Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Why should I join PAVO?
A1: By becoming a member of PAVO, you become part of a synergistic group dedicated, in part, to increasing the number of competent officials through education, training, and mentoring. PAVO membership greatly enhances professional development and provides important networking opportunities. Many assigning entities and their representatives require the insurance and certification benefits associated with PAVO membership.
Q2: What membership options does PAVO offer to new and renewing/returning members?
A2: With the 2023-24 PAVO membership season, PAVO began offering standardized registration with an annual fee of $85.00 per individual membership. During the annual online PAVO member registration process, each registering official will be required to declare either as a Referee Member (Standard membership) or as a Line Judge/Scorer Member (Associate membership). Members declaring as a Referee Member will be required to complete the annual online PAVO member registration process through Standard membership.
A current PAVO membership is required for:
- Maintaining a current PAVO certification (referee*, line judge, and/or scorer), and/or
- Renewing a PAVO certification (referee*, line judge, and/or scorer), and/or
- Eligibility to pursue PAVO certification (referee*, line judge, and/or scorer), and/or
- Satisfying the requirement(s) of a conference and/or assigner to hold one or more current PAVO certifications, and/or
- Receiving General and Professional Liability Coverage under PAVO’s insurance package, and/or
- Receiving Participant Accident Coverage (a secondary coverage) under PAVO’s insurance package, and/or
- Receiving all other PAVO member benefits (Please reference Q5/A5, below).
*PAVO Referee certifications are reserved for PAVO members declaring as a Referee Member (Standard membership).
By successfully completing the online 2024-25 PAVO membership process, you will also receive:
- Unrestricted access to all levels of PAVO's iREF training program. iREF is PAVO's flagship online multi-level, comprehensive learning management system used in the training and education of volleyball officials. All current PAVO members are provided 24/7, unrestricted access to explore and learn, at their own pace.
- A members-only discount to the annual registration fee for:
- The NCAA (all Women’s Volleyball Divisions, DI/DII/DIII) and access to the NCAA Volleyball Central Hub, and
- The NAIA (Women’s and Men’s Volleyball) and access to the NAIA Volleyball Central Hub.
Q3: What is the annual dues structure for PAVO members?
A3: The total amount of dues collected during the annual online PAVO registration process is dependent upon your officiating role(s) as a volleyball official (Referee or Non-Referee) and the Affiliated Board through which you join PAVO. The total amount collected by PAVO during the dues-payment process is made up of three parts – (Part I) PAVO Dues that are retained by the central association, (Part II) NCAA Registration and Central Hub access fee*, which PAVO forwards to RefQuest+ on your behalf, and (Part III) dues established by the Affiliated Board that you join, which are forwarded to that board by PAVO.
Special Note: Non-PAVO member officials registering directly with the NCAA will be charged an annual fee of $250 (DI affiliation) or $150 (DII/DIII affiliation) or $150 (not affiliated with the NCAA or NAIA and desiring access to the NCAA volleyball central hub). An additional charge is applied for non-PAVO member officials registering directly with the NAIA. NAIA volleyball direct registration pricing is $80, regardless of gender. If dually registering (NCAA & NAIA), then the cost is $60.00.
This means:
Q3a: Are there additional discounts or fees to be aware of affecting the 2024 membership registration process?
A3a: Yes.
IMPORTANT NOTE: By default, each registered member will receive the hard-copy version of the 2024-2025 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Rules Book from RQ+ via USPS Ground Advantage (includes tracking). Once the rule books are ready for distribution, shipping is scheduled to occur 3x/week. Opting out of this default delivery is a purposeful selection during the online annual PAVO Registration Process. Once opted-out, the member will not be able to reverse the decision.
Q3b: May I upgrade my membership status to Referee Member (Standard membership) from Line Judge/Scorer Member (Associate membership) during the membership year?
A3b: Yes. If for any reason you wish to upgrade your status to Referee Member, you may do so through contact with the PAVO Central Office. Upgrading your membership status from Non-Referee (Associate membership) to Referee (Standard membership) will require additional payment, but PAVO is happy to assist you through the process. You should also notify the Board Chair of your PAVO Affiliated Board of your intentions to upgrade.
