Alberta Volleyball Officials Association. Policy and Procedures Manual

Alberta Volleyball Officials Association Policy and Procedures Manual Revised December 2009 In effect January 2010 A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 1

AVOA REFEREES POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL Contents Preamble... 5 References... 6 Common Terminology... 6 Mandate... 7 AVOA Provincial Division... 8 AVOA Referee Committee... 9 Structure... 9 Regional Officials Chair (ROC)... 9 AVOA (Association) President... 9 Zone Officials Chair (ZOC)... 10 Standing Committees... 10 Committee (ZOC) Meetings... 11 Frequency... 11 Date and Location... 11 Meeting Book and Reports... 11 Rules of Order... 11 Voting... 11 Motions... 11 Meeting Minutes... 11 Zone Administration... 12 Recommended Zone Executive (Administrative) Structure... 12 Zone Executive Meetings... 12 Zone Annual General Meetings... 12 Zone Finances... 12 Referee Requirements... 13 Certification and Promotion... 13 Maintenance of Certification... 13 A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 2

Registration... 13 Out of Province Transfers... 13 Leave of Absence... 14 Travel... 14 Referee Uniform... 14 Domestic First and Second Referees... 15 Domestic Line Judges and Scorers... 15 Badges... 15 Arrival Time Prior to Match... 15 Junior High, High School or Adult League... 15 Junior High, High School or Adult Tournaments... 15 ACAC... 15 CIS/Canada West... 15 National or International... 15 Referee Selection and Assignment... 16 Match or Tournament Assignments... 16 Round Robin Play... 16 Playoffs... 16 National or Major Championships... 16 AVOA Clinician Certification... 17 Prerequisites for AVOA Clinicians... 17 Level 1 Clinician... 17 Level 2 Clinician... 17 Level 3 Clinician... 17 Referee Rates and other Allowances... 18 Code of Ethics for Referees... 19 Participation in Competition... 19 Availability... 19 Tournaments... 19 Regular Involvement... 19 Behaviour... 19 Potential Behaviours Leading to Sanction... 19 A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 3

Activities leading to possible sanctions... 19 Possible Sanctions... 19 Imposition of Sanctions... 20 Right of Appeal... 20 Appendix 1 Information on the Position of ROC... 21 Duties/Responsibilities... 21 Nomination Procedures... 22 Election Procedures... 22 Expenses... 23 Appendix 2 ROC Nomination Form... 24 Appendix 3 Information on the position of AVOA President... 25 Duties/Responsibilities... 25 Nomination Procedures... 25 Election Procedures... 26 Expenses... 26 Appendix 4 AVOA President Nomination Form... 27 Appendix 5 Information on the position of ZOC... 28 Duties/Responsibilities... 28 Expenses... 29 Appendix 6 Discipline/Ethics Committee Information... 30 Appendix 7 Online Referee Registration... 31 Appendix 8 Alberta Referee Membership Fee Information... 33 Appendix 9 AVOA Referee Billing and Payment Rate Sheet... 34 Appendix 10 AVOA Clinician Rate Sheet... 35 Appendix 11 AVOA Awards (Referee of the Year)... 36 A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 4

Preamble The Alberta Volleyball Officials Association (AVOA) Referee Policy and Procedure Manual is designed to be a resource and guide for all Alberta indoor and beach volleyball referees. It is intended to be a living document, updated as required and posted on the Alberta Volleyball website to provide convenient access for all Alberta referees. The manual is meant to be a reference guide to current procedures and a tool for all referees in the province. Each referee is encouraged to review the manual and provide feedback what is working well, what isn t working, and to table new ideas for improvements for referees and the sport of volleyball across the province. As a referee, we re not only there to work the matches; we re also there to help make volleyball an enjoyable activity for all participants. This Policy and Procedure manual contains information about the AVOA and its referee committees and includes but is not limited to, the mandate of the AVOA, structure, programs, certification, promotion, the Code of Ethics, administration and other various information. It is developed to achieve a certain level of uniformity of procedures for all phases of indoor and beach volleyball referee development and conduct. It is also intended to provide a basis for free and open discussion of AVOA policy between and amongst referees. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 5

References The following documents serve as additional sources of information or the main source in cases where provincial or national policies take precedence: Provincial Alberta Volleyball Policy and Procedures Manual National Volleyball Canada National Referee Committee Policy and Procedures Manual Common Terminology The following terms are used throughout the manual and as such may be abbreviated as follows: Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference Alberta Volleyball Alberta Volleyball Officials Association Canadian Interuniversity Sport Federation Internationale du Volleyball National Officials Chairperson Regional Officials Chairperson Volleyball Canada Zone Officials Chairperson ACAC AV AVOA CIS FIVB NOC ROC VC ZOC A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 6

