Michele Oty is a working mother of two young children. The oldest, daughter Mia, is playing U12 volleyball. She’s busy ferrying kids from one place to another. In addition, she is completing her first year as a volleyball official, and she is loving it. But a quick-glance volleyball checklist of things to do each season would help her stay organized and fulfill her obligations.
 
Retention has become a concern to the SAVRA Board of Directors as keeping officials from one year to the next has become increasingly more difficult. So how can we be better as an organization and individuals in doing the right things to help our new officials want to stay involved with us?
 
Oty believes a housekeeping checklist is a start. “I need that checklist to make sure I’m following up on everything . . .” Federation test completed, check. Packed ref bag with all the tools, check. Make a captains’ meeting list of things to cover, check. Copied the most recent list of SAVRA officials and their contact info, check.  
 
She believes replacing some of the classroom training sessions with more on-court sessions would help, too. “Sometimes we need to see it to understand what our trainers are telling us.”

Gonwicks Wasting No Time 

Jason, Mallory and Gretta, aka Kit, at the HUB working a January match. For those who haven’t heard, Gretta is quite impatient. As Jason was preparing to transport Mallory to the hospital on Nov. 28, Gretta was born in their home on the kitchen floor. She’s obviously not one for wasting time. Mom and baby are doing well. Oh, and Jason has been appointed SAVRA's new secretary (see story below). 

PAVO Offering Spring Training Camps

Excellent opportunity for intermediate and advanced officials. Officials are videotaped calling spring college matches and reviewed with nationally trained clinicians. These camps span the country, and run mid-February through mid-April. Scholarships are available. To learn more, click on https://pavo.org/Training/Training-Camps