Indoor referees are the ones calling the shots during a volleyball match. They enforce the rules, initiate play, and ensure safety of all participants. Being an indoor referee requires long periods of alertness and focus, swift judgement, and a decisive nature. As a referee, you allow thousands to participate in the sport we all love. Without you, there is no volleyball.
Applications
- Register for Junior National Candidate Program
- 2024 Junior National Referee Candidate Instructions (PDF)
- 2024 Junior National Referee Candidate App Form (PDF)
- List of Critical Errors (PDF)
- 2024 Junior National Referee Candidate Refereeing Activity (.xls)
- 2024 Junior National Referee Candidate Refereeing Activity Sample (PDF)
- Candidate Camper Housing Information (PDF)
- Regional Referee Camp for Prospective 2025 Junior National Referee Candidates (PDF)
- Register for National Referee Candidate Program
- 2024 National Ref Candidate Instructions (PDF)
- 2024 National Ref Candidate App Form (PDF)
- 2024 National Referee Candidate Refereeing Activity (.xls)
- 2023 National Referee Candidate Refereeing Activity Sample (PDF)
- 2024 National Ref Candidate Recommendation Form (PDF)
- 2024 National Ref Recommendation Signees (PDF)
- List of Critical Errors (PDF)
Please contact Director of Officials at officials@usav.org with your interest in the International Referee Pipeline
Reminder if you are living in the United States you will need to register through your USAV region. Contact your region regarding how to become a member of USA Volleyball. If you do not know what region your US address resides in, please contact us at officials@usav.org.
Please follow the instructions below to become a Foreign Guest Official.
You will need to:
- Your Home Federation must send confirmation that you are a member in good standing to officials@usav.org. The membership will show a disqualification review until this is received. Once proof is received and all other membership requirements are complete, the disqualification will be updated as the last step of the membership.
- Complete Foreign Guest Official Registration.
- Complete USA Volleyball Acknowledgement/Use Agreement for Foreign Participants.
- Complete USA Volleyball Code of Conduct.
- Complete USA Volleyball Waiver and Release of Liability.
- Complete your Background Screen – mandatory prior to first match.
- If you are from Puerto Rico/U.S. Territory – When in Residence History if you have lived outside of the United States for six consecutive months in any one country during the past seven years – Select NO – and Continue.
- If you are from any other country, answer the question as stated.
- Under USA Volleyball Region, select USAV Admin and then select Referee.
- Complete your SafeSport Training – Mandatory prior to first match.
We are appreciative of your service to USA Volleyball and our regions.
Stay safe and well, we look forward to seeing you, if you have any questions, please contact Pati Rolf at 262.510.6771 or officials@usav.org.
- RISE Program Overview (PDF)
- RISE Recommendation Form (PDF)
- RISE Re-Evaluation Form (PDF)
RISE Candidate Program
- RISE Candidate Acceptance Letter (PDF)
- RISE Candidate Program Registration (invitation only)
RISE Expired or Retired Candidate Program
- RISE Expired or Retired Candidate Acceptance Letter (PDF)
- RISE Expired or Retired Candidate Program Registration
RISE Foreign National and International Candidate Program
- RISE Foreign National and International Candidate Acceptance Letter (PDF)
- RISE Foreign National and International Reciprocity Candidate Program Registration
RISE PAVO National Candidate Program
- RISE PAVO National Candidate Acceptance Letter (PDF)
- RISA PAVO National Reciprocity Candidate Program Registration
RISE Re-Evaluation
Important Materials for Indoor Referees
- 2024 Uniform Guidelines (PDF)
Approved Vendors of Apparel for Officials
- March 13, 2024 Officials Update (PDF)
- Important USA Volleyball Rules Interpretation Update (PDF)
- February 26, 2024 Officials Update (PDF)
- February 2024 Officials Update (PDF)
- January 2024 Officials Update (PDF)
- Reminders for USA Volleyball Officials (PDF)
- December Officials Update From USA Volleyball (PDF)
- 11/22/2023 November 2023-24 Preseason Letter (PDF)
- 10/20/2023 October Officials Update (PDF)
- 1/12/2023 Updated National Officials Coursework Deadline (PDF)
- 1/11/2023 National Officials Requirements Deadline (PDF)
- 11/23/2022 2022-2023 Preseason Letter (PDF)
Sabbatical
A USAV Junior National/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 remaining in good standing.
