Rules

The OHSBVA is a self-governing association and follows OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) rules and procedures unless exceptions are made by member schools/coaches. A number of such exceptions to NFHS/OHSAA have been adopted over the years, which requires our association to publish a unique rule set. The format of the Rules/Case Book matches the basic design of what NFHS publishes annually.

In order to improve officiating, the OHSBVA created a certification program starting with the 2009 season to try to ensure that officials were properly trained and well-versed in OHSBVA rules and rule exceptions. The certification program has continued and, for the 2013 season, ALL officials must be OHSBVA-certified or actively engaged in becoming certified to referee any matches.

The requirements to become an OHSBVA-certified referee differ for new officials than for returning officials. Anyone who was not OHSBVA-certified for 2012 is considered a new official other than those who are returning after one or two years. Both returning and new officials must:

Attend an annual rules interpretations meeting. For 2013, officials must attend a regional rules meeting and one additional training session through the region's volleyball officials association.
- View the OHSBVA Rules Interpretation Powerpoint with Notes
  OHSBVA Rules Interpretation - PowerPoint (Download the FREE PowerPoint Viewer)
  Notes
Complete a demographic information form to ensure contact information is current and/or update any changes online, especially contact information such as email address. Each year, the OHSBVA is unable to contact some officials because they didn't update their email address online and/or notify their association or the State Officials' Coordinator to ensure the new contact information is recorded. This form also provides space for new officials to share their high school, USA Volleyball, and/or NCAA/PAVO officiating certifications/credentials. No one without a current volleyball certification may referee an OHSBVA match without express exemption by the OHSBVA based on special circumstances. Current referees (defined as those who were OHSBVA-certified for the 2012 season) do NOT have to update their demographic information UNLESS their contact information has changed.
Pay $20 administrative fee (check payable to "OHSBVA"). Our preference is that you pay the administrative fee online using PayPal. You will need to sign in, using the email address you provided, and go to your online personal page to pay this way. If you do pay at the local meetings, your Regional Officials' Coordinator will ensure the checks are properly processed and sent to OHSBVA.

To become OHSBVA-certified, a referee who has never been OHSBVA-certified or one who has not been certified for the past two season must also:

Pass a rules test (through identified Regional Officials' Coordinator) with a score of at least 70%.
After passing the rules test, be observed and pass two observations as R1 and two observations as R2 conducted by approved, high-ranking referee assigned by either the Regional Officials' Coordinator or the regional volleyball officials association observation coordinator. The second observation must be done by a different approved referee.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Becoming an OHSBVA-Certified Referee for 2013 shares detailed information regarding certification, testing, observations, and how to be assigned matches.
Official's Registration Form allows new officials to provide the OHSBVA with their demographic/contact information and officiating credentials. The form is to be submitted initially. When there are changes, officials should go online to update their information to ensure the OHSBVA has the correct information for each referee.
Official's Evaluation Form is important for new officials to review. Review this form before being observed to see the general categories used for consistent observations. The intent is to ensure that referees understand what is required to effectively administer an OHSBVA match at an acceptable skill level, using proper techniques and reasonable judgments.
What Coaches Would Like Referees to Do and Not Do and What Referees Would Like Coaches to Do and Not Do both contain interesting approaches to what coaches would like to say to officials and what officials would like to communicate in return to coaches, candidly addressing issues. These are reasonable expectations for coaches to have of referees and, correspondingly, appropriate expectations referees to have of coaches. Together, they serve to promote the improvement of Ohio boys' high school volleyball as they relate to the success of matches through setting standards of professionalism.

PREPARING FOR THE SEASON AND FOR PASSING A RULES TEST

Getting Ready for 2013 is the PowerPoint Presentation to guide consistent discussion topics at our rules interpretation meetings. Each bullet on each "slide" has a comment in the notes section.

RULES AND RULE INTERPRETATION AND COMPARISONS DOCUMENTS

To download any of the documents listed below, click on the document's name:

