Below you will find the requirements for the Referee Division. If you have any questions regarding these requirements, please do no hesitate to contact us
Join the NCVA - Membership application and fees are due by November 1 of the calendar year. Membership is from November 1st to October 31st of the subsequent year. The fee is non-refundable, non-transferable and is not prorated.
Membership application must be completed on-line. Membership fees must also be paid on-line at the time of application.
The membership fee for officials is equivalent to the NCVA Adult membership.
Bi-annually, NCVA officials must complete the USA/NCVA Background Check Form. The form must be accompanied by the background check fee.
Annually, NCVA officials must complete and sign the NCVA’s Outside Independent Services Contract Form.
All returning officials must be NCVA “Members in Good Standing” (see definition below).
Required Uniform
Shirt
All white polo shirt, short or long sleeves, with the “Certified Volleyball Official” logo on the arm.
Slacks
Dark navy slacks made of 100% polyester are recommended. Other fabric combinations are permitted as long as the dark navy color doesn’t appear to be faded. However, “Dockers” are specifically prohibited.
Belt
Black or dark navy in color.
Shoes
Shoes must be all white.
Sweater
Sweaters are optional. If worn they must be all white with v-neck with the “Certified Volleyball Official” logo on the left chest. Sweat-shirts are specifically prohibited.
Jacket
Jackets are optional. If worn they must be all white with the “Certified Volleyball Officials” logo on the left chest.
Referee Levels
For the purposes of developing officials in the region and to recognize levels of competencies, the following levels have been established. Training and other requirements needed to achieve and maintain these levels are discussed in subsequent sections. Officials receive patches indicating fulfillment of the requirements for the various levels. Patch levels earned are used by the NCVA when calculating payment for services rendered.
1.
Official in Training
2.
Provisional
3.
Regional
4.
Junior National
5.
National
NCVA 'Member in good standing' requirements
Officials working for the NCVA are expected to provide a minimum level of services and to maintain their achieved officials level. The minimum level of services to be provided and maintenance requirements depends on the level.
The NCVA is willing to work with you if you are unable to meet these requirements and you inform the NCVA in writing in a timely manner during the season. You should explain your reason for being unable to meet these requirements. The NCVA Officials Advisory Group (OAG) will review your standing and try to make alternative options available to you to meet the minimum necessary requirements. If officials do not complete the minimum service requirements during the season, the official could revert back to the next lower status and pay.
1.
Official in Training
Attend the NCVA Officials Symposium
Attend an NCVA/USAV Sanctioned Rules Clinic each season
Be evaluated on the stand during the current season at an NCVA sanctioned training event (The California Kickoff Tournament held each year in January)
Attend additional training tournaments when requested by the NCVA Officials Advisory Group (OAG)
2.
Provisional
Work a minimum of nine (9) tournament days as a referee at NCVA sanctioned events, four (4) days of which must be at the annual Junior Girls Power League Regional. The NCVA’s Far Western National Tournament cannot be used toward the accumulation of the nine days.
If returning as a provisional, attend an NCVA/USAV Sanctioned Rules Clinic.
3.
Regional
Work a minimum of nine (9) tournament days as a referee at NCVA sanctioned events, four (4) days of which must be at the annual Junior Girls Power League Regional. The NCVA’s Far Western National Tournament cannot be used toward the accumulation of the nine days
Attend an NCVA/USAV Sanctioned Rules Clinic each season.
Pass a written rules test by February 15th of each season.
4.
Junior National
Follow the the USAV guidelines established for Junior National Officials (see USA Volleyball website for more information).
Participate in the annual NCVA’s Officials Symposium, or as a mentor, trainer, or evaluator at other training tournaments for officials.
Work the minimum required hours set by USA Volleyball, four (4) days of which must be at the annual Junior Girls Power League Regional. The NCVA’s Far Western National Tournament cannot be used toward the accumulation of hours for this requirement.
For NCVA pay status service recognition purposes, work an additional four (4) tournament days as a referee at NCVA sanctioned events. The NCVA’s Far Western National Tournament cannot be used toward the accumulation of these four days.
Attend an NCVA/USAV Sanctioned Rules Clinic each season.
Pass a written rules test by February 15th of each season.
5.
National
Follow the USAV guidelines established for National Officials (see USA Volleyball website for more information).
Participate in the annual NCVA’s Officials Symposium, or as a mentor, trainer, or evaluator at other training tournaments for officials.
Work the minimum required hours set by USA Volleyball, four (4) days of which must be at the annual Junior Girls Power League Regional. The NCVA’s Far Western National Tournament cannot be used toward the accumulation of hours for this requirement.
For NCVA pay status service recognition purposes, work an additional four (4) tournament days as a referee at NCVA sanctioned events. The NCVA’s Far Western National Tournament cannot be used toward the accumulation of these four days.
Attend an NCVA/USAV Sanctioned Rules Clinic each season.
Pass a written rules test by February 15th of each season.