- They must also submit the USAV National Sabbatical Form.
Retirement
- Any USAV Junior National/National referee in good standing, with at least one (1) certification term as a USAV Junior National/National referee, may retire by submitting the retirement form.
- To continue working as a referee with USAV, a USAV Junior National/National referee (retired) must register annually with USA Volleyball and the appropriate RVA and remain an active referee 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 referee within that RVA.
- If a USAV Junior National/National referee (retired) does not wish to work as a referee with USAV, they are not required to remain in good standing within the RVA. The referee will not be allowed to referee at any USAV event, but they will retain their Junior National/National referee (retired) status.
Indoor Refereeing Certifications and Requirements
The entry-level professional referee certification is awarded by a region. Please contact your region’s officials chair.
The second level professional referee certification is awarded by a region. Please contact your region’s officials chair.
Certification and Application Requirements
Please go to the USAV Officials Indoor Referees Hub for all application information. File the official application for the current season.
Responsibilities and Opportunities
- After USA Volleyball Junior National referee certification, you will be able to wear the official USA Volleyball Junior National referee patch while officiating at USA Volleyball-sanctioned events.
- A USA Volleyball Junior National referee is qualified to officiate all USA Volleyball-sanctioned competition within any of the USA Volleyball regions, including qualifiers and nid competitions, and is qualified to officiate at the USA Junior National Championships and the USA Volleyball Open Championship.
- Certification as a USA Volleyball Junior National referee is valid for a period of five (5) years. To maintain certification, the referee must complete the following:
Annual Requirements
- Register as a member of a USA Volleyball region and remain an active referee with his/her RVA.
- Have a current background screening on file with USA Volleyball.
- Have a current Safe Sport training on file with USA Volleyball.
- Remit annual dues and national-level clinic fee. Look to the Officials Indoor Referees Hub for deadlines
- Complete the USA Volleyball Junior National Training
- Complete the online national-level USA Volleyball rules exam.
- Must be taken online
- Must be completed up to 100% and is open book.
- Look to the Officials Resource page for deadlines.
- Complete the USA Volleyball Officials Academy Online Courses. Look to the Officials Indoor Referee Hub for deadlines.
Attendance Requirements
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]).
- Can attend three national championships
- Can attend one qualifier and two national championships.
A USAV Junior 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 remaining in good standing. They must also submit the USAV National Sabbatical Form.
A USAV Junior National referee with less than one (1) certification term as a Junior National referee who allows that certification to expire, may file for the RISE Expired or Retired Program.
The referee will need to send an email to their region to be recommended to the RISE Expired or Retired Program.
Repercussions for not fulfilling requirements
- Membership Requirements
- If membership, Safe Sport, background screen, and national officials dues are not completed by the deadline, your Junior National certification may be suspended.
- Junior National Training USAV Officials Academy clinics
- If the coursework is not completed, you will not be able to attend any qualifiers or national championships.
- Attendance requirements
- A USA Volleyball Junior National referee who does not attend the required tournaments during any certification period and does not ask for the one-year sabbatical of certification, will be placed on a one-year probation period.
- In the year following probation, if the referee does not attend a required tournament, the USA Volleyball Junior National certification will be suspended.
- In the year following probation, if the referee attends a required tournament, a one-year certification extension will be granted. If the referee attends a required tournament in the second year following the probation, a new five (5) year certification period is awarded.
- A USA Volleyball Junior National referee who does not attend the required tournaments during any certification period and does not ask for the one-year sabbatical of certification, will be placed on a one-year probation period.
- Re-evaluation
- A USAV Junior National referee will be formally evaluated as both a first and second referee at least ONCE in each certification term.
- The referee coach will conduct a formal debriefing as soon as possible depending on the availability of the referee and coach.
- Must achieve passing evaluation as first and second referee.
- If a passing evaluation is not achieved on the first evaluation as first or second referee, the referee will receive another evaluation in the position(s) where previously unsuccessful.
- The second evaluation may occur at the same event or at the next event attended by the referee where the referee coaching team is active.
- If a passing score is not achieved on the second evaluation
- The referee will have the opportunity to attend the RISE Expired or Retired certification program the following season.
- If the referee does not successfully complete the RISE Expired or Retired certification process the following season:
- The Junior National referee can opt to continue officiating as a Regional referee at the region’s discretion.
