Beach Referees

The entry level beach volleyball official certification that is awarded by a region is a local beach official. Certification and recertification requirements are to be administered by the individual Region. The suggested criteria used for a local beach official are as follows:

To obtain certification as a USAV local beach official:

1. The official must be a regular member of the RVA or USAV.
2. The official will need to have successfully passed a background check if they will be officiating juniors competition.
3. The official will need to attend a beach officiating clinic either in person or online every season.
4. The official will need to take the current beach officials exam either online or hardcopy. (all exams must be corrected to 100% with rule references).
5. The official will need to prove proficiency in all portions of beach officiating (i.e. R1, R2, scorekeeping, and line judge). This proficiency will be measured by practical ratings and observation. These ratings will be conducted at USAV events either in region or nationally. Ratings should be conducted by beach officials who hold a zonal rating or higher.
   • Receive one (1) passing rating as an R1.
   • Receive one (1) passing rating as an R2.
   • Receive one (1) passing rating as a scorer. This requirement can be met by successful use of the USAV beach scoresheet while performing their duties as an R1 or R2.
   • The official will need to be observed as a line judge with feedback provided to ensure that they understand the correct technique.

To retain certification as a USAV local beach official:

1. The official must be a regular member of the RVA or USAV.
2. The official will need to have successfully passed a background check if they will be officiating juniors competition.
3. The official will need to attend a beach officiating clinic either in person or online.
4. The official will need to take the current beach officials exam either online or hardcopy. (all exams must be corrected to 100% with rule references).
5. Receive a passing rating in the R1, R2 and Scorer positions.

These ratings can be obtained at USAV events either in Region or Nationally. The ratings should be provided by Beach Officials who hold a Zonal rating or higher.

To become certified as a USAV zonal beach official a candidate must:

1. 1. Must be a current member in good standing with USAV.
   2. To officiate juniors events you must have a successful USAV background check on file.
   3. File the official application with the Director for National Beach Officials Evaluation & Certification. An application fee of $200.00 payable to USAV National Beach Official Commission must accompany the application. The mailing address is found within the instructions on the application.
   4. Obtain the approval/signatures of their Regional Beach Official Chair and or Regional Commissioner on the appropriate application form.
   5. Take the current version of the approved USAV beach rules examination for officials in accordance to the testing guidelines.
   6. Attend the designated USA beach/sand/outdoor volleyball event and successfully complete all requirements at that tournament.

The event requirements include (but are not limited to):

1. 1. • Attendance at the pre-tournament Officials’ Clinics and Candidates’ Meetings that are scheduled the day/night prior to the first day of competition, and remain available to work at the event until the completion of the tournament or session in which the ratings occur.
      • Successful completion of the evaluation session(s).
      • Forfeiture of all match fees to the Beach Officials’ Commission of USA Volleyball for matches worked during the rating process. Candidates will retain fees earned from matches worked after the completion of the rating process.

Candidates must plan to be available for assignment until the end of the tournament or session in which the ratings occur.

Responsibilities and entitlements of a USAV zonal beach official:

1. After successful completion of certification a USAV zonal beach official will be considered for all USAV sanctioned beach junior events as well as collegiate sand and professional beach tour events.
2. Certification as a USAV zonal beach official is valid for a period of five (5) years. To maintain certification, the Official must referee a minimum of one (1) event in three (3) of the five (5) years from the following list. A record of this officiating activity must be submitted electronically to the National Beach Commission.
   • USAV-sanctioned beach events
   • Collegiate sand
   • Professional beach tour events
3. Submit to re-evaluation by the National Beach Commission at any time while officiating..
4. Each year, score a minimum of 80% on the current approved USAV beach rules examination for officials, using the closed-book method. All exams must be corrected to 100% with rules references. USAV zonal beach official must submit a copy of their answer sheet or have their results sent electronically (if the test was taken on-line).
5. Register annually as a member of a USA Volleyball region and remain an active official in good standing with his/her RVA.
6. A USAV zonal beach official may be absent from all events two (2) years out of each five (5) year certification period.
7. A USAV zonal beach official encountering unusual difficulty in meeting the attendance requirements may request, in writing, a one-year extension of certification. The request must be submitted to the Director for National Beach Officials Evaluation & Certification.

Repercussions for not fulfilling the requirements of a USAV zonal beach official:

1. A USAV Zonal Beach Official who does not attend the required tournaments during the five(5) year certification period, and does not ask for the one-year extension of certification, will be placed on a one-year probation period.
   1. In the year following probation, if the Official does not attend a required
   2. In the year following probation, if the Official attends a required tournament, a one-year certification extension will be granted. If the Official attends a required tournament in the second year following the probation, a new five (5) year certification period is awarded.
2. A USAV Zonal Beach Official who allows that certification to expire will have their USAV Zonal Beach rating rescinded. To recertify as a Zonal Beach Official they must follow the procedures as noted in Section I including the $200 candidate fee.

