Welcome to the 2019-2020 Lone Star Region season! There are many new rule changes for this coming season and you will need to re-study, review, and do some scoring to stay on top of your game. Therefore, it is highly recommended that all referees that work for pay attend a ‘referee for pay’ clinic this year (see below). If you attended a clinic last year and got certified, we still want you to update and attend a ‘referee for pay’ clinic this year (at no additional cost—sign in as pre-paid “PP”). If you have already attended a clinic this season then we recommend you also attend a ‘referee for pay’ clinic that will cover some additional techniques and skills (at no additional cost). If you need to be certified, re-certified, or this is your first season, you can use the ‘referee for pay’ clinic as your certifying referee clinic (application fee is $25). However, only provisional exams will be offered at these clinics. 

There are many new rule changes, clarifications, and new mechanics in the 2019-2021 DCR (rule book) so everyone please attend a referee clinic, get a new rule book, and take the appropriate referee exam to prepare yourself for the new season. Additionally, the training at the Volleyball Ref Training (VRT) site is a member’s only site for modules and credit courses, and updates will be available as soon as possible. It should be accessed by logging in on WebPoint at https://webpoint.usavolleyball.org, scroll down to the bottom of the page and on the left will be a red box listed as ‘USAV Academy’; click on this box and you will be sent to the “Academy” site where you will be able to access the material by using the tab “Course Catalog,” then the tab “Catalog: Officiating Education Materials,” and then indoor materials for credit or no credit. Most modules and courses are for reference, not for credit in the Lone Star Region.

We have increased the number of tournaments that use paid referees this season by 15% and we have increasing numbers of juniors playing. The Lone Star Region is now over 20,000 members.  We need your knowledge of volleyball and skills in officiating to give our youth a “level playing field.” Please visit www.lsvolleyball.org and use the “Officials’ Clinics & Info” tab, followed by the “Paid Ref Tournaments” tab, to view the tournaments listed that will use paid referees and then sign up after November 1. To sign up use the Head Referee’s contact info or use AES if required.

NOTICE: It is highly recommended that you attend a ‘referee for pay’ clinic this year to be up-to-date on rule changes and interpretations, meet other referees you will be working with, and hear from members of the referee group that will lead you through this season.
  

Exams

All PROVISIONAL/JUNIOR referees will take the 2019-2020 Form C exam and make at least a grade of 70 to pass.  All REGIONAL referees are required to take the online test every year. Those regional referees that do not make at least 84 on the online USAV Form A Referee Exam will need to retake the exam until the test is passed online. For all NATIONAL-LEVEL referees, your requirements are the same as before… test each and every year by February 15 and make at least 90 (only two tries online).  Regional and National referees can access the exams through https://webpoint.usavolleyball.org, and then USAV Academy once it is uplinked.

A USAV background check is required for all officials that work with juniors. In addition to your membership fee of $45 this season, your background check ($30) may be needed--it is good for two seasons and can be verified at the USAV website (https://webpoint.usavolleyball.org).

SafeSport Certification 
The Lone Star Region and USAV requires all officials working with juniors to have SafeSport certification before starting to work at any USAV or regional event.  To complete SafeSport Certification (there is no charge and it is good for two years):

To register for SafeSport training:

1.      Go to https://webpoint.usavolleyball.org/.   
2.      Log in to your USAV account.
3.      In the navigation menu, click on USAV Clinics & select USAV Coaching Clinics.
4.      Select SafeSport On-Demand: Two-Season Certification.
5.      Complete registration.
6.      To access coursework, click on the Log into USAV Academy button.

Should you need to return to your coursework at a later time, log in to your USAV account on WebPoint and click on the Log into USAV Academy button.

For technical issues, while completing the course, please visit: http://help.usavolleyballacademy.org/.

If registering for the first time, be sure to “+Add Membership” and select USAV Membership, and then add your USAV membership number.  It may take 3-4 business days for SafeSport to be reported to your USAV WebPoint database file, so please print out a copy of your certification and keep it on hand in case it is needed.  Starting in 2018, SafeSport certification will need to be renewed every two seasons.  Be sure you complete all three sections of the course.

Referee Agreement
A “Referee Agreement” form must be filled out and sent back to the scheduling Head Referee for every tournament, league or series held within the Lone Star Region.  Even if you work back-to-back weekends for the same club but different tournaments, you will have to fill out 2 forms…one for each weekend.

Rules Comparison Sheet and USAV Casebook
All referees should be familiar with the “2019 Summary Comparison – NCAA/USAV/NFHS” and “USAV Casebook” on the VRT before the 2019-2020 season begins in December.  Access to this Casebook is through www.volleyballreftraining.com, then the tab “Rules & Interps,” and then the tab “Indoor Rules & Interpretations.”  The Summary Comparison sheets can be found at:  https://pavo.org/Portals/0/docs/2019_RuleComparison_NCAA-NFHS-USAV_FINAL.pdf. “Indoor Rules & Interpretations.”