- The referee has the option to retire if they have one (1) term as a USAV Junior National referee and is otherwise in good standing. They can also maintain their regional certification with retired Junior National status.
- A USAV Junior National referee will be formally evaluated as both a first and second referee at least ONCE in each certification term.
Certification and Application Requirements
Please go to the USAV Officials Indoor Referees Hub for all application information. File the official application for the current season.
Responsibilities and Opportunities
- After USA Volleyball National referee certification, you will be able to wear the official USA Volleyball National referee patch while officiating at USA Volleyball-sanctioned events.
- A USA Volleyball National referee is qualified to officiate USA Volleyball-sanctioned competition within all USAV regions and is qualified to officiate at the USAV Boys and Girls Junior National Championships and the USA Volleyball Open Championship.
- Certification as a USA Volleyball National referee is valid for a period of five (5) years. To maintain certification, the referee must complete the following:
Annual Requirements
- Register as a member of a USA Volleyball region and remain an active referee with his/her RVA.
- Have a current background screening on file with USA Volleyball.
- Have a current Safe Sport training on file with USA Volleyball.
- Remit annual dues and national-level clinic fee. Look to the Officials Indoor Referees Hub for deadlines.
- Complete the USA Volleyball National Referee Training
- Complete the online USA Volleyball rules exam.
- Must be taken online
- Must be completed up to 100% and is open book.
- Look to the Officials Resource page for deadlines.
- Complete the USA Volleyball Officials Academy Online Courses. Look to the Officials Indoor Referees Hub for deadlines.
Attendance requirements
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).
- Can attend three national championships
- 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 National referee with less than one (1) certification term as a National Referee who allows that certification to expire may file for the RISE Expired or Retired Program.
The referee will need to send an email to their region to be recommended to the RISE Expired or Retired Program.
Repercussions for not fulfilling requirements
- Membership Requirements
- If Membership, Safe Sport, background screen, and national officials dues are not completed by the deadline, your National certification may be suspended.
- National Referee Training and USAV Officials Academy clinics
- If the coursework is not completed, you will not be able to attend any qualifiers or national championship.
- Attendance requirements
- A USA Volleyball National referee who does not attend the required tournaments during any certification period and does not ask for the one-year sabbatical of certification, will be placed on a one-year probation period.
- In the year following probation, if the referee does not attend a required tournament, the USA Volleyball National certification will be suspended.
- In the year following probation, if the referee attends a required tournament, a one-year certification extension will be granted. If the referee attends a required tournament in the second year following the probation, a new five (5) year certification period is awarded.
- A USA Volleyball National referee who does not attend the required tournaments during any certification period and does not ask for the one-year sabbatical of certification, will be placed on a one-year probation period.
- Re-evaluation
- A USAV National referee will be formally evaluated as both a first and second referee at least ONCE in each certification term
- The referee coach will conduct a formal debriefing as soon as possible depending on the availability of the referee and coach.
- Must achieve passing evaluation as first and second referee.
- If a passing evaluation is not achieved on the first evaluation as first or second referee, the referee will receive another evaluation in the position(s) where previously unsuccessful.
- The second evaluation may occur at the same event or at the next event attended by the referee where the referee coaching team is active.
- If a passing score is not achieved on the second evaluation
- The referee will have the opportunity to attend the RISE Expired or Retired certification program the following season.
- If the referee does not successfully complete the RISE Expired or Retired certification process the following season:
- The National referee can opt to continue officiating as a Junior National referee at the discretion of the Officials Development Team, or as a Regional referee at the region’s discretion.
- The referee has the option to retire if they have one (1) term as a USAV National referee and is otherwise in good standing. They can also maintain their regional certification with retired National status.
- A USAV National referee will be formally evaluated as both a first and second referee at least ONCE in each certification term
- Any USAV Junior National referee in good standing, with at least one (1) certification term as a USAV Junior National referee, may retire by submitting the retirement form.
- To continue working as a referee with USAV, a USAV Junior National referee (retired) must register annually with USA Volleyball and the appropriate RVA and remain an active referee 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 referee within that RVA.
- If a USAV Junior National referee (retired) does not wish to work as a referee with USAV, they are not required to remain in good standing within the RVA. The referee will not be allowed to referee at any USAV event, but they will retain their Junior National referee (retired) status.