Mandate The AVOA referee committee is to be the governing body for referee activity including recruitment and development in Alberta. The AVOA referee committee will develop and enforce the policies and procedures in regard to the certification, development, promotion and assignment of indoor and beach volleyball referees in Alberta. More specifically, the items under the purview of the AVOA referee committee are: 1. To be the voice that represents the needs of referees in Alberta. 2. To work with Alberta Volleyball (or other volleyball stakeholders) to assist in the recruitment, retention and development of indoor and beach referees. 3. To work with Alberta Volleyball (or other volleyball stakeholders) in delivering the indoor and beach referee development plan to the volleyball community. 4. To promote effective communication amongst the Alberta volleyball (and by extension the Volleyball Canada) registered referee and the volleyball community. 5. To assist the zones in the education, training and certification of indoor referees at the Local (level 1), Provincial (level 2) and Regional (level 3) levels. 6. To promote the development of the National (level 4) indoor certification program in order to ensure a high level of officiating in Alberta and ultimately in Canada. 7. To promote the development of the International (level 5) indoor certification program to ensure that Alberta referees are represented at FIVB and other competitions. 8. To promote the development of a beach referee program, including both domestic and international certification. 9. To set the standard for refereeing and the art of refereeing in the province and in the country. 10. To promote the development of female referees within the sport. 11. To promote equality amongst all referees through a standardized set of guidelines, and ensure that the policies are clear, transparent and accessible. 12. To ensure that current and accurate documentation for indoor and beach referees is available on the Alberta Volleyball website. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 7

AVOA Provincial Division For the purposes of volleyball refereeing, the province of Alberta is divided into nine zones; these zones are numbered 1 to 9 inclusively. Zone boundaries are set by the AVOA referee committee. The following is a descriptor of the current zones: Zone 1 Southern Alberta Volleyball Officials Association (SAVOA) Serves Lethbridge and Area Zone 2 South Eastern Alberta Volleyball Officials Association (SEAVOA) Serves Drumheller and Area Zone 3 Calgary Volleyball Officials Association (CVOA) Serves Calgary and Area Zone 4 Central Alberta Volleyball Officials Association (CAVOA) Serves Red Deer and Area Zone 5 Medicine Hat Volleyball Officials Association (MHVOA) Serves Medicine Hat and Area Zone 6 Edmonton Volleyball Officials Association (EVOA) Serves Edmonton and Area Zone 7 North Eastern Alberta Volleyball Officials Association (NEAVOA) Serves Vegreville and Area Zone 8 Peace Volleyball Officials Association (PVOA) Serves Grande Prairie and Area Zone 9 Fort McMurray Volleyball Officials Association (FMVOA) Serves Fort McMurray and Area A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 8

AVOA Referee Committee Structure The AVOA referee committee is a standing committee of Alberta Volleyball, and is an association of all registered volleyball referees in the province of Alberta. It is the only recognized provincial body for volleyball referees within Alberta and works closely with the Alberta Volleyball, a registered society under the laws of the province of Alberta. The referee committee will consist of the chairperson (referred to as the ROC), the association (AVOA) president, the zone referee chairpersons (referred to as ZOCs), and the chairs of the standing committees. In addition, the Alberta Volleyball staff liaison will be an ex-officio member of the referee committee. Regional Officials Chair (ROC) The Regional Officials Chair, or ROC, is elected every three years beginning in 2010. This position is ratified by the Alberta Volleyball general council at its Annual General Meeting immediately following the election. The elected ROC subsequently becomes a member of the AVA General Council representing Alberta s referees at the Provincial level. The ROC also represents Alberta s referees at the National level as a liaison with Volleyball Canada, and is designated as the head official for the province of Alberta. The ROC, in conjunction with the association (AVOA) president, is directly responsible to the AVA General Council for the operation of all activities of the AVOA referee committee. Under the current AVOA governance model, the position of ROC may only be held by a certified Level 3 (or higher) referee in good standing. The term of the position is three years, and may be held for a number of consecutive terms or until the AVOA referee committee no longer deems the individual suitable for the role. Further information on the position of ROC is given in Appendix 1. AVOA (Association) President The AVOA President is elected every three years beginning in 2011. This position is ratified by the Alberta Volleyball general council at its Annual General Meeting immediately following the election. The elected AVOA President subsequently becomes a member of the AVA General Council and represents Alberta s referees at the Provincial level, and is designated as the administrative lead for the province of Alberta. The AVOA President, in conjunction with the ROC, is directly responsible to the AVA General Council for the operation of all activities of the AVOA referee committee. Under the current AVOA governance model, the position of AVOA President may be held by any certified referee in good standing. The term of the position is three years, and may be held for a number of consecutive terms or until the AVOA referee committee no longer deems the individual suitable for the role. Further information on the position of AVOA President is given in Appendix 3. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 9

