GALESBURG — Did you know there is a shortage of Illinois High School Association volleyball referees? Carl Sandburg College’s Corporate & Leisure College is offering basic and advanced volleyball referee training courses this summer to teach individuals the fundamentals of volleyball and how to officiate games.
The officiating basics course includes five sessions from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays from July 13-Aug. 10. Participants will learn the basics of volleyball as well as the mechanics of officiating a match. Registrants will also learn the process to become a licensed volleyball official, which pays an average of $30-$35 per hour. Any new prospective official will receive a waiver to register with the IHSA to become a certified volleyball official. The deadline to register for the basic course is July 1. The cost is $80, which includes a course book.
The officiating advanced course includes six classes from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursdays from July 8-Aug. 19. The course will cover techniques on communicating with your officiating partner and coaches as well as advanced techniques on player alignment. Participants will also learn how to keep score using National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) procedures. The deadline to register for the basic course is July 5. The cost is $60, and no course book is required.
In-person and virtual classes are available. In-person classes will take place on Sandburg’s Main Campus in Galesburg, 2400 Tom L. Wilson Blvd. No prior volleyball knowledge is necessary, but you must be 17 years of age to register. Tony Oligney-Estill, director of parks & recreation for the City of Galesburg, will facilitate the classes.
For more information or to register, call 309.345.3501 or community@sandburg.edu.