OHSBVA Volleyball Rules and Case Book 2013 is the key rules document that parallels the NFHS Volleyball Rules Book and parallels the Case Book situations section of the NFHS Case Book and Manual. It contains situations with ruling and comments that reflect OHSBVA’s approach which in most cases is the same as NFHS/OHSAA but in some cases is very different. In this document, the OHSBVA rules exceptions are shown in red. This document combines the previous years' Rules Book and Case Book.
OHSBVA Rules Exceptions lists each current OHSBVA rule exception and explains how OHSBVA wants the rule to be interpreted.
Frequently Asked Questions captures a number of OHSBVA differences with a list of common questions and answers that reflect the different approach taken by OHSBVA.
Full Rules Comparison: PAVO/NCAA versus USA Volleyball versus NFHS/OHSAA captures the differences between OHSBVA compared with OHSAA/NFHS rules and also compared with NCAA and USA Volleyball rules. PAVO (the Professional Association of Volleyball Officials) publishes a similar document (without OHSBVA rules) to show important rule and technique differences. The last column shows OHSBVA rule differences from NFHS/OHSAA in red.
Short Rules Comparison: OHSBVA Differences captures the differences between OHSBVA rules and NFHS/OHSAA rules and also compares these rules to NCAA and USA Volleyball rules. The document contains commentary on OHSBVA differences in a way that will benefit a USAV or PAVO official looking to officiate under OHSBVA if the official does not also officiate under NFHS/OHSAA girls' high school volleyball rules.
OHSBVA Points of Emphasis for 2013 covers key points of emphasis including libero replacements made in conjunction with substitutions, what assistant coaches are and are not allowed to do; coach behavior and screening.

BALL HANDLING

Ball Handling 2013 captures expectations OHSBVA has of referees in terms of approaches to calling ball handling and, with the document entitled “Establishing Standards for Calling Hands”, provides substantive guidance. Want a handle on coaches' expectations for the most challenging component of most matches? Read these documents.
Ball Handling 2013 Points of Emphasis discusses the basic points of emphasis the NFHS offered to its officials for 2012-13.
Establishing Standards for Calling Hands addresses in detail the greatest controversy that occurs in most matches, namely ball-handling judgments. This document focuses on setting a level that allows teams to play and calling what has to be called, leading to improved consistency. This document offers guidance from experts on how to achieve that elusive consistency while calling the game in a way that conforms to the skills that coaches teach their players.

TECHNIQUES

Techniques, Mechanics & Procedures for Match Administration 2013 Season walks referees through an extensive series of procedures and shows the preferred handling of each by NFHS/OHSAA plus any differences for OHSBVA.
OHSBVA Techniques details techniques that OHSBVA believes have value and have proven successful and are considered professional in other rule sets.
Signaling Player Numbers for OHSBVA Matches for 2013 is a chart showing how each number should be signaled.
How to Signal Player Numbers for OHSBVA Matches shows the justification for the Signaling Player Numbers chart and provides additional details.

SUPPORT TABLE GUIDES are not only intended for our support crews. They are also available to educate referees ion basics of scoring, libero tracking, and line judge functions.

OHSBVA is endorsing VolleyWrite scorekeeping software program. WildfireSports is offering a free one-season copy to all OHSBVA teams.
In an effort to assist the OHSBVA officials, scorers, and coaches, follow this link to the training page for VolleyWrite.
Scorer Sample Set walks the official scorer through a sample set, showing all the appropriate markings on the scoresheet that match set action.
Scorer Guidelines is a simple 2-page summary of official scorer responsibilities and offers a great approach for ensuring scorers understand their duties and the partnering relationship with the libero tracker.
Libero Tracker Guidelines is a simple 2-page summary of libero tracker responsibilities and offers a great approach for ensuring LTs understand their duties including partnership with the official scorer.
Line Judge Guidelines is a 2-page summary of LJ responsibilities and is a great document to give to LJs to further their understanding of what is needed from them to contribute to the match.

R1/R2 PARTNERING

Acceptable Professional Garb/Equipment catalogs key information to prepare for the 2013 season, using a document prepared initially by the NFHS but tailoring it to reflect OHSBVA priorities.
Informational Tidbits is a key quick review of the basic rules that apply to OSHBVA matches and serves as a refresher, reminder, and instructional guide.
Pre-Match Agenda Task List is a simple yet comprehensive checklist that addresses what officials need to remember before each match.
Pre-Match Discussion Checklist nails what officials need to discuss with each other before a match. Failure to come to understandings regarding some of the suggested topics may result in problems that could be avoided.
The Value of Partnering is an instructional guide for covering the key elements of effective partnering, from match arrival through pre-match preparation through scanning and providing informal signals, centering and serving/protecting, constructive interactions with coaches, and what it takes to provide effective match facilitation.

R1 Rating form and R2 Rating form are intended to capture the basics of what coaches are looking for in matches as points of emphasis in rating referees.

COMPLAINTS

Incident Report Form may be used by officials, coaches, and athletic directors to document an unusual situation, typically marked by questioned behavior. Disqualification of a coach requires the filing of this report to start a review process.
OBSVCA/OHSBVA Complaint Resolution Process describes the review process that looks at questioned behavior and addresses formal filed complaints.

LIBERO-RELATED DOCUMENTS

Libero Serving is a PowerPoint training document for coaches/schools to help show how the libero moves from an on-court or off-court position to serve, what the scorer and libero tracker have to do to track the libero serving, and what the libero tracker has to do in terms of charting and the libero’s movement onto and off of the court.

LINEUP SHEETS