Zone Officials Chair (ZOC) Each ZOC is elected by their zone membership. Each zone determines their nomination and election process. This position is ratified by the AVOA referee committee at its Annual General Meeting immediately following the election. The elected ZOC is designated as the administrative lead for their zone and subsequently becomes a member of the AVOA referee committee and represents their zone referees at the Provincial level. If the position of ZOC is not filled by the zone through an election, the President of the AVOA will make an appointment that must be approved by a majority of the AVOA referee committee. The ZOC is responsible for the development of the referee program within their zone in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the AVOA referee committee. Each ZOC will represent their zone at the ZOC meetings as called by the AVOA President, and shall convey the concerns and wishes of the referees of that zone by voting at those meetings, when called upon to do so. The ZOC shall also be responsible for reporting all decisions of the provincial meeting back to the referees of their zone and make rule interpretations available to all zone referees. Under the current AVOA governance model, the position of ZOC may be held by any certified referee in good standing. The term of the position is determined by each individual zone, and may be held for consecutive terms or until the zone membership, through their executive, no longer deems the individual suitable for the role. Further information on the position of ZOC is given in Appendix 5. Standing Committees The AVOA referee committee will include four (4) standing committees, which are set up to aid the development and promotion of volleyball referees and the various programs throughout Alberta. Each standing committee will be headed by a chairperson appointed annually by the AVOA referee committee chair (ROC), and ratified by the AVOA President and ZOCs. The standing committee chairpersons will be responsible to the ROC and AVOA President for the functional work of the committee. Each chairperson is to recruit appropriate volunteers from the AVOA membership to serve on the committees. The ROC will be an ex-officio member of all standing committees. The standing committees are: 1. Beach development and promotion 2. Regional development and promotion 3. National development and promotion 4. Discipline/Ethics (ad hoc, only convened when deemed necessary, see Appendix 6) A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 10

Committee (ZOC) Meetings Generally, meetings are only attended by the ROC, the AVOA President, the ZOCs, the standing committee chairs, and the AVA representative. Proxies may be sent, but they must have an understanding of the role they represent and be prepared to properly represent the affected party. Other referees may be allowed to attend upon prior request and approval by the majority of the AVOA referee committee. Frequency The AVOA referee committee is to meet at least once per season to conduct the business of the AVOA referee committee, and the meeting is to be face to face. There may be additional meetings called if required. These additional meetings may be face to face or in the form of a conference call. Date and Location The AVOA President, in consultation with the AVOA referee committee, is to set the date and location of the ZOC meeting. The AVOA President is to send out a notice of the meeting to all participants a minimum of four (4) weeks prior to the meeting. Meeting Book and Reports The AVOA President and the AVA office liaison are to prepare a meeting book for the ZOC meeting. The meeting book is to be distributed to the participants prior to the meeting. The ROC, ZOCs and standing committee chairs are requested to provide written reports to be included in the meeting book. Additions to the meeting book may be made at the start of the meeting; this includes items for discussion tabled from any AVOA referee through their respective ZOC. Rules of Order Unless otherwise stated, the business of the ZOC meeting will be conducted according to normally accepted rules of order (i.e. Robert s Rules of Order). The AVOA President presides over the meeting as chairperson; in their absence, the ROC is designated as meeting chair. Voting Voting at the ZOC meeting will be based on one vote for each ZOC, standing committee chair, ROC and AVOA President. Additionally, voting may only be done by those in attendance; there will be no proxy votes. Motions tabled will be decided by a simple majority. It will be customary (but not mandatory) for the ROC to vote only in the event of a tie. Motions All motions approved at the ZOC meeting that only affect Alberta referees are in effect immediately and need no further ratification. Motions approved at the ZOC meeting that impact user groups (i.e. rate changes), are submitted to the various affected user groups and form the basis of negotiation for services rendered by the AVOA and must be ratified by the affected party. Meeting Minutes Minutes of the ZOC meeting are to be taken and kept on file by the AVOA President. These minutes are to be distributed to all AVOA referee committee members. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 11

Zone Administration The information given is a proposed structure plan for all zones within the province. Recommended Zone Executive (Administrative) Structure It is possible that due to size and numbers of referees, positions may not be filled. The following is therefore a recommended format for zone administration. ZOC: Focal contact for zone, oversees all zone activities President: Assists with zone activities, handles disciplinary issues, proxies for ZOC Vice President: Assists with zone activities, assists with discipline, proxies for President Secretary/Treasurer: Oversees all finances and communication Assignor(s): Handles assigning of referees to events Development Chair: Responsible for mentorship, training and certification of Level 1 and 2 Each zone may choose to add or delete positions based on the size and need of their respective area. All positions should be filled via election. The exception is the position of ZOC; this position may be groomed by the predecessor in the position or appointed by the AVOA President. Zone Executive Meetings The executive of each zone shall meet at least twice per year (e.g. fall and spring) to discuss zone business. A quorum at executive meetings is considered to be the ZOC, the President or Vice President plus 2 other executive members. Zone Annual General Meetings An annual general meeting for all zone referees should be held in the spring of each year. This zone meeting shall be open to any interested official to attend and express concerns. Zone Finances A zone account must be maintained with suitable financial records; these records are to be made available to any certified referee within that zone upon request. An annual financial statement shall be produced for the zone membership and presented to the AVOA President at the spring meeting. The fiscal year is September 1 to August 31. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 12

