Northern Ireland Volleyball’s Referee Commission recognises the following referee grades:- National, 1, 2, 3, 3 (Junior), 4 and 4 (Junior). In addition there are the FIVB awards of National, International Candidate and International Referee.
GRADE 4
This grade is for candidates who successfully complete a Grade 4 award course, normal duration 16 hours* (minimum duration 14 hours), and pass a theory examination on the rules of volleyball and use of the International score sheet. The course comprises both theory and practical sessions but there is no practical assessment. The pass mark for the theory examination is 80%. The course itself comprises both theory and practical sessions, and contains instruction on the rules of volleyball and their interpretation, match procedures and scoring. The cost of the Grade 4 course is £30. Candidates under 16 require Referee Commission permission to attend an award course. Referees who are under 18 are awarded Grade 4 (Junior).
The course comprises both theory and practical sessions but there is no practical assessment. The pass mark for the theory examination is 80%. The cost of the Grade 4 course is £30. Candidates under 16 require Referee Commission permission to attend an award course. Referees who are under 18 are awarded Grade 4 (Junior).
Details of arrangements for Grade 4 Courses and other Clinics can be obtained from the Referees Commission
ADVANCED GRADES
All Advanced Grade Awards are made by Referee Commission on receipt of a body of Observation / Assessment reports, which show the Candidate has consistently fulfilled the criteria for the grade over an extended period of time, and when the candidates have fulfilled the criteria set out below.
GRADE 3
Grade 3 Referees with experience in regional leagues can apply for inclusion on the Referee Panel. Referees on the Panel are appointed pre-season by the Referee Commission Appointment Committee to the season’s National League matches. Prior to being awarded Grade 3 the Panel referees will :-
- be required to successfully complete a written assessment on:
(i) Rules of the Game, (ii) NIVA Rules, (iii) match protocol
- successfully complete a Scorer’s Award Course
Upgrading to 3 will normally be by practical assessment involving a number of Observations/Assessments, with follow-up debriefs, by Staff Officials/Observers/Assessors. Candidates for upgrading will be expected to fulfil the criteria set out in the Key Performance Objectives for Grade 3 and be maintaining the standards of behaviour, administrative efficiency and professionalism listed in the Referee Code of Conduct. If a referee fails to meet the criteria and achieve promotion to Grade 3 within two full seasons, unless there are extenuating circumstances, his/her application for the Panel for the following season may be subject to rejection.
Grade 3 status is retained for as long as the official remains active as a referee, continues to register annually and remains on the Panel of appointed referees. A referee who fails to accept appointments for two consecutive seasons, or regularly fails to fulfil his/her commitment to Panel appointed matches, will normally be returned to Grade 4, unless there are extenuating circumstances of which referee Commission has been notified. A Panel referee who fails to register for two consecutive seasons will normally be removed from the NIVA referee register and lose their grade status. On re-registering the referee must apply to Referee Commission for reinstatement if wishing to return at Grade 3 or above.
GRADE 2
Applicants for Grade 2 must be registered Grade 3 referees (normally with at least two years of refereeing experience) and must be able to demonstrate a consistently high standard of officiating in appointed National League Division 1 matches and Northern Ireland Volleyball recognised competitions. To be considered for upgrading, a candidate should apply to the Staff Commissioner at least three months prior to the start of the season in which Observations are to be made. Within six months of Candidates embarking on the Grade 2 pathway they will be expected to pass the Grade 2 Theory Assessment. Candidates for Grade 2 will work to meet the criteria set out in the Key Performance Objectives for the Grade whilst at the same time maintaining the standards of behaviour, administrative efficiency and professionalism required by the Referee Code of Conduct. Practical Training will consist of detailed debriefs, immediately following Observations. Referee Commission will only consider for upgrading to Grade 2 a candidate who has, (i) ‘above baseline’ Observations (Div 1, Div 2, Cup Finals and Semi-Finals, approved Tournament Finals and Semi-Finals) from at least two different Senior Staff Officials or Referee Commission appointed Observers, (ii) during the previous three year participated in at least two Clinics held at a national event/tournament staffed by Senior Staff and/or Observers, (iii) successfully completed a Scorer Award Course, (iv) attended a line judge clinic, and (v) demonstrated the ability to score accurately and line judge. Where there are sufficient candidates, training may include a Referee Theory Clinic. Currently, the charge for a referee Clinic is £10 per day.
It is the individual referee’s responsibility to keep a log of his/her activity and the dates at which criteria have been met.
