Refereeing

Volleyball England Referee Structure

Philosophy Of Refereeing lies in the concept of fairness and consistency:
to be fair to all participants
to be viewed as fair by the spectators
For further details, see the Volleyball England Referee information at:
http://www.volleyballengland.org/Refereeing/index.php

Rules of the game are available from the FIVB web pages at:
(Volleyball)
http://www.fivb.org/EN/Volleyball/Rules/Rules.htm (Beach Volleyball)

http://cms.volleyballengland.org/modules/core/assets/assetAccess.php?VmtkMFUyRnRWbkpPVkU1UlZrUkJPUT09 (World Organisation Volleyball for Disabled (Standing))
http://cms.volleyballengland.org/modules/core/assets/assetAccess.php?VmtkMFUxVnJNSGROVkU1UlZrUkJPUT09 (World Organisation Volleyball for Disabled (Sitting))
Registration is encouraged for all qualified referees. For the 2009-2010 season, see:
http://www.volleyballengland.org/Membership/How_to_Join.php
For any queries regarding registration, please contact the Volleyball England Membership Officer, Richard Belton r.belton@volleyballengland.org or 01509 227722
Referee Code of Conduct is available at:
http://www.volleyballengland.org/Refereeing/Referee-Services/referee-code-of-conduct.php
Administration and assessment of Referees is controlled by the Volleyball England Referee Commission, which supports the appointment of Regional Official‘s Secretaries to arrange courses and promote refereeing on a local basis. The Referee Commission also allocates National Volleyball League (NVL) matches to officials and, through Staff Officials, performs development and grading of officials.

Referee Training


Referee training is managed on behalf of the Volleyball England Referee Commission, through the following:
Training Director – Responsible for overall management, direction and policy for Referee Training.
NVL Assessment Co-ordinator – Responsible for the Referee Assessors and collation of NVL Referee
assessment reports from staff and senior Referees.
National Training Co-ordinator – Responsible for supervising the regional Training Co-ordinators. Also responsible for ensuring the provision of clearly defined continuity of education and training, from initial qualification through to senior levels. The National Training Co-ordinator (Stewart Dunne) welcomes contact from anyone interested in further details about any matters related to Referee Training, both nationally and in the South West.
Regional Training Co-ordinator – Responsible for ensuring that consistent strategies and best practice for Referee training are applied across their region (North, Midlands and South).
If you would like organise a Grade 4 course in your area, or want to request an assessment for Grade 3R, contact either the Referee Development Commissioner, Diane Hollows dihollows.volley@btinternet.com
or the Staff Commissioner: Denis Le Breuilly dleb@psilink.co.uk
or the regional ‗focal point‘ for referee development and support in the SWVA area Andy Worrall
andy@worralls.info
If you are looking for a Grade 4 referee course, available courses are detailed at:
http://www.volleyballengland.org/Volleyball_Search.php

Referee Grading Structure:
INDOOR GRADES – for more details, see: http://www.volleyballengland.org/Refereeing/So-you-want-to-become-a-referee/index.php

  • GRADE 4
  • GRADE 3R (Regional – the basic grade of practical refereeing)
  • GRADE 3N (National – the basic grade for Referees appointed to the NVL panel)
  • GRADE 2
  • GRADE 1
  • NATIONAL REFEREE
  • INTERNATIONAL REFEREE

BEACH GRADES – for more details, see: http://www.volleyballengland.org/Refereeing/Beach-Volleyball/grading-structure.php

  • GRADE 4 BEACH
  • GRADE 3R Beach (Regional – the basic grade of practical refereeing)
  • GRADE 3 VEBT
  • GRADE 2 BEACH
  • GRADE 1 BEACH
  • NATIONAL BEACH REFEREE
  • INTERNATIONAL BEACH REFEREE

Referee Registration and Monitoring
To help with the maintenance of accurate records of activity and ensure that matches can be allocated efficiently, all qualified Referees are encouraged to register with the English Volleyball Association annually – (see: http://www.volleyballengland.org/Refereeing/Referee_Services.php for further details). In return for registration, Referees will receive regular newsletters and are kept up-to-date with rule changes and other developments. Registered officials also receive a licence/activity card, information on courses and training opportunities and consideration for appointments to NVL matches; they are also covered by a non-contributory insurance scheme.
Referees for the higher divisions of National League are appointed directly by Referee Commission; any Referee wishing to be considered for such games should contact the Commission before the end of April for matches during the following season.

All Referees on the NVL panel may be assessed at any time; Referees at Grade 2 and above may be required to attend special clinics biennially, and may also be required to pass a written examination. Volleyball England officials are expected to abide strictly to the relevant Code of Conduct.

Accelerated Promotion Scheme


By special application, a player (or coach) with significant experience of National League Volleyball may be considered for accelerated training; in such cases it may be possible to attend only one day of the Grade 4 Course, in order to sit the theory examination. It may also be possible to shorten the normal period of qualification for Grades 3R, 3N, 2 and 1 – although it should be noted that the same standards of competence, and the same pass marks, will be required. For further details please contact the National Training Co-ordinator.

South West Referee Buddy Scheme


Buddying (or ‗mentoring‘) is an integral process used worldwide, where one person helps another to grow and develop new skills and attitudes. The SWVA intends to offer any registered Referee a buddy or ‘helpful friend’ to provide whatever assistance they require with their personal development as Referees. The buddy will be a qualified Referee who will have more practical experience and, ideally, be of a higher grade. The intention is that the buddy would make occasional contact and be available to answer questions on the laws of the game and also, more helpfully, to talk through incidents and strange game situations. In some instances it is hoped the improving Referee will be seen by the buddy or may Referee with them. The idea is in embryonic form and will he modified to suit those who indicate a desire to be involved.

There are four key categories that encapsulate the roles a buddy will perform, as follows:

  • – Coach (e.g. by showing how to do a task or activity)
  • – Counsellor (e.g. by helping the learner to explore the consequences of potential decisions)
  • – Networking (e.g. by referring the learner to others when the buddies experience is insufficient)
  • – Facilitator (e.g. by creating opportunities for learners to develop and use new skills)

Anyone interested in either being a buddy, or in being assigned a buddy to improve their skills as a Referee, should contact Andrew Potter

The SWVA intends to maintain an up-to-date register of active (qualified) but not Volleyball England registered referees in the South West region. Any referees that would like to be included in this list or anyone who notices any errors in the information provided should send their details to Andrew Potter.