Referee Requirements Certification and Promotion Refer to the Volleyball Canada National Referee Committee Policy and Procedure Manual. This manual contains the current national standard and hence takes precedence. It gives all relevant information regarding certification and promotion requirements for Level 1 through Level 5. Alberta may, as per current policy, have more stringent criteria than the national standard for promotion. Level 1 and 2 certification/promotion is at the discretion of each zone; this includes associated clinic costs for participants. Level 3 certification/promotion is the last stage of promotion under provincial jurisdiction; the costs are set by the AVOA referee committee and are typically covered by the zone, but may be borne by the candidate. Level 4 and higher certification/promotion is under national jurisdiction; fees and expenses for Level 4 candidates and higher are typically covered by the AVOA, but may be borne by the candidate. Maintenance of Certification As per the Volleyball Canada National Referee Committee Policy and Procedure Manual, Section 2.4.6 Activity. Registration Alberta Volleyball and Volleyball Canada require that all referees register each season. This is done online through the National Registration System. See Appendix 7 for step by step instructions on registration. The annual registration fees for AVOA referees are determined by the AVOA referee committee at the spring meeting; these fees include the required Volleyball Canada registration fee and membership fee, as well as an AVOA membership fee. The current fee structure for Alberta referees can be found in Appendix 8. In September, the ZOC will send out a registration reminder to each referee who registered the previous year. All members must register prior to October 15 th to give adequate time to process the related paperwork (submission of the A-1 Form) and ensure that monies get to the Volleyball Canada office on time for Alberta s registered Level 3/4/5 referees. This also ensures that these referees maintain their rating level. AVOA Officials (Local and Provincial) must register with Alberta Volleyball in order to maintain their rating as well. If you fail to register, you can lose your rating that you have worked so hard to achieve. Out of Province Transfers Those who move to Alberta after obtaining certification from another province must supply the following to be considered certified at that level by the AVOA: A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 13

Proof of certification (i.e. registration) from the province of origin for the current year; Canadian based Local and Provincial referees are to be evaluated by the ZOC (or delegate) to ensure skills are appropriate for the registered level. Once the evaluation is successfully completed and the referee registers, the certification is acknowledged. Canadian based Regional, National and International referees do not need to be evaluated as they are certified on the National level. The referee is only required to register. If from outside Canada, the ROC (or appropriate senior referee) must evaluate the referee in order to determine the appropriate certification level. The referee then registers with the AVOA (and possibly Volleyball Canada) in order to be certified. Normally the official is not considered as certified until the above process has been completed. The responsibility for certification rests with the out-of-province referee. The referee should not be assigned any matches without supervision; however, if circumstances warrant (at the discretion of the ZOC) the referee may work. Leave of Absence Referees who request a formal leave of absence may be on leave for up to one year with no loss of certification level. Continued leave requires a letter to the ROC outlining the volleyball activities the referee has been involved in, to ensure that they are current with the sport. Normally, registration is still expected but can be with the association where the referee now resides (i.e. on a one year trip to Macau, the referee registers with either the area Volleyball Association or the AVOA). Referees who have not paid registration fees to AVOA for one year or more, and have not requested a leave of absence will not be considered as certified and must successfully attend an appropriate clinic and pay the appropriate fees in order to regain their rating. Travel Travel outside of zones requires prior notification and approval by the ZOC. Referees travelling outside the province shall advise the ROC of the trip (when trip is not arranged by the ROC). Travel outside of Canada requires notification of the ROC and the NOC (ROC to contact the NOC), with the NOC granting final approval. Insurance requirements dictate that the AVA office be notified when travelling out of province or out of country. Referee Uniform All referees shall present a clean, well-groomed appearance. Since the uniform identifies a referee as a person of authority, it should reflect a certain dignity related to their function. Note: all levels of referees are expected to be in the Volleyball Canada approved uniform. It is realized that the cost to new Local referees can be substantial. In light of this, the expectation for their first year is the VC referee shirt as a minimum with navy blue dress slacks. By the start of year two, the Local referee is to be in full VC uniform. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 14

