Welcome to the 2023-2024 Lone Star Region season! 

As a reminder, ALL JUNIOR R1/PROVISIONAL/REGIONAL REFEREES THAT WORK FOR PAY are required to attend a Referee For Pay (Ref4Pay) clinic. The schedule for these clinics are listed below. If this is not your re-certification year, you still must attend the Ref4Pay clinic (no cost to you – let the clinician know that you are there as an “Observer”. If you have already attended a clinic this season then we recommend you also attend a Ref4Pay clinic that will cover some additional techniques and skills (at no additional cost).  Both Provisional and Regional tests will be offered at these clinics as they will be online. Please bring your computer/tablet or cell phone to take your test.

The Lone Star Region is now over 24,000 members. We need your knowledge of volleyball and skills in officiating to give our youth a “level playing field.” Below you will see the 2023-24 Lone Star Region Tournaments using Paid Referees schedule. Take time to look it over and determine which tournaments you are available and qualify to work. To sign up use the Head Referee’s contact info or use AES if required.

NOTICE: All paid referees that work in the Lone Star Region are required to attend a Ref4Pay clinic.  To register for one of these clinics, look below and see the schedule of these 3 clinics (one in each of these cities; Houston, Austin and San Antonio).

Exams & Requirements

All JUNIOR R1and PROVISIONAL referees will take the 2023-24 Form “C” exam (on recertification year) and make a minimum grade of 70 to pass. 

All REGIONAL referees are required to take Form “A” exam (on recertification year) and make a minimum score of 84.  Both of these tests (C & A) will be administered online and not on paper.  Be prepared to take your test when you attend a clinic, so please bring your computer, tablet or cell phone. 

REGIONAL REFEREE REQUIREMENT: (NEW IN 2023-24) For anyone moving up to Regional Referee, you “must” also obtain a Provisional SCORER certification.

1. If you are a prior Regional referee, you “must” obtain a Provisional SCORER certification at the latest during the season of your re-certification.
2. Regional Referees will not have to continue a scorer’s certification after the first two seasons unless you desire. However, you will be required to send 2 completed score sheets (from a live match) to the referee chair during the season of your re-certification.

For all NATIONAL LEVEL referees, your requirements are to complete the on-line national-level USAV rules exam, complete up to 100% and look to the Officials Resource page for exam deadlines.

During each certification term you must attend three national championship events. At least two events must be a national championship (Girls 18s Junior National Championship, Girls Junior National Championship, Boys Junior National Championship, Open National Championship [Junior National referees are only accepted to the Open National Championship if there are not enough National referees registered for the event]).

1. Can attend three national championships
2. Can attend one qualifier and two national championships

A USAV National referee encountering unusual difficulty in meeting the attendance requirements must request a sabbatical. Officials wanting to take a sabbatical must notify their region and follow all region requirements regarding in good standing. They must also submit the USAV National Sabbatical Form.

A USAV background check is required for all officials that work with juniors. In addition to your membership fee ($50) this season, your background check ($14) will be added as it is now required to be accomplished each season.

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, you will take the SafeSport Core course your first year. Year 2 – Refresher 1, Year 3 – Refresher 2, Year 4 – Refresher 3, and Year 5 you will restart with the Core course. There is no charge for any SafeSport course.

How to Complete My SafeSport Certification From My SportsEngine Account

If you do not have a membership, you will not see this option.

1. Login at My.SportsEngine.com
2. On the left-hand side of the page, click the Household tab.
3. Select the user profile that will be completing their SafeSport certification.
4. On the right side of the page, under the membership, click View Details. 
5. Click on the name of the membership.
6. Next to SafeSport Certification, click Complete Certification/Training.
   • NOTE: SafeSport certification button will read based upon the actual credential needed (ex. Complete Core Training)
7. Complete the needed SafeSport Certification.

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 Sports Engine database file, so please print out a copy of your certification and keep it on hand in case it is needed.  SafeSport certification is required to be renewed every season.  

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:
2022 Summary Comparison –NCAA/USAV/NFHS and 
USAV Casebook before the 2023-2024 season begins.