Free Training Materials for USAV Members
USA Volleyball’s extensive library of officiating training materials is freely available as a member benefit to current USA Volleyball members via the USA Volleyball Academy.
Course Offerings
Below is a list of the officiating training materials USA Volleyball is offering for 2020-21. This catalog includes study material for those new to the sport all the way up through the best officials in USA Volleyball. The Indoor Referee, Indoor Scorer and World ParaVolley courses may be found on your USAV Academy account while the Beach Referee section contains download links to training materials.
To access your USAV Academy Account:
- Login into your SportsEngine account
- Click on Household, then select the correct person
- Click on the USA Volleyball membership, then click the USAV Academy button
Indoor Referees
Beginning Education
Guide to critical rules and interpretations. Provides direction to officials for the upcoming season. Designed for experienced scorers and referees of all levels.
Covers pre-season education for currently certified Provisional and Regional referees. Includes new rules, frequent errors, and much more.
A brief guide on player uniforms, legal numbering, and contrasting Libero colors.
Junior Officiating Education
Pre-season education for all junior players or adults who could serve as a line judge as part of a junior tournament officiating team.
Provides pre-season education for all junior players or adults who could serve as a second referee as part of a junior tournament officiating team.
Accompaniment to junior first and second referee modules.
Provides pre-season education for all junior players or adults who could be serving as a first referee as part of a junior tournament officiating team.
Provides pre-season education for all junior and adult players who could be serving as an assistant scorer as part of a tournament officiating team.
Task-based approach to learning use of the USAV score sheet. Before the match, tracking servers, recording points, substitutions and time-outs, and completing a score sheet. Non-deciding set only.
Task-based approach to learning use the USAV deciding-set score sheet. Focused only on differences required on the deciding set.
Example of a non-deciding set under typical circumstances. English and Spanish text with English voice over.
Example of a deciding set under typical circumstances. English and Spanish text with English voice over.
How to improve the performance of your team’s/club’s officiating team and the role of coaches/club directors in building the sport. Specifically, for junior coaches and club directors, not for players.
Referee Education - Core Components
Covers required and optional attire and equipment for all officials.
Covers process for establishing ground rules.
Pre-match Preparation and Post-match Debrief
Explains the proper mechanics used to make all signals in USA Volleyball officiating.
Outlines duties of first referee before, during, and after play
Outlines what should and should not be whistled as a net fault for the current season.
Explains legal and illegal attacks, back-row situations, and how they are to be judged.
Covers rules that govern the use of the Libero for junior and adult play.
Explains basic information on assessment of team and individual sanctions.
Outlines duties of second referee before, during, and after play.
Explains and demonstrates proper techniques and mechanics for administering time-outs and substitutions.
Referee Education - Intermediate
Investigates some of the many details a referee must attend to during a tournament. Recommendations from head referees for points of focus for referees at convention center events.
Addresses rules for play when Sport Court is used as the playing surface.
Highlights rule exceptions in place for refereeing U14 volleyball.
Covers proper procedure referees should follow in protest situations.
Considers the area of preventive officiating, from the moment you walk onto the court until the moment you leave the court at the end of the match.
Explains and demonstrates current mechanics and techniques for second referee.
Outlines the mechanics and key points of focus for a second referee.
Overview of 5-1 serve receive patterns, highlighting potential positional faults, points of focus.
Is assessing a sanction black and white? What factors play into these difficult decisions?
Outlines the proper ways to handle player injuries.
Tips, hints, and plenty of video to teach the nuances of ball handling calls.
A look at techniques to improve accuracy of second referee judgement of net contact.
Best practices for making good judgment calls on center line plays.
Teaches the foundation and nuances of reaching over the net call through a series of video clips.
Through video examples, explores a series of judgment calls.
Outlines best practices for preparing for and completing the rating process, regardless of desired certification.
Are you really ready for the USAV season? A look at steps you can take to improve your performance as a referee.
Outlines basics of officiating professionalism.
Explores recipe of professionalism for volleyball officials.
Analyzes art of officiating versus science of officiating.
Referee Education - Advanced
Explores the coach-referee relationship and provides some best practices for smoothly addressing bench issues.
National clinicians’ video analysis of some difficult calls for the first referee.
National clinicians ring in on video clips of back row situations.
Advanced techniques for both two- and four-person line judge configurations. Intended for line judges assigned to such events as USAV PVL, FIVB, Open division, and other high-level competitions using USAV/FIVB rules. (Runtime ~18 min.)
Referee Education - Specialized
Covers how referees, arbitrators, and tournament staff work together to create an enjoyable and safe environment for our sport.
A practical guide to the process of evaluating referees and the philosophy when serving in this very important role.
Introduction to the rule differences for this exciting and growing discipline.
Explains national standards for referee platforms to ensure safety for all participants.
Indoor Scorers
Scorer Education
Task-based approach to teaching scoring. Before the match, tracking servers, recording points, substitutions and time-outs, and completing the score sheet. Not a full set. Non-deciding set only.
Provides pre-season education for all junior and adult players who could be serving as an assistant scorer as part of a tournament officiating team.
Outlines materials needed to keep score in a volleyball match.
Covers completing the parts of the score sheet to be filled out prior to play starting.
Teaches the mechanics of tracking servers and recording points on the score sheet.
Provides instruction on recording time-outs and substitutions on the score sheet.
Covers how to complete the score sheet at the end of a set and of a match.
Outlines how to record sanctions on the USA Volleyball score sheet.
Teaches the differences required on the deciding set score sheet.
Addresses how to record unusual situations on the score sheet.
Provides tips and hints for anyone keeping score.
Example of a non-deciding set under typical circumstances. English and Spanish text and English voice over.
Example of a deciding set under typical circumstances. English and Spanish text and English voice over.
Beach Referees
2020-21 Beach Training Materials
Brief notes to the USAV and NCAA Rules of Beach Volleyball.
Beach Quick Guide (PDF – version 20.2)
Match preparation and court measurement.
Powerpoint presentation regarding Beach uniform and necessary equipment.
Instructions for keeping score and completing the scoresheet.
The official scoresheet for a beach volleyball match.
Scoresheet (PDF – version 20)
Instructions on getting started in beach volleyball officiating.
How to Become a Beach Official (PDF – version 20)
Required application for beach officials.
Beach Candidate Application (PDF – version 20)
>PDF version of beach referee equipment needs.
Beach Referee Kit (PDF – version 20)
World ParaVolley Referees
Training Materials
The World ParaVolley Training Materials are available online for free. Contact your Region Officials Chair for access.