Domestic First and Second Referees The official dress for all domestic matches shall include the following: VC issue polo style short-sleeved shirt. VC issue dress slacks. Blue or black belt. Shoes should be predominantly white with few colour markings. A badge representing the qualification of the official. Domestic Line Judges and Scorers Line judges and scorers who are registered referees must wear the full official uniform. Line judges do not wear their badge. Badges Upon completion of the requirements for each level attained, the referee will purchase a badge. For each badge that is lost, stolen, or worn-out, new badges for Level 1 or Level 2 referees may be purchased through their zone (if a stock is kept) or through the Alberta Volleyball office. Level 3 and Level 4 badges are to be ordered through the Alberta Volleyball office. Arrival Time Prior to Match Junior High, High School or Adult League Referees are expected to arrive on the court a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the start time of any match. Junior High, High School or Adult Tournaments Referees are expected to arrive at the tournament site 30 minutes prior to the first match. Discretion is advised as to travel plans so as to arrive early. ACAC As stipulated by league policy. In the absence of any league policy, referees are expected to arrive a minimum of 45 minutes prior to the start time of any match. CIS/Canada West As stipulated by league policy. In the absence of any league policy, referees are expected to arrive a minimum of 1 hour prior to the start time of any match. National or International As stipulated by VC/FIVB policy. In the absence of any VC/FIVB policy, referees are expected to arrive a minimum of 1 hour prior to the start time of the match. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 15

Referee Selection and Assignment Match or Tournament Assignments The assignor or referee supervisor in charge of assignments for games, matches or tournaments shall follow the following criteria in selection of referees. It is strongly recommended that referees not be assigned to matches that involve immediate family members on the teams. The following considerations are to be taken into account before placing referees in specific matches: Round Robin Play 1. Level of referee. 2. Years of experience and proficiency of referee. 3. Calibre of the teams and match/tournament. 4. Teams involved in the match (referee neutrality is to be observed). 5. Assign equal number of matches as 1 st official and 2 nd referee as well as an equal number per gender for each referee. 6. Assign as many different partner combinations as possible throughout the tournament (where different provinces are involved, try to match referees from other different provinces together). Playoffs Where possible, adhere to the above criteria. Do not jeopardize the calibre of refereeing to meet the above criteria. Assign the most appropriate referee with respect to the situation. National or Major Championships The ROC shall pass on recommendations for referees representing the province of Alberta. The following procedure will be used in the selection of such referees: 1. Recommendation by the NOC based on activity, quality and ability. 2. Request by host or league (e.g. ACAC). 3. Previous involvement and tournament experience. 4. Activity of referee within the province. 5. Calibre of tournament (Canada Games, NTCC, CCAA, CIS). 6. Selection for each of the championships will not necessarily begin at the top of the seniority list each year, but instead may be merit based or development/upgrade based. The amount of tournaments and matches available will determine the number of opportunities for each referee in a given period of time. 7. The ROC should use their discretion when assigning referees to more than one major championship per given year or a referee to the same major tournament in two consecutive years, or tournament years. 8. Each senior referee may be given (but is not guaranteed) the opportunity to travel to a championship, either major or territorial, before beginning at the top of the seniority list provided all preceding requirements are equal or substantial. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 16

AVOA Clinician Certification This section outlines the necessary pre-requisites for certification as a clinician at the various levels within Alberta. Level 1 and 2 clinicians are under zone jurisdiction, while Level 3 is under provincial jurisdiction. Volleyball Canada also has a Referee Supervisor program; details of this program are available in the Volleyball Canada Referee Committee Policy and Procedure Manual. Alberta referees who have successfully completed their VC Referee Supervisor course are considered Master Clinicians. Prerequisites for AVOA Clinicians Level 1 Clinician Those referees who are considered certified as Level 1 clinicians must: 1. Have attended a clinician's seminar. 2. Be an active referee to the satisfaction of the ZOC and a current member in good standing of the AVOA. 3. Be a clinician approved by the ZOC. 4. Have a rating of Level 3 candidate or higher. Level 2 Clinician Those referees who are considered certified as Level 2 clinicians must: 1. Have attended a clinician's seminar. 2. Be an active referee to the satisfaction of the ZOC and a current member in good standing of the AVOA. 3. Be a clinician approved by the ZOC. 4. Take part in or attend a Level 1 clinic each year. 5. Have a rating of Level 3 or higher. Level 3 Clinician Those referees who are considered certified as Level 3 clinicians by VC and AVOA must: 1. Have attended a clinician s seminar. 2. Be an active referee to the satisfaction of the ROC and a current member in good standing of the AVOA. 3. Have taken part in a theory seminar assisting the head clinician. 4. Be current in the rules of the game, rule interpretations and the referee guidelines. 5. Be aware of the National Level 3 promotion protocols and expectations. 6. Have a rating of Level 4 or higher. 7. Be approved by the ROC as a practical evaluator. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 17

