

• Your current USAV membership expired on August 31. OVR/USAV registration opened on September 2 at www.ovr.org/register/. You may register online any time between September 2 and November 30.

• Registration fees are $67 and an additional $14 for the background screen, if one was not completed last season.

• 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 years. (Other background screens are not accepted by USAV-OVR.) If you did not have a USAV background screen last season, one is required this season.

• If you have any concern about registering prior to November 30, please contact the OVR Referees' Chair 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 2023-2024 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.

The information below is tentative and will be updated once locations/dates are confirmed.

Online Rules and Scoring Exams

See Officiating Professionally in the OVR, section Online Rules and Scoring Exams.

For Additional Information

If you have any questions about this information or any other topics, contact the OVR Referees' Chair, Brian Hemelgarn (hemelgarn@ovr.org)