To become certified as a USAV national beach official, a candidate must:

1. 1. Must be a current member in good standing with USAV.
   2. To officiate ouniors events you must have a successful USAV background check on file.
   3. Have served as a certified USAV zonal beach official for at least one (1) full year.
   4. File the official application with the Director for National Beach Official Certification & Evaluation. An application fee of $200.00 payable to USAV National Beach Official Commission must accompany the application. The mailing address is found within the instructions on the application.
   5. Obtain the approval/signatures of their regional beach official chair and or regional  commissioner on the appropriate application form.
   6. Attain a score of 90 on the approved USAV Beach rules examination for officials and have the score submitted to the Director for National Beach Official Certification & Evaluation by the deadline. This test must be taken without the use of the rulebook or other resources (i.e., closed-book).
   7. Have demonstrated a prior record of officiating high level beach volleyball.
   8. Attend the designated USA beach/sand/outdoor volleyball event and successfully complete all requirements at that tournament.

The requirements to be completed at the event include:

1. • Attendance at the pre-tournament Official’s Clinic and Candidates’ Meeting which take place the day/night prior to the first day of competition, and remain available to work at the event until the completion of the tournament or session in which the ratings occur.
   • Successful completion of the evaluation sessions.
   • Forfeiture of all match fees to the Officials’ Division of USA Volleyball for matches worked during the rating process. Candidates will retain fees earned from matches worked after the completion of the rating process. Candidates must plan to be available for assignment until the end of the tournament or session in which the ratings occur.

Responsibilities and entitlements of a USA Volleyball national beach official:

1. After successful completion of certification a USAV national beach official will be considered for all USAV-sanctioned beach events as well as collegiate sand and professional beach tour events.
2. Certification as a USAV national beach official is valid for a period of five (5) years. To maintain certification, the official must referee a minimum of two (2) events in three (3) of the five (5) years from the following list. A record of this officiating activity must be submitted electronically to the National Beach Commission.
   • USAV-sanctioned beach events
   • Collegiate sand
   • Professional beach tour events
3. Submit to re-evaluation by the National Beach Commission at any time while officiating..
4. Each year, score a minimum of 90% on the current approved USAV beach rules examination for officials, using the closed-book method. All exams must be corrected to 100% with rules references. USAV national beach official must submit a copy of their answer sheet or have their results sent electronically (if the test was taken on-line).
5. Register annually as a member of a USA Volleyball region and remain an active official in good standing with his/her RVA.
6. A USAV national beach official may be absent from all events two years out of each five-year certification period.
7. A USAV national beach official encountering unusual difficulty in meeting the attendance requirements may request, in writing, a one-year extension of certification. The request must be submitted to the Director for National Beach Officials Evaluation & Certification.

Repercussions for not fulfilling the requirements of a USA Volleyball national beach official:

1. A USAV national beach official who does not attend the required tournaments during the five(5) year certification period, and does not ask for the one-year extension of certification, will be placed on a one-year probation period.
   1. In the year following probation, if the official does not attend a required tournament, the USAV national beach certification will be rescinded.
   2. In the year following probation, if the Official attends the required tournaments (2), a one-year certification extension will be granted. If the official attends the required tournaments (2) in the second year following the probation, a new five (5) year certification period is awarded.
2. A USAV national beach official who allows that certification to expire will have their USAV national beach rating rescinded. To recertify as a national beach official they must follow the procedures as noted in Section II including the $200 candidate fee.

• Any USAV National Beach Official in good standing, with at least six (6) years of service as a USAV National Beach Official, may apply to the Chair, National Beach Official Commission for voluntary retired status.
• To continue working as an Official with USAV, a USAV National Beach Official (Retired) must register annually with USA Volleyball and the appropriate RVA and remain an active Official in good standing within his/her RVA. Remaining in good standing within the RVA includes but is not limited to, satisfying all requirements for recertification as a Regional Official within that RVA.
  • If a USAV National Beach Official (Retired) does not wish to work as an Official with USAV, they are not required to remain in good standing within the RVA. The Official will not be allowed to officiate at any USAV event, but they will retain their National Beach Official (Retired) status.
• A USAV National Beach Official (Retired) is authorized to officiate all USA Volleyball-sanctioned regional and inter-regional competition, including Junior Olympic Volleyball competition and the USA Volleyball Junior Zonal Qualifying Tournaments.
• A USAV National Beach Official (Retired) may also remain qualified to officiate at the USA Junior Beach Volleyball Championships by officiating at that tournament at least once every three years and submitting to re-evaluation by the National Beach Commission for Junior National Beach Certification and Evaluation at any time while officiating at the USA Junior Beach Volleyball Championships or a USA Volleyball Junior Zonal Qualifying Tournament.
• A USAV National Beach Official (Retired) may apply for recertification as a USA National Beach Official by following the procedures set forth in Section III.B.6.a above. The USAV National Beach Official (Retired) will not be required to pay the $200.00 candidate fee.
• Application for retired status must occur either during or immediately after a year in which the National Beach Official is in good standing with the Officials’ Division. This includes being certified as a USAV National Beach Official and paying dues for that year. (Deadline: February 15 of the following year.)