Referee Rates and other Allowances Match rates, travel, and meal allowances shall be set from year to year by the AVOA referee committee at the spring meeting. A copy of those rates and allowances shall be provided to each registered official. See Appendix 9 for the current AVOA referee pay rates and allowances. Clinician rates and allowances follow in Appendix 10. All rates, fees, and allowances for referees shall be collected and paid through the local zone association. The Zone Officials Association will retain a percentage of the earnings (determined by each zone; if the assignment is through the central provincial office, the deduction is 10%); this is used for referee development and other programs in the local association. Under no circumstances are referees to be paid by direct method. All hosts are required to pay the standard referee fees as set out annually by the AVOA; these rates are set in conjunction with the user groups. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 18

Code of Ethics for Referees As per the current Volleyball Canada rule book. Additional requirements for Alberta referees are as stated here. Participation in Competition Availability The referee must demonstrate complete reliability in relation to their commitments, fulfil them without exception and faithfully keep formal oral promises to referee. In accepting assignments to matches in a tournament, the referee shall demonstrate good will with a view to a division of work that is fair to all parties. Tournaments The referee shall be available throughout the tournament period, or the assigned time, to assist in any way possible. The referee shall devote their full attention to each match in which they are involved. Regular Involvement Each referee shall ensure that they regularly make themselves available for matches of any/all calibre when called upon to do so by the ZOC. Behaviour All referees are expected to act as fitting representatives of volleyball and of the AVOA and VC at all volleyball events. Potential Behaviours Leading to Sanction The following is a generic list of activities leading to sanctions of referees and the potential sanctions. Activities leading to possible sanctions 1. Undercutting or over-billing referee payment scales. 2. Late arrival at scheduled matches. 3. Displaying incorrect certification level badge. 4. Improper dress. 5. Failing to adhere to AVA/AVOA/VC policy as outlined in the appropriate manuals. 6. Criticising other referees publicly. 7. Failing to appear at scheduled matches. 8. Accepting direct payment for refereeing duties. 9. Being involved in activities contrary to good citizenship and covered by the Criminal Code of Canada. Possible Sanctions 1. Verbal reprimand. 2. Written reprimand (no record). 3. Written reprimand held on the referee s record. 4. Fine. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 19

5. Suspension for a period of time. 6. Suspension and Fine. 7. De-certification. Imposition of Sanctions The imposition of sanctions as outlined above, shall be enforced by the ZOC for sanctions 1 through 4 above and imposed by the Discipline/Ethics Committee Hearing Panel and enforced by the ROC for sanctions 5 through 7 above. Sanctions 1 and 2 shall be reported to the ROC when they involve senior referees or referees involved in major competitions. The ZOC, ROC, and Discipline Committee shall take into account any extenuating circumstances prior to the imposition of any sanctions. Right of Appeal Any referee who is sanctioned under activities 1 through 4 may appeal to a committee within their zone. Any referee who is sanctioned under activities 5 through 7 has the right to appeal that sanction to the Discipline/Ethics Committee (the Appeal Panel). The appeal must be made in writing to the Executive Director of Alberta Volleyball and received within 30 days of notification of the sanction. The notice of appeal must be accompanied by a payment of $100 as a bond, which shall be held by the Executive Director of the AVA pending outcome of the appeal. The sanction(s) shall be suspended until the Discipline/Ethics Committee hears the appeal. The Committee shall hear the appeal personally or by conference telephone call. The cost of the call shall be borne initially by the appellant pending the outcome of the appeal. The Discipline/Ethics Committee (Appeal Panel) shall have the power to disallow the appeal, to vary the sanction imposed (or the time of imposition) or to uphold the appeal. In the event that the appeal is upheld or the sanction is varied, the appellant may receive back both the $100 bond amount and the cost of the conference call, or a portion of the cost of the conference call as agreed upon by the Panel. If the appeal is successful, all costs borne by the appellant are reimbursed. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 20

Appendix 1 Information on the Position of ROC Duties/Responsibilities The ROC is responsible for: 1. Representing the province of Alberta at the annual Regional Official Chair meeting held by Volleyball Canada. 2. Communication within the province of any rule interpretations from Volleyball Canada. The ROC may communicate this information directly or may channel the communication through the ZOCs, who then distribute to their referees. 3. Attending all ZOC meetings as called by the AVOA President. 4. Attending all Annual General Meetings called by Alberta Volleyball. May be called upon to submit a written report to AV; this report is to be made available to all AVOA referees upon request. 5. Overseeing the training and certification of all Level 3 and Level 4 referees in the province. Includes submitting the names of those referees selected for upgrading to Level 4 to Volleyball Canada for inclusion at the theory session and practical evaluation. Also includes submitting the names of those referees that have successfully completed upgrade to Level 3 within Alberta to Volleyball Canada for ratification. 6. Through the ZOCs, overseeing the training and certification of all Level 1 and Level 2 referees in the province. 7. Recommending/assigning registered Alberta referees to CIS and ACAC league matches held within Alberta. Input from the ZOCs will be taken into account as feasible. If the ROC so chooses, they may delegate this responsibility to the ZOCs. 8. Recommending/assigning registered Alberta referees to major tournaments being held within Alberta. Input from the ZOCs will be taken into account as feasible. 9. Recommending/assigning registered Alberta referees to any National or International matches held within Alberta. Input from the ZOCs will be taken into account as feasible. 10. Maintaining a list of registered Alberta referees that may represent Alberta at National championships or other events outside Alberta. Said list will be provided to the National Officials Chairperson upon request. 11. Monitoring the activity of the Level 3 / 4 / 5 referees within Alberta, specifically looking at activity at the collegiate (ACAC) and university (CIS) levels. If the ROC has delegated assigning authority as in 7 above, the ZOC will monitor this activity and report to the ROC. 12. Nominating the chairperson(s) of the Level 3 and Level 4 upgrade committees; this nomination is subject to acceptance by the referee nominated for the post and ratification by the AVOA executive committee. The ROC is an ex-officio member of the committee. The ROC will also be responsible for any sundry duties assigned to their portfolio by VC or AV as required. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 21

