All Keystone Region Officials must be members of USA Volleyball through the Region, and for those 16 years old or older, must successfully pass a background screen administered during the registration process. Failure to do so will prohibit Officials from working junior tournaments. All Keystone Region Officials must agree to abide by the Keystone Region Code of Conduct.

Overview

Provisional official certification is an entry-level USA Volleyball certification for officials. A Provisional Referee has demonstrated and successfully applied volleyball rules and refereeing mechanics. This is a developmental level but can be permanent if an individual is unable to advance further or does not desire to advance further. Provisional Referees are assigned to matches appropriate to their skill level. This certification is awarded to a person who has met the minimum standards, as well as the following:

  • Proper professional demeanor and skill as a first official
    Second official: Exhibits basic understanding of responsibilities and performs common duties efficiently
  • Expanded rules knowledge including back-row player identification
  • Basic awareness of net and centerline violations
  • Aware of basic alignment and overlap issues
  • Ability to start and stop play with correct whistle usage
  • Use of recognizable signals
  • Basic awareness of ball handling and use of whistle for throws and doubles
  • Handling of basic match administration
  • Fully understands and applies individual sanctions; shows a basic understanding of delay sanctions
  • Proficient with scoring and Libero tracking systems
  • Demonstrates reasonable match control for 16-, 17- and 18- American or Club competition

To Become Certified

  • Be a current member in good standing within the Keystone Region/USAV.
  • Have a current background screening performed by the company contracted by USA Volleyball.
  • Complete SafeSport Course
  • Request to be considered as a Provisional Referee Candidate by contacting Dave Jones krvaofficials@gmail.com.
  • Complete the online recertification clinic in the USAV Academy.
  • Take the USAV rules test online.
  • Work with mentors and experienced officials to prepare. You can ask to be observed to assist you in preparing for an upgrade in certification
  • Pass 2 separate evaluations, as both a first and second official
  • Demonstrate the ability to officiate at the Provisional Referee level as a first and second referee. 

The successful Provisional candidate will:

  • Proper professional demeanor and skill as a first official
  • Second official: Exhibits basic understanding of responsibilities and performs common duties efficiently
  • Expanded rules knowledge including back-row player identification
  • Basic awareness of net and centerline violations
  • Aware of basic alignment and overlap issues
  • Ability to start and stop play with correct whistle usage
  • Use of recognizable signals
  • Basic awareness of ball handling and use of whistle for throws and doubles
  • Handling of basic match administration
  • Fully understands and applies individual sanctions; shows a basic understanding of delay sanctions
  • Proficient with scoring and Libero tracking systems
  • Demonstrates reasonable match control for 16-, 17- and 18- American or Club competition

To Become Re-Certified

  • Be a current member in good standing within the Keystone Region/USAV.
  • Have a current background screening. screening performed by the company contracted by USA Volleyball.
  • Complete the SafeSport course
  • Watch the online recertification clinic found in the USAV Academy each year. 
  • Pass on-court evaluation every year.

Responsibilities & Entitlements

  • The Provisional Referee will be entitled to wear the official Provisional patch and approved official’s uniform while officiating.
  • The Provisional Referee shall have the opportunity to work assignments for sanctioned and other approved volleyball competitions within the New England Region from regionally designated assignor(s).
  • A Provisional Referee may elect to become a candidate for Regional Referee upon completion of 2 season as a Provisional Referee or by recommendation by a USAV National or Junior National referee and approval by the Official’s Development Team. The Provisional rating may be retained indefinitely provided all re-certification requirements are met.
  • A Provisional Referee is authorized to officiate any USA Volleyball-sanctioned competition, including Junior Volleyball competition within the Region where certified, and in other Regions with the approval of the appropriate Regional referee chair.


A Regional official certification is the highest-level USA Volleyball certification the Keystone Region can award to an official. This certification is awarded to a person who has held a Provisional certification for at least 2 season and who has met the minimum standards for Provisional officials. A Regional Referee must have a working knowledge of volleyball rules and mechanics, have good mechanics, be familiar with the USAV scoresheet, know how to transition to the R2 position, show awareness in rotational faults, and show back row awareness.

To Become Certified

A Provisional official may request to upgrade to a Regional certification by declaring his/her intention to Dave Jones krvaofficials@gmail.com.

An official may apply for this certification in the second year after receiving the Provisional certification with the approval of the Officials’ Development Team.

For you to advance to a Regional official certification, you must show a sustained quality and commitment to officiating. 

Steps to Take to Achieve Upgrade include:

  • Be a current member in good standing within the Keystone/USAV.
  • Have a current background screening performed by the company contracted by USA Volleyball. 
  • Complete the SafeSport Course
  • Send an email to  Dave Jones krvaofficials@gmail.com. expressing your interest.
  • Work with mentors and experienced officials to prepare. 
  • Get endorsement from a KRVA National or Junior National official
  • Pass 2 separate evaluations, as both a first and second official.

To Become Re-Certified

  • Be a current member in good standing within the Keystone Region/USAV.
  • Complete Online Registration
  • Have a current background screening. screening performed by the company contracted by USA Volleyball.
  • Complete the SafeSport Course
  • Watch the online recertification clinic found in the USAV Academy each year
  • Attain a minimum score of 80 percent on the approved USA Volleyball Form “A” test for referees.
  • Pass an on-court evaluation once in a tow-year cycle.

Responsibilities & Entitlements

  • After certification, the Regional Referee will be entitled to wear the official Regional patch and approved official’s uniform while officiating.
  • After certification, the Regional Referee shall have the opportunity to work assignments for sanctioned and other approved volleyball competitions within the New England Region from Regionally designated assignor(s).
  • The Regional rating may be retained indefinitely provided all re-certification requirements are met.
  • A Regional Referee is authorized to officiate any USA Volleyball-sanctioned competition, including Junior Volleyball competition within the
  • Region where certified, and in other Regions with the approval of the appropriate Regional Referee Chair.

Transferring Rating From other Regions

  • Be a current member in good standing within the Keystone Region/USAV.
  • Provide written confirmation of your current referee and scorekeeper certifications.

A Junior National/National Referee is certified to officiate any and all USA Volleyball-sanctioned junior competition in any of the 40 regions of USA Volleyball. This includes the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships and the USA Volleyball Adult Open National Championships.

Qualifications for Candidates

A Regional official may request to become a candidate for Junior National official by declaring his/her intention to Neal Kenzakowski and Glenn Reid. An official may apply for this certification in the first year after receiving a Regional official certification. Factors used to determine viable Keystone Junior National official candidates include but are not limited to professionalism, KRVA “in good standing”, exam results, and participation in KRVA-sponsored events.

KRVA offers a Referee Advancement Program for Regional officials desiring to become USAV Junior Nationals and is designed to prepare KRVA officials thoroughly and clearly for the USAV Junior National Official candidate program.

Participation does not guarantee an official will be sent on as a Junior National candidate and not participating in the program does not eliminate an official from consideration for Junior National candidacy. However, not participating is not advised as it is more difficult for the region to accurately assess the official’s level of preparedness outside of the program. 


For more information contact  Neal Kenzakowski and Glenn Reid.

To Become Re-Certified

Annual Requirements

  • Register as a member of a USA Volleyball region and remain an active referee with the Keystone Region.
  • 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.
  • Must work 2 in-region events

Attendance requirements

During each certification term you must attend as a referee without conflict 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.

Responsibilities & Entitlements

After USA Volleyball Junior Nationa/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 Junior National/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 Junio National/National referee is valid for a period of five (5) years.

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