Line Judge Certification
Purpose:
- Build a database of certified line judges
- Increase knowledge and competency of line judges
- Recognize and validate line judges as professional officials
- Advocate for reasonable line judge compensation
Using the Basic Line Judge Certification Standards outlined below, PAVO Affiliated Boards have the authority to award and renew PAVO line judge certification. As part of the certification process, line judges will receive a "Certified Line Judge" patch (initial certification only), liability insurance coverage, PAVO member discounts on programming, merchandise, and access to the NCAA Central Hub. The Central Hub provides current-year rule interpretation newsletters from the NCAA Secretary-Rules Editor, messages from the National Coordinator, access to the "Ask the Judge" forum for line judges, and other important seasonal information exclusive to the NCAA Central Hub.
PAVO currently has established two progressive line judge certifications:
- Basic - qualified to officiate matches that may be adequately controlled by a competent, but inexperienced line judge.
- National - qualified to officiate any match anywhere in the United States. This rating is for the most highly skilled line judge.
Initial Line Judge Certification Requirements
Certification expires annually on June 1
- Attend an annual line judge clinic, conducted by a PAVO-approved instructor, using current PAVO training materials (LJ Manual, LJ Video, LJ Exam, LJ Best Practices). Approved PAVO instructors include PAVO State or National referees, a PAVO Nationally-certified line judge, NCAA Division I conference assignors/coordinators, and any individual who has been assigned as a line judge to an NCAA Division I Regional or Championship event in the last five years.
- Submit the following, by December 31, to the Chair of the Affiliated Board that you choose to join:
- The current-year online Line Judge Exam, corrected to 100% (corrections are submitted to your Affiliated Board Chair).
- A PAVO Line Judge Recommendation Form with three recommendation signatures from at least two separate PAVO-approved instructors. Recommendations must be based on at least one 25-point set. If one instructor serves as two of your three recommendations, they must be based on two separate matches. Recommendations may be based on observations at any women’s or men’s collegiate match, or any other PAVO, USA Volleyball, or high school match officiated by referees (both first and second) certified by PAVO or USA Volleyball within 12 months of the date of observation. Recommendation forms are included in the PAVO Line Judge Training and Certification Program Manual or can be obtained from the Forms and Applications page of the website or by direct request from the PAVO Central Office.
Renewing a Line Judge Certification
Certification expires annually on June 1
- Join a PAVO Affiliated Board as either a Referee Member (Standard membership) or a Line Judge/Scorer Member (Associate membership), including timely payment of membership dues and acknowledgement and acceptance of all PAVO membership waivers and documentation as described above.
- Attend an annual line judge clinic as described above.
- Submit the following, by December 31, to the Chair of the Affiliated Board that you choose to join:
- The current-year online Line Judge Exam, corrected to 100% (corrections are submitted to your Affiliated Board Chair)
- One written recommendation signature obtained every 2 years (see description above)