Getting Started - Juniors
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR JUNIORS EVENTS
The juniors events assigned by MVOA are sanctioned by different governing entities. Some memberships/certifications for officials cross-over between entities and some do not. The volleyball icons below are included in the information section for each event that is listed on our Juniors Tournaments page to help you identify which certifications are accepted.
You only need ONE (not all) of the applicable certifications to be eligible for the corresponding event.
See our Independent Contractors page for more information on how to obtain your preferred certification option.
Junior Volleyball Association (JVA)
AAU Volleyball (AAU)
USA Volleyball (USAV)
Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL)
Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO/NCAA)
ASSIGNMENTS
After submitting the Juniors Application, you will manage your availability in Arbiter to indicate which events you wish to be considered. There is a listing of all of our events on the Juniors Tournaments page including a Google Calendar at the very bottom of that page to help you decide which dates/events to make your self available for in Arbiter. Additionally, some of our events will be available in Arbiter > Self-Assign for you to claim as an indicator to MVOA that you would like to be assigned (see the Self-Assign section below for more information).
ArbiterSports is used to offer and confirm assignments for events on weekends. You will provide your availability for these assignments using the BLOCKS tab in Arbiter. If you're not blocked, you're indicating that you are available and open to an assignment.
Want to work all day? Leave those dates open/unblocked
Don't want to work on a day? Add a full block on dates where you do not wish to be assigned.
Only want to work part day? Add a partial day block.
NOTE: Full day tournaments are typically scheduled in 2 waves that are each 6 hours long. If you prefer to work half days, add one of the partial day blocks explained here in the BLOCKS tab in Arbiter:
If you only want to work the AM Wave, then block 3PM-9PM (AM waves historically start at 8 or 9AM depending on the event)
If you only want to work the PM Wave, then block 8AM - 12PM (the start time of PM waves can vary between 1, 2, & 3PM depending on the event)
Adding custom, partial day blocks that are different from the examples above may prevent us from seeing that you are available for event.
Please add your availability blocks immediately upon submitting your application (if you're new to Metro's Arbiter, add blocks as soon as you accept the invitation to join the MVOA Arbiter tenant).
SELF-ASSIGN
To add a placeholder to your schedule for a particular event, log into Arbiter > go to the SCHEDULE tab > select the Self Assign sub tab > review the list of events > click the [Go] button to claim a placeholder. Claimed placeholders will then appear under SCHEDULE > Calendar along with your other assignments. Event details aren't finalized until about 1 week prior to the event. The number of courts being used and how many matches per court will vary. Claimed placeholders are NOT a guarantee of assignment. MVOA reserves the right to change or cancel self-assign placeholders based on the overall needs & levels of the events being held on that date.
What if I don't see anything on the Self-Assign page? Look at your BLOCKS tab. Under DATES, your calendar must be free of any date blocks for posted self-assign dates. Under TRAVEL LIMITS, your mileage limits for Saturday & Sunday must be within range of the event. Check these things first BEFORE contacting MVOA with questions.
MVOA will still assign levels, courts & locations on the backend and will send grids the week of the event when assignments are confirmed.
Here is a screen shot of how the Self-Assign page looks in Arbiter:
INTRODUCTION TO OFFICIATING FOR MVOA
This video is an introduction to Metro Volleyball to help officials navigate the sometimes complex world of officiating juniors events.
You can watch the entire video or skip to the section you'd like to learn more about:
0:00 Introduction & Lead Assignors for each Event
5:57 How to apply to various events
8:55 Accepting Juniors assignments via ArbiterSports
14:21 Required Paperwork for Independent Contractors
RULES BOOK, OFFICIATING GUIDELINES & RULE SET COMPARISION
Training and resource materials come as part of your membership to most of the organizations listed at the top of this page. All of the juniors events that we assign follow the rule set from USA Volleyball with some modifications. Additionally, both USAV & AAU offer video training modules for officials. The buttons below will take you to the USAV Rules book, Rule Interpretations, & Officiating Guidelines documents on the USA Volleyball website. Below that is a link to the Rules Comparison document on the PAVO website.