Nomination Procedures Nomination is completed using the form found in Appendix 2. Details pertinent to the completion of the form are as follows: 1. The nomination form must be completed in full. 2. The completed nomination form must be sent to the Election Committee Chair; this person is placed in the role at the December ZOC meeting preceding the election. Dates for submission of the nomination forms will be decided upon at the December ZOC meeting. ZOCs will be notified of the names of candidates for the position of ROC per the agreed upon date established at the December ZOC meeting. Election Procedures It should be noted that for the position of ROC, the only eligible voters are referees in good standing with the AVOA holding certification levels of 3, 4 or 5. A period of time will be given between the nomination and election procedures to allow candidates to campaign (time frame agreed to at the December ZOC meeting preceding the election). The election shall be by ballot; this can be by either mail out or by electronic form (i.e. email). ZOCs must retain all ballots from their zone and forward to the Election Committee Chair. Voting results are initially based on the zone. Each zone is allotted one vote; the exceptions are the Calgary and Edmonton zones, which have larger numbers. The vote for Calgary and Edmonton will be counted as two. In the case of a tie based on zone votes, the cumulative total of all votes makes up the decision for the position of ROC. Elections are completed according to the following steps: 1. The Election Committee Chair will forward the names of eligible candidates and any other pertinent information to the ZOCs by an agreed upon date (this date is set at the December ZOC meeting prior to the election). 2. ZOCs will conduct the vote within their respective zones. Ballots are to be sent out to eligible voters. a. Should an eligible voter not be comfortable with the electronic form, they may print the form and mail it to their respective ZOC. The ZOC will not disclose any information from the ballot process. 3. Results of the zone vote are forwarded to the Election Committee Chair by the ZOC. As noted above, the ZOC is to retain the ballots and send to the Election Committee Chair. 4. The Election Committee Chair will tally the votes to determine the successful candidate. In the event of a tie, the cumulative total of all votes will be used to determine the successful candidate. 5. Upon determining the successful candidate, the Election Committee Chair will make the result of the election public to the AVOA referee committee. The AVOA President will, in turn, notify Alberta Volleyball. The ZOCs shall advise the Level 3/4/5 referees in their zones. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 22

6. Ballots are to be retained for a minimum of thirty days after the election result is given. After thirty days, all ballots are destroyed. Expenses All approved expenses garnered by the ROC shall be covered in part from dues and fees payable by all Alberta officials, and in part from various grants and allowances made available through the Alberta Volleyball office. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 23

Appendix 2 ROC Nomination Form ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regional Officials Chair (ROC) Nomination Form Refer to the AVOA Policy and Procedure Manual for details regarding the position, nomination and election procedures. The position is a three-year term beginning with elections in 2010. Nomination Procedures Any registered AVOA Official in good standing may nominate an eligible candidate for the position of ROC. Candidate Eligibility Must be a certified, registered Level 3 official (or higher) in good standing with the AVOA. Term of Office Can remain in office in three year terms, provided that the individual performs satisfactorily according to AVA and AVOA standards. The AVOA referee committee retains the right to refuse lengthening of the term past three years or additional terms if the individual is deemed to no longer meet the needs of the role or put the best interest of the officials forward. Duties/Responsibilities As per the current AVOA Policy and Procedure Manual, Appendix 1. I,, would like to nominate (nominator, print name) (nominee, print name) as a candidate for the position of Regional Officials Chair (ROC), election date of. The nominee is aware of the duties and responsibilities of the position, and has agreed to let their name be put forth for election purposes. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 24

