Do you need license before you start reffing?

Question

Do you need license before you start reffing?

Answer 1

what kind of reffing? it depends on age.

Answer 2

I believe that you need to be certified before getting hired for high-level reffing, and you need lessons to start your reffing career with non-competitive league games.

And, you need hours and hours of reffing to become good.

Answer 3

ehh, not really, becausee i ref. because i went to a class for it. i dont physically havee a license.

Answer 4

If you play on a club team, you are forced to attend a scorekeeping clinic, you can't play unless you do. At this scorekeeping clinic they may cover, very little, how to be a down official. Usually, coaches do up officiating, if needed. Sometimes, players can be down refs, but I've never seen a young player do it really well. Most tournaments want coaches to ref and players to keep score.

Middle School, There is no governing body for middle school and elementary athletic events so anyone can officate a vball match.

High School- Any states interscholastic organization mandates that certified officials officiate any state organized match. These officials are certified, rated by peers, and ranked by coaches and peers each year.

College is the same as interscholastic, but even more strict and governed by the NCAA.

Recreational leagues - Anyone can ref, but leagues may look for people with enough volleyball experience and may even quiz you on your officiating knowledge.

Olympic - The USOC and the global governing body of volleyball (FIVB) determines the officials by years of experience at either the collegiate, olympic, or pro level.

Answer 5

I am only 12 and many of my teammates ref all u need to do is go to one of those reffing clinics and get a certificate that proves u have been to a reffing clinic.

Answer 6

I think you have to take a class and get a certification before you can ref the higher level games like high school, maybe middle school and of course anything higher.

Answer 7

For junior high school and high school, you will need to find out the requirements of your state.  Go to the high school nearest you and talk with the volleyball coach and they should be able to guide you to the correct party.

In USAV, you will need to get certified in order to officiate.  Each region has different requirements.  I am from the Lone Star region of the southern part of Texas.  Our requirements are 6 steps.  

1.  Attend a clinic that is usually 3 to 4 hours

2.  Take and correct the exam to 100%

3.  Fill out the referee application

4.  Pay the fees

5.  Join USAV

6.  Get rated on the court by 2 regional referees or higher.  You will have to have at least one rating as an R1

Our requirements for scorekeepers are almost exactly the same.  

Other regions handle certification differently.  I was reading the requirements for another region.  They have a 5 hour clinic that includes refereeing, scorekeeping and ratings.  

For NCAA, the requirements are very close to the USAV.  There is a clinic and if you are new, ratings.  You will take a test and fill out the application and pay the fees.  If you are USAV certified, you can usually skip the ratings.  Anyone may attend the NCAA clinics, but I assign for the junior colleges around Houston and I will not use new officials.  I will only use officials that are USAV or NFSHSA (junior high or high school) certified officials.  And experienced officials at that level.  

It is amazing to me that people think that they can attend one clinic and start refereeing college volleyball.  I even had one person tell me that he officiated basketball and baseball at the college level, so I should add him to my volleyball roster.  I asked his volleyball experience and he repeated that he did basketball and baseball at the college level.  He had never done any volleyball refereeing and he wanted me to start using him at the college level.  I told him that I would not use him for a low level junior high match.  

The FIVB international referees are even more difficult to get.  You have to be invited to attend.  You will attend clinics and will be rated at a tournament.

If you need more help in your area, please contact me.