Q3c: What is the annual dues structure for NEW PAVO members?
A3c: PAVO offers standardized registration with a flat annual fee per individual membership. Please reference Q3/A3, above.
Q4: I’m a Renewing/Returning member of PAVO. How are my dues being affected?
A4: The PAVO dues structure remains constant for a second year and is inclusive of the annual NCAA Registration and related Central Hub access fee that PAVO negotiated with RefQuest+. It is also inclusive of the cost associated with submitting to the annual NCAA-commissioned background screen (please reference Q7/A7, below). PAVO’s ongoing advocacy for its diverse membership base continues to result in an assurance that all members receive the full complement of benefits proffered by PAVO and the NCAA. The Central Hub access fee collected during the PAVO registration process grants PAVO members access to the NCAA Central Hub as well as the Central Hub for NAIA Women’s Volleyball and NAIA Men’s Volleyball.
Q4a: What does my annual PAVO membership include?
A4a: PAVO membership includes a great number of benefits. Please refer to Q5/A5, below.
Q5: Will PAVO member benefits differ for a Referee Member (a Standard membership) and a Line Judge/Scorer Member (an Associate membership)?
A5: PAVO members declaring as a Referee Member (Standard membership) will have added opportunity to:
All PAVO members will be afforded the following membership benefits:
Q5a: What is the new PAVO Official’s Resume feature and why would I want to incorporate this profile enhancement?
A5a: Designed in cooperation with those who assign officials and place value on PAVO membership and certification, PAVO has developed a standardized skills-based résumé intended to spotlight pertinent details of a member’s officiating abilities and experiences. This type of resume empowers each member to emphasize these points, provide a chronological officiating history, and highlight relevant officiating achievements. When utilized as a companion resource with information contained in the PAVO Member’s Profile approved for sharing, vetted assignors are offered a more complete perspective of existing and potential new roster members.
Q6: As a PAVO member, does the NCAA Registration and Central Hub access fee entitle me to the NCAA Welcome Packet?
A6: YES! NCAA Registration is integrated into the annual online PAVO member registration process and the NCAA Welcome Packet is one of your registration benefits.
Q6a: What is included in the NCAA Welcome Packet for PAVO members?
A6a: The NCAA Welcome Packet for registered PAVO members includes the current edition of both the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Rules Book and the PAVO Women’s Volleyball Officiating Manual for Referees, Line Judges, and Scorers. In non-rule change years, each of these inclusions will be delivered in digital format, only. In rule change years, the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Rules Book will be delivered in hard-copy format.
Q7: Does the NCAA Registration and Central Hub access fee cover the cost of the NCAA-commissioned background screen?
A7: YES, for all PAVO members who wish to submit to the annual NCAA-commissioned background screen. If you wish to complete the process, you must do so from the RefQuest+ portal on the NCAA Volleyball Central Hub.
Q7a: Am I required to submit to the NCAA-commissioned background screen?
A7a: Agreeing to the NCAA-commissioned background screen is an individual option. Submitting to and passing the NCAA-commissioned background check is an ANNUAL postseason requirement for an official to be considered and eligible for assignment.
Q7b: If I’ve already passed the background check for another organization, will the NCAA accept those results?
A7b: The NCAA will only accept the results of the background screen as reported to them by their approved 3rd party background screen provider, Sterling Volunteers. The only opportunity to access and submit to the approved background screening process is to register with the NCAA for access to Central Hub via the RefQuest+ portal.
Q8: What is the NCAA Volleyball Central Hub and why Register?
A8: The NCAA Volleyball Central Hub provides you with access to communications and training tools developed and commissioned by the NCAA, the National Coordinator of Women’s Volleyball, and the Secretary-Rules Editor for Women’s Volleyball. The NCAA Women’s Collegiate Volleyball Central Hub also includes a designated section specific to line judges – The Line Judge Corner.
Registering with the NCAA through PAVO entitles you to a significantly reduced registration fee that also includes the cost associated with the NCAA-commissioned background check and complimentary registration with the NAIA (Women’s Volleyball and Men’s Volleyball).