Appendix 3 Information on the position of AVOA President Duties/Responsibilities The AVOA President is responsible for: 1. Calling at least one ZOC meeting per year and chairing the ZOC meeting. In their absence, they may delegate this role to a member of the AVOA executive committee. 2. Attending all Annual General Meetings called by Alberta Volleyball. May be called upon to submit a written report to AV; this report is to be made available to all AVOA referees upon request. 3. Maintaining an up to date list of all referees; this list is to be made available to all AVOA referee committee members with need. This may be done in conjunction with AVA office liaison (Program Director Officials). 4. Monitoring collection of all referee dues and the direction of this collection to the AVOA and VC as required. Includes submission of the necessary VC paperwork and dues per the VC given timelines for registration of referees. Again, this may be done in conjunction with the AVA office liaison. 5. Development, implementation and enforcement of consistent financial policies and practices. 6. Preparing, maintaining and presenting a financial report and budget to the AVOA referee committee. 7. Ensuring that all indoor and beach referees have access to the most current available rules, interpretations and match protocols as determined by the user groups serviced. 8. Development and communication of procedure(s) regarding disciplinary policies and implementation of appropriate sanctions. 9. Development and implementation of a communication process that informs all referees of points of interest on a monthly basis for indoor and beach volleyball. 10. Development and implementation of a process to monitor, evaluate and make recommendations for AVOA programs and overall service delivery. 11. Development, circulation and analysis of surveys (internal and external) to determine the level of, and increase the satisfaction with, officiating services. 12. In conjunction with the ROC, tracking the number of referee complaints, and ensuring year over year that there is a reduction in the number of complaints. The AVOA President will also be responsible for any sundry duties assigned to their portfolio by AV or the ROC as required. Nomination Procedures Nomination is completed using the form found in Appendix 4. Details pertinent to the completion of the form are as follows: 1. The nomination form must be completed in full. 2. The completed nomination form must be sent to the Election Committee Chair; this person is placed in the role at the December ZOC meeting preceding the election. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 25

Dates for submission of the nomination forms will be decided upon at the December ZOC meeting. ZOCs will be notified of the names of candidates for the position of ROC per the agreed upon date established at the December ZOC meeting. Election Procedures It should be noted that for the position of AVOA President, eligible voters are referees in good standing with the AVOA holding certification levels of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. A period of time will be given between the nomination and election procedures to allow candidates to campaign (time frame agreed to at the December ZOC meeting preceding the election). The election shall be by ballot; this can be by either mail out or by electronic form (i.e. email). ZOCs must retain all ballots from their zone and forward to the Election Committee Chair. Voting results are initially based on the zone. Each zone is allotted one vote; the exceptions are the Calgary and Edmonton zones, which have larger numbers. The vote for Calgary and Edmonton will be counted as two. In the case of a tie based on zone votes, the cumulative total of all votes makes up the decision for the position of ROC. Elections are completed according to the following steps: 1. The Election Committee Chair will forward the names of eligible candidates and any other pertinent information to the ZOCs by an agreed upon date (this date is set at the December ZOC meeting prior to the election). 2. ZOCs will conduct the vote within their respective zones. Ballots are to be sent out to eligible voters. a. Should an eligible voter not be comfortable with the electronic form, they may print the form and mail it to their respective ZOC. The ZOC will not disclose any information from the ballot process. 3. Results of the zone vote are forwarded to the Election Committee Chair by the ZOC. As noted above, the ZOC is to retain the ballots and send to the Election Committee Chair. 4. The Election Committee Chair will tally the votes to determine the successful candidate. In the event of a tie, the cumulative total of all votes will be used to determine the successful candidate. 5. Upon determining the successful candidate, the Election Committee Chair will make the result of the election public to the AVOA referee committee. The AVOA President will, in turn, notify Alberta Volleyball. The ZOCs shall advise the Level 3/4/5 referees in their zones. 6. Ballots are to be retained for a minimum of thirty days after the election result is given. After thirty days, all ballots are destroyed. Expenses All approved expenses garnered by the AVOA President shall be covered in part from dues and fees payable by all Alberta officials, and in part from various grants and allowances made available through the Alberta Volleyball office. A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 26

Appendix 4 AVOA President Nomination Form ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AVOA President Nomination Form Refer to the AVOA Policy and Procedure Manual for details regarding the position, nomination and election procedures. The position is a three-year term beginning with elections in 2011. Nomination Procedures Any registered AVOA Official in good standing may nominate an eligible candidate for the position of AVOA President. Candidate Eligibility Must be a certified, registered official in good standing with the AVOA. Term of Office Can remain in office in three year terms, provided that the individual performs satisfactorily according to AVA and AVOA standards. The AVOA referee committee retains the right to refuse lengthening of the term past three years or additional terms if the individual is deemed to no longer meet the needs of the role or put the best interest of the officials forward. Duties/Responsibilities As per the current AVOA Policy and Procedure Manual, Appendix 3. I,, would like to nominate (nominator, print name) (nominee, print name) as a candidate for the position of AVOA President, election date of. The nominee is aware of the duties and responsibilities of the position, and has agreed to let their name be put forth for election purposes. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A l b e r t a V o l l e y b a l l O f f i c i a l s A s s o c i a t i o n P P M a n u a l Page 27