Mentoring Responsibilities

​Mentoring Form to be completed by Mentor:  Mentor Form
New for 2021-2022
Mentoring Apprentices at a Freshmen Match
Rationale:
During the August 2021 Business Meeting it was suggested that we schedule apprentices to work freshmen/reserve matches that precede a JV/Varsity match and that an experienced official could volunteer to show up early to mentor the apprentice.

Officials may be asked to mentor an apprentice when an apprentice is working a freshmen match that precedes a JV/Varsity match. The goal here is to offer support to the apprentice in a situation where the official would normally be working alone. The official will not be paid for mentoring in a freshmen match and should contact the assignor if they prefer to not mentor. 

Some scenarios in mentoring in this situation.
  • Show up to the site as early as you can. You don’t necessarily have to be present for the entire match, but obviously it would be helpful if you did. 
  • If the game is in progress go ahead and step in as R2 and offer the apprentice support.
  • If you arrive before the match starts, ask the apprentice what they would like to work on. It’s perfectly fine to offer to be R1 so the apprentice can work as an R2.


The role of mentor here is to support the apprentice and offer help. 
Resources for Officials
​Mentoring Apprentices at JV/Varsity Matches
​First year apprentices will observe one JV/Varsity match and then on three other occasions officiate a JV match and then observe the varsity match. Second year apprentices will officiate and observe four matches during the season. They are usually assigned to work with a mentor every two weeks. The apprentice is not paid to work at these matches.

Observe a JV/Varsity Match
First year apprentices will observe their first JV/Varsity match and will not officiate. They will be listed in the Arbiter as an Observer. Here are some of the things you can ask an apprentice to do when they are observing.
The apprentice observes both JV and Varsity matches and does not officiate. They should come to the match dressed as if they were going to officiate.
  • Observe pre-game and coin toss
  • Bring a card and practice tracking players, substitutions and rotation.
  • Identify back-row players during play.
  • Make note of any questions that may arise during a match.
  • Identify the offense each team is playing.
  • Answer any questions they may have about the match.

Working a JV Match / Observing the Varsity Match
Matches assigned as Apprentice means the apprentice will officiate the JV match. They will be assigned as an Observer for the Varsity match. 
 
During the JV match:
​The apprentice officiates as R2 working with a mentor. The apprentice can officiate at R1 if set 3 is a non-deciding set.
  • Ask the official how they keep track of substitutes on their line-up card and how they track back row players on the floor. This is something they can work on during the varsity match.
  • Observe the apprentice in his/her role as R2 and later as R1 (non-deciding set).
  • Don’t interrupt the apprentice during play. During timeouts you can address one or two immediate things for the official to work on, but keep it simple. Don’t overwhelm the apprentice during the match.
  • Make note of any questions that may arise during a match that can be discussed at the end of the match.
 
During the Varsity match:
The official will be observing this match ideally near the scorer’s table. Here’s what they should do.
  • Observe pre-game and coin toss.
  • Bring a card and practice tracking players, substitutions and rotation. They should make a point to try and identify back-row players during play.
  • You could have second year apprentices score one of the sets.
  • See if they can identify the offense each team is playing.
  • Make note of any questions that may arise during a match.
  • Use a tracking sheet and track the libero for a set.​
  • Use a score sheet and score a set or part of a set.