Referee Commission

A Guide to Referee Training in Scotland

The Referees Commission conducts all referees training under the aegis of the Scottish Volleyball Association by:

• Writing the material based on the FIVB Rules of the Game
• Creating the structures, grades and levels
• Deciding on the degree of experience or qualification level required to officiate in the SVA’s various Competitions and Divisions
• Deciding who is eligible to conduct the various training schemes and the criteria for promotion within the referee career structure
• Deciding which events are suitable training vehicles for promotion / fast tracking.

The Commission will publish dates in the calendar for courses but also attempts to respond to Club requests. Fixed calendar dates allow Clubs to combine forces and share premises, thus making a course more cost effective for everyone.

Pre-Season Referee Seminar 2022

A Pre-Season Referee Seminar took place on the 29th of September 2022, discussing a variety of topics from Grade 4 and 3 courses, to scoring and rule modifications. A copy of the slides can be found here, and if you would like to watch the video, please get in contact with competitions@scottishvolleyball.org

Why attend/organise a course?

Organising or attending a refereeing course will provide

• a greater insight or new perspective into what you can do as a player or coach to enhance your own performance and to contribute to the team
• one of the  basic requirements for the functioning of any club
• personal development/learning
• increased earning potential by advancing through the grading structure
• professional and personal confidence 
• a pathway which can lead to international opportunity – our three international referees in the running for selection to represent GB at the Olympics all went through these courses

How to organise a course

To organise a course you need to (individual courses may have additional requirements):

1. contact the Referees’ Commission (either President or Member responsible) and agree two possible dates, sufficiently far ahead for tutors to be organised
2. confirm the tutor with the Referees’ Commission and the Tutor
3. book and pay for a hall (at least six hours of hall let)
4. provide required equipment; posts, net, antennae, balls, scoresheet and line judge flags
5. provide players to participate in practice games (or enough attendees that attendees can play and officiate)
6. complete this form which will allow Scottish Volleyball to advertise the course: https://forms.office.com/r/NTq2BiiwUj

Candidates attending a course must bring:

• Whistle, pen, paper
• Clothes and shoes appropriate to play volleyball matches

The theory aspect of Grade 3 and Grade 4 courses are now completed online. Candidates will be sent a link to this 10 days before the course to read the theory before attending. Candidates will than have to sit an online theory test after the practical.

Course Fees

Grade	Fee	Extra
Junior	£10.00	Referee T-Shirt
Grade 4	£25.00	Referee Cards
Grade 3	£50.00 or £45.00 for Student/Concessions	Referee Polo
Grade 2	£30.00
Grade 1	£40.00
Beach Referee Grade 4	£20.00	Referee Cap
Beach Referee Grade 3	£30.00	Referee Polo
Beach Referee Grade 2	£30.00
Beach Scoring	£5.00
Beach Linejudging	£5.00

Loss of status

Referees who have not acted as officials within a three year span may be required to attend a suitable level of course prior to being incorporated back into the list of active referees. Referees in this position should write to the President of the Referees Commission. The Commission will make a decision based on experience and activity within the three year period.

Notes about observed matches

Where a referee is under OFFICIAL observation by a Referee Assessor, the referee is permitted to take charge of a match one division higher than is normally permitted by the League Rules (see current rules of the competitions for current requirements)

Progression Timing

While there is no minimum time to be at a Grade before attempting to move higher, referees should be aware that they should develop and practice their skills in the same way that players do. The converse is also true – referees should be ambitious to progress and update their skills and rule knowledge on a regular basis. Rules become out of date after a few years. Referees who do not update run the risk of losing their current grade.