GRADE 1
Applications for Grade 1 are considered from any registered referee usually with at least two years of experience as an appointed Div 1 league referee at the Grade 2 level. The candidate must be able to demonstrate competence at the highest level of officiating and must be committed to an extensive programme of league matches each season. To be considered for upgrading, a candidate must apply to the Staff Commissioner at least three months prior to the start of the season in which Observations are to be made. Within six months of Candidates embarking on the Grade 1 pathway they will be expected to pass the Grade 1 Theory Exam. Candidates for Grade 1 will then work to meet the criteria set out in the Key Performance Objectives for the Grade, whilst at the same time maintaining the standards of behaviour, administrative efficiency and professionalism required by the Referee Code of Conduct. Practical Training will consist of detailed debriefs, immediately following Observations. Referee Commission will only consider for upgrading to Grade 1 a candidate who has, (i) achieved ‘above baseline’ Observations ( Div 1, Div 2, Cup Finals and Semi-Finals, approved Tournament Finals and Semi-Finals) from at least three different Senior Staff Officials or Referee Commission appointed Observers, (ii) during the previous three years participated in at least two Clinics at a national event/tournament staffed by Senior Staff, (iii) achieved the level of ‘Licensed Scorer’ (iv) demonstrated ability to Line Judge at Div 1 level. Where there are sufficient candidates, training may include a Referee Theory Clinic. Currently the charge for a Referee Clinic is £10.00 per day.
It is the individual referee’s responsibility to keep a log of his/her activity and the dates at which criteria have been met.
NATIONAL REFEREE
As required by FIVB, from within the ranks of the current most senior referees, each season will be selected a panel of officials designated with the FIVB category National Referee. As the number of National Grade referees is determined by FIVB this is not a ‘lifetime grade.’ Priority for this grade goes to referees who may prove to be future International Candidates and those who may be appointed to International matches and events. It is not possible for referees to apply for this grade.
INTERNATIONAL REFEREE
Applicants for the FIVB Candidate International Referee Course are chosen by Referee Commission. To qualify they must hold a British passport and be resident in England, Wales or the Channel Islands. It is not possible for referees to apply for this grade. Any individual(s) selected by Referee Commission must be over 25 and under 41 years of age during the year they are attending the International Course, and have been on the governing body’s list of nominated National Referees for a minimum of three of the previous five years. FIVB are proposing that future Candidates for the International Course will be required to have a B.M.I. (Body Mass Index)* of 25 or less and will have to complete a medical which satisfies the FIVB Medical Commission. Once achieved, the status of International Referee is awarded for a four year period and is only renewed by FIVB subject to activity and yearly reports. International Referees may be required by FIVB to submit themselves for a medical at any time. On reaching the age of retirement (55) a referee is not permitted to use the title ‘International Referee’.
*B.M.I. calculation:
EITHER: Weight in pounds multiplied by 730 – Divided by height in inches2
OR: Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres2
AGE LIMITS
The minimum age for league refereeing is normally eighteen. After the age of sixty a referee must re-apply annually to Referee Commission to remain on the NVL Panel. Those who wish to continue registering after retirement from active refereeing may do so, at the lowest rate currently available.
JUNIOR REFEREE AWARDS
Under 18s may be awarded Grade IV (Junior) and Grade 3R (Junior). Additionally there is a Young Referee Award Scheme for Mini Volleyball. Further information is available from the Commissioner for Junior Referee Development
ACCELERATED PROMOTION SCHEME
By special application, a player or coach with significant experience of Div 1 league volleyball may be considered for accelerated training; in such cases it is possible to attend a one day Grade IV Course, bypassing the Introductory Course, in order to take the exam and obtain Grade 4 qualification. It may also be possible to shorten the normal period of qualification for Grades 3, 2, 1 – although it should be noted that the same standards of competence, the same pass marks, and the same criteria must be met. For further details applicants should contact President Referee Commission. Accelerated promotion, through Grades 3, 2, 1 will also be considered by Referee Commission for Referees displaying exceptional ability and progress.
Referees on the Referees Panel may be subject to Observation at any time, without prior notification. Panel Referees may also at any time be required to sit a theoretical examination, which will require a knowledge of the FIVB Rules, Referee Guidelines and Casebook examples. At least two months notification will be given of a theoretical examination.
All Referees holding Advanced Grades may be required to attend special training clinics. Panel Referees are expected to attend the National Referees’ Conference, failure to do so for two years may result in downgrading or other disciplinary action, unless Referee Commission have been notified of extenuating circumstances. All referees are expected to abide strictly by the Code of Conduct for referees. |