- A USAV Junior National referee (retired) is authorized to wear the USAV Junior National referee patch while officiating at USAV-sanctioned events.
- A USAV Junior National referee (retired) is authorized to officiate all USAV-sanctioned regional and inter-regional competition, including bid and qualifier tournaments.
- A USAV Junior National referee (retired) may register to officiate USAV JNCs only when recommended by the region referee chair.
- Regions may only recommend referees when requested by the Officials Development Department.
- A USAV Junior National referee (retired) may be periodically requested to submit to re-evaluation by the National Office for Junior National Referee Evaluation and Certification.
- A USAV Junior National referee (retired) may file for the RISE Expired or Retired Program
- Referee will need to send email to their region to be recommended to the RISE Expired or Retired Program.
- Any USAV National referee in good standing, with at least one (1) certification term as a USAV National referee, may retire by submitting the retirement form.
- To continue working as a referee with USAV, a USAV National referee (retired) must register annually with USA Volleyball and the appropriate RVA and remain an active referee 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 referee within that RVA.
- If a USAV National referee (retired) does not wish to work as a referee with USAV, they are not required to remain in good standing within the RVA. The referee will not be allowed to referee at any USAV event, but they will retain their National referee (retired) status.
- A USAV National referee (retired) is authorized to wear the USAV National referee patch while officiating at USAV sanctioned events.
- A USAV National referee (retired) is authorized to officiate all USAV-sanctioned regional and inter-regional competition, including bid and qualifier tournaments.
- A USAV National referee (retired) may register to officiate USAV JNCs only when recommended by the region referee chair.
- Regions may only recommend referees when requested by the Officials Development Department.
- A USAV National referee (retired) may be periodically requested to submit to re-evaluation by the National Office for National Referee Evaluation and Certification.
- A USAV National referee (retired) may file for the RISE Expired or Retired Program
- Referee will need to send email to their Region to be recommended to the RISE Expired or Retired Program.
To become an International referee, the referee must:
- Be a currently certified USA National referee and have held that certification for no less than three consecutive years.
- Be currently in good standing with the appropriate Regional Volleyball Association as well as with the National Officials Office.
- If interested, please contact Director of Officials at officials@usav.org with your interest in the International Referee pipeline.
Professional Referee Education
The following topics and subjects are courses found in USA Volleyball’s Officials Education at the USA Volleyball Academy.
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 Referee Education Courses
- Critical Rules and Interpretations
- Points of Emphasis for Recertifying Referees
- Uniform Requirements and Reminders
- Approved Uniform Vendors
While competing in tournaments, junior athletes are also expected to assist professional referees with officiating duties for certain matches. Below is a list of training courses junior athletes may compete in the USA Volleyball Academy.
- Line Judge Essentials
- Junior Second Referee
- Junior Signals
- Junior First Referee
- Libero Control
- Scoring Basics: Non-Deciding Set
- Scoring: Deciding Set
- Basic Scoring Example: Non-Deciding Set
- Basic Scoring Example: Deciding Set
- Coaching’s Role in Officiating
- Official Uniform and Equipment
- Ground Rules
- Pre-match Preparation and Post-match Debrief
- Signals
- Introduction to First Referee Responsibilities
- Net and Center Line Rules
- Net Play
- Libero Rules
- Introduction to Sanctions
- Introduction to Second Referee Responsibilities
- Timeouts and Substitutions
- Taking Care of Business
- Sport Court Rules
- Officiating U14s
- Protests
- Preventative Officiating
- Second Referee Transition and Positioning
- Second Referee Progressions
- Second Referee Transition Analysis
- The Art of Assessing Sanctions
- Handling Injury Situations
- Ball Handling Best Practices
- Net Fault Awareness
- Center Line Fault Awareness
- Best Practices for Making Good Judgement Calls on Center Line Plays
- What Would You Do 2017?
- Getting Rated
- Health and Well-Being
- Professionalism I
- Professionalism II
- Officiating: Art or Science?
- Working with Arbitrators
- Effective Evaluation
- Refereeing Sitting Volleyball
- Referee Platform Requirements
Opportunities to Officiate
Looking to officiate in qualifiers and national championships? More information about how to register for these types of events may be found on the Opportunities to Officiate page.
Register for Qualifiers and National Championships
SafeSport
With safety being the top priority, USA Volleyball is proud to team with the U.S. Center for SafeSport to Protect our members.