Getting Started - MSHSL

CHECKLIST:  All officials must complete the following:

1. Register with MSHSL for the 25-26 Season , pay their fee, & select Metro Volleyball Officials Association as your Primary (or Secondary) association.  Their membership lasts for the school year and thus both the Girls Fall and Spring Boys seasons with a single fee for both seasons.

2. Complete the MVOA Season Availability Form

3. You control your schedule!  As soon as you've accepted our invitation to ArbiterSports (online assigning website), enter your BLOCKS so we know what day(s) of the week you are available and interested in being assigned.  FYI:  Tuesdays/Thursdays are our busiest weekdays.

4. Submit the 2025-26 Independent Contractor Agreement (available annually on August 1)

5. Submit a W-9 (only need a new one if you've moved or changed your last name)  

6. Submit a Direct Deposit Authorization form (only need a new one if you changed bank accounts)

7. Complete the MSHSL Eligibility Requirements by their August & March deadlines.

8. Every other year, attend an MSHSL in-person or online live clinic in August and/or March.

Complete items #4-6 no later than 1 week prior to your first assignment.  The timing of your payment will be reflected by your compliance with this deadline.

REMINDERS: If you are paid over $600 in a calendar year by Metro Volleyball Officials Association you will receive a 1099-NEC for your tax filing.
Starting August 1, 2025, contractors will only be paid via Direct Deposit.  There will no longer be a paper check option.

• How much does it cost to join the Metro Volleyball Officials Association?

  • Nothing, zilch, zero, nada, = $0.  MVOA does not collect dues from officials. Officials are not members of Metro Volleyball, they are Independent Contractors that apply to be hired and work events that are assigned by MVOA.

• How will I be paid?

  • The MSHSL Fee Schedule for officials is posted on Arbiter Sports.
    Details of those fees can be found in Arbiter:

    • Log into Arbiter Sports

    • Select the "Official" link under Metro Volleyball Officials Association from the drop-down in the top right

    • Click the DASHBOARD tab

    • The pay scale is listed in the ANNOUNCEMENTS section

    • Fees do NOT show up on your specific assignment until they are invoiced.

  • All payments will be sent to you from Metro Volleyball Officials Association according to the payment terms on the Independent Contractor Agreement.  Please don't email asking when you will be paid, read the ICA and Payroll Schedule information on the Independent Contractor page.

  • You will NOT fill out vouchers at the school or provide them with a W-9 when you are working a match assigned by MVOA.  If you are asked by a school to fill in a payment voucher, please politely decline and alert Robyn ASAP.

  • Log into ArbiterSports and ensure your Profile information is up to date.

  • All officials working MSHSL matches through MVOA must fill out the MVOA Independent Contractor Agreement and have a W-9 on file with MVOA prior to your first match.  A new ICA is required each year on August 1 and covers you for all MVOA assigned matches between Aug 1 - July 31.

  • Payments by Direct Deposit are the PREFERRED payment method.  Please fill out and submit the MVOA Direct Deposit (ACH) authorization form on our Independent Contractors page, Section 2, Step 2C.

• I selected Metro Volleyball Officials Association as my association when I registered with the MSHSL, does that mean I'm guaranteed to be assigned?

  • No.  MVOA makes roster decisions based on a number of criteria including eligibility, performance, character, need, location, availability, and more.  

  • If you selected MVOA during your registration, but have never communicated with MVOA at any time in the past, it would behoove you to get in touch with one of us to introduce yourself so we know who you are, your goals for officiating and where you'd be most comfortable on the court.  Our contact info can be found on the Contact Us page.  

• How do I access the MSHSL Central Hub?

  • The MSHSL Central Hub website is:  https://mshsl.arbitersports.com

• Where can I get a rule book?

  • Rule books are sent by the MSHSL on "odd" school years (i.e. 25-26, 27-28, 29-30).  You should expect to keep your rule book for two seasons, so only throw out your old one when you receive a new one.

  • If you are a brand new official, the MSHSL should provide a copy of the rule book to you even if it's not an "odd" year.  If you don't receive one, ask them to send you one by emailing Officials@mshsl.org

  • If you lost your copy, you should be able to buy one from the MSHSL Store.

    • Or you can get an online copy using the NFHS Rules App for your mobile device.

• How do I check my eligibility progress?

  • Log into Arbiter

  • Click the ELIGIBILITY tab

  • Click one of your Enrolled eligibility balls (doesn't matter which one, they all lead to the same page)

  • ALL items in the top section need to have a GREEN CHECKMARK.  Click the BLUE LINK in the ACTION column to complete the item.

    • Upon completion, you'll receive an email from 

  • For SECTION or STATE eligibility, complete ONE of the items in the bottom section.

• How do I know if I completed all MSHSL Eligibility requirements?

  • Watch the embedded MSHSL Registration video above for more information on how to complete requirements. 

  • Once you have completed all the required eligibility modules and the test, you will see a Volleyball appear under your picture in Arbiter under the PROFILE tab.

  • If you believe you have completed all requirements, but your eligibility status hasn't updated after a day, forward any completion certificates that you received via email when you completed the module to Officials@mshsl.org and have them update your status manually.

• Do I need to send MVOA a screen shot of my MSHSL Eligibility ball?

  • No, we see your eligibility ball in Arbiter, no need to send us a screen shot.

• I haven't taken the MSHSL Test yet, when can I do that?

  • The exam and video modules are scheduled to be available the beginning of August & March prior to the start of each fall & spring season.

  • The Printable version of the exam has historically been posted on the MSHSL Central Hub so you can review the test questions ahead of time before using the online exam to submit your answers.

  • To take the exam, go to the MSHSL Central Hub > click the Eligibility Tab > Click one of the volleyball icons in the middle section (i.e. State, Section, Regular, Student, Reciprocity) > Click "Take Test" in the top section.  

  • Deadlines to complete the exam can be found in the MSHSL Information/Deadlines section at the top of this page.  PRO TIP:  Do NOT wait until the last day to do take the exam.  You MUST have your eligibility ball on your profile in order to work matches which start the day after the deadline.  Be sure to start the season off right by taking care of business!

• I registered with MSHSL and watched the General Meeting, but I haven't attended the Volleyball Online Clinic, how do I do that?

  • Both the General and Volleyball-specific online videos will be at the start of August & March on the Arbiter MSHSL Central Hub under the Eligibility tab.  Deadlines to complete both the General and Volleyball online training videos can be found in the MSHSL Information/Deadlines section at the top of this page.

• I need to attend a 2 year in-person training clinic for MSHSL, is there one scheduled before the season?

  • YES!  The MSHSL sends sign-ups for their in-person clinics through Arbiter on your SCHEDULE tab as an "EVENT."  Click on the blue "EVENT" link in the far left "Game" column to view details about the clinic and check the box to either Accept or Decline the event to register. 

  • Links to register for these clinics are sent via email by MSHSL & listed on our Girls High School and Boys High School pages for their respective seasons.