Registering with the NCAA as a volleyball official and access to the Women’s Volleyball Central Hub is accomplished through RefQuest+, either directly or as an integrated step in the annual online PAVO Member Registration process. The cost of NCAA Registration varies depending on your PAVO membership status (please reference Q3/A3, above). NCAA Registration is an annual requirement for an official to be eligible for consideration for NCAA DI, DII, and DIII postseason assignment.
Q9: Am I required to submit to the NCAA-commissioned background check?
A9: If you wish to be eligible for consideration for assignment to any NCAA Women’s Volleyball postseason competition then YES, you must submit to the NCAA-commissioned background check. Clearing the background check is the other piece of this particular postseason eligibility criterion.
Q9a: If I’ve already cleared the background check for another organization, will the NCAA and RefQuest+ accept those results?
A9a: The NCAA will only accept the results of the background screen as reported to them by their approved 3rd party background screen provider, Sterling Volunteers. The only opportunity to access and submit to the approved background screening process is through the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Central Hub on the RefQuest+ portal.
Q9b: Can I obtain a copy of the results of my NCAA-commissioned background check, upon completion?
A9b: YES. If you wish to request a copy of the NCAA-commissioned background check to which you consented as a part of the annual NCAA Registration process (not as a condition of PAVO membership or certification), you may do so directly from Sterling Volunteers, the company that conducts the background check on behalf of the NCAA. Sterling Volunteers can be contacted online through this URL: https://www.sterlingvolunteers.com/ or by email at ncaasupport@sterlingvolunteers.com.
Q10: What is PAVO’s Refund Policy for annual membership dues?
A10: PAVO is committed to providing our members with essential, industry leading training and education tools and programming that sets the standard for officiating collegiate volleyball across the nation and within all collegiate sport governing structures. It is our sincere hope that a request for refund is a member’s last option because most of our members officiate throughout the calendar year and it is very important to stay connected and sharp, no matter what rule set you are administering as a volleyball official. Our website and training tools are accessible to current members 24-7/365.
This process has become more complicated in recent years. It isn’t as simple as saying yes or no. It is PAVO policy that a refund of current year membership dues be considered by the Executive Director in very special cases that negate a member's ability to officiate any collegiate level volleyball matches during the current membership year. The PAVO Board of Directors has authorized the Executive Director to approve a refund request made between June 18, 2024 and August 14, 2024. Beginning August 15, 2024, refunds of current year dues are not normally approved. Factors considered in the decision-making process include:
- Reason for the refund request (e.g., personal injury or illness that renders the individual unable to commit to officiating assignments for the season, personal military assignment/deployment, etc.). PAVO leadership does NOT consider ‘lack of officiating assignments’ (on its own) a reasonable basis for granting a refund. This particular notice is specifically addressed during the annual registration process.
- Current PAVO certification (referee, line judge, or scorer), if any.
- If the member has attended a current year NCAA/PAVO Clinic or is pre-registered to for a current year NCAA/PAVO Clinic.
- If the member has taken any form of the current year Referee Exam, Line Judge Exam, and/or Scorer Exam.
- If PAVO has been invoiced by RefQuest+ for the member? If so, has PAVO remitted the RefQuest+/Central Hub registration fee on the member’s behalf?
- If PAVO rebated the member's Affiliated Board fee? Late fee, too, if relevant.
- If the member registered before or after August 15. This relates to the PAVO membership registration late fee.
- Other factors which may inadvertently be omitted.
The National Office and the Affiliated Board Chair have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that the member also understands that cancelling membership has a broad range impact. Member benefits are also rescinded, and for some, this may have a significant impact.
If a member is considering this request, it is our preference that they begin the process with the Affiliated Board Chair. If the member initiates the request with the Central Office, they’ll be asked to provide answers to the above questions (and perhaps others) and the Board Chair will, eventually, be brought into the chain of communication.
Q11: What is PAVO’s Membership Dues Payment Late Fee structure?
NEW PAVO members are NEVER assessed a PAVO Late Fee.
PAVO Late Fees are NOT refundable.