How to achieve various NCVA Referee levels
Generally, NCVA officials start at the lowest level and with training and experience work there way up to the highest level. However, the NCVA’s OAG may accelerate progression through the levels based on the level of proficiency exhibited at tournaments used by the OAG to train or evaluate officials.
1.
How to Become a Referee in Training
Become an NCVA member.
Attend the NCVA Officials symposium.
Attend an NCVA/USAV sanctioned rules clinic.
Be evaluated on the stand during the current season at an NCVA sanctioned event (The California Kickoff Tournament held each year in January).
Attend additional training tournaments when requested by the NCVA Officials Advisory Group (OAG).
2.
How to Become a 'Provisional' Referee
While an “Official in Training” achieved the “Member in Good Standing” requirements of the provisional referee.
Receive approval from the OAG for advancement.
If the NCVA OAG training committee approves, a trainee could be advanced to Provisional prior to completion of nine (9) tournament days required of a provisional referee to become a “Member in Good Standing.”
3.
How to Become a 'Regional' Referee
Meet the “Member in Good Standing” requirements for the provisional referee.
Officiate as a Provisional Referee for a minimum of one full season and have worked at least nine (9) tournament days as an official.
Apply in writing to the OAG. The OAG must approve the request.
Attend an NCVA/USAV sanctioned rules clinic
Be evaluated on the stand during the current season at an NCVA sanctioned event (The California Kickoff Tournament held each year in January) and pass the evaluation.
Pass a written rules test by February 15th.
4.
How to Become a 'Junior National' Referee
Meet the “Member in Good Standing” requirements for the Regional referee.
Officiate as a Regional Referee for a minimum of one full season.
Must apply for candidacy to the NCVA Office by December 1st of the current season. The application must include a letter that supports why you should be considered as a Junior National Official candidate. This letter will be part of your paperwork that will be submitted to USA Volleyball if you are approved by the NCVA to apply to USAV.
Applicants are expected to be able to participate in two (2) training tournaments prior to the final evaluation tournament (usually the California Kickoff Tournament). The Boy’s Power League Regional tournament held in December will be the first training tournament and will be used to evaluate the applicants officiating skills. A determination will be made at this tournament as to whether the applicant has the minimum skills necessary to proceed to the next tournament. The NCVA Boy’s Far Western tournament is the second training tournament that will be used primarily to further develop the applicant’s officiating skills. Training offered will emphasize the officiating skills expected by USA Volleyball from Junior National candidates. Applicants then must attend the final training and rating tournament. During this tournament, the applicant will be evaluated twice as an R1 and twice as an R2 by NCVA approved raters. Candidates must receive passing ratings on all evaluations in order to be recommended by the NCVA to formally apply to USA Volleyball.
Pass a written rules test by February 15th.
Pass a written scorekeeping test.
The NCVA recommends working a minimum of 10-12 NCVA sanctioned tournament days during the current season as an official to get trained and prepared for the USA Volleyball rating process.
Follow the guidelines of USA Volleyball for Junior National candidates.
Fulfill all requirements as required by USA Volleyball such as attend the Junior National tournament and pass the rating sessions at this tournament.
The NCVA reserves the right to revoke your application prior to attending the Junior Nationals if you fail to maintain the professional standards required by NCVA for Junior National Official Candidates from this region.
5.
How to Become a 'National' Referee
Meet the “Member in Good Standing” requirements for the Junior National referee.
Officiate as a Junior National Referee for a minimum of one full season.
Must apply for candidacy to the NCVA Office by December 1st of the current season. The application must include a letter that supports why you should be considered as a National Official candidate. This letter will be part of your paperwork that will be submitted to USA Volleyball if you are approved by the NCVA to apply to USAV.
Applicants are expected to be able to participate in two (2) training tournaments prior to the final rating tournament (usually the California Kickoff Tournament). The Boy’s Power League Regional tournament held in December will be the first training tournament and will be used to evaluate the applicants officiating skills. Training offered will emphasize the officiating skills expected by USA Volleyball from National candidates. The NCVA Boy’s Far Western tournament is the second training tournament that will be used primarily to further develop the applicant’s National level officiating skills. Applicants then must attend the final training and rating tournament. During this tournament, the applicant will be evaluated twice as an R1 and twice as an R2 by NCVA approved raters. Candidates must receive passing ratings on all evaluations in order to be recommended by the NCVA to formally apply to USA Volleyball.
Pass a written rules test by February 15th.v
Pass a written scorekeeping test.
The NCVA recommends working a minimum of 10-12 NCVA sanctioned tournament days during the current season as an official to get trained and prepared for the USA Volleyball rating process.
Follow the guidelines of USA Volleyball for National candidates.
Fulfill all requirements as required by USA Volleyball such as attend the USAV selected tournament and pass the rating sessions at this tournament.
The NCVA reserves the right to revoke your application prior to attending the USAV selected tournament if you fail to maintain the professional standards required by NCVA for National Official Candidates from this region.
