What's this about certified referees and scorekeepers?

USAV requires that each team has a certified referee and scorekeeper on the team.  This is not a very hard requirement to meet. It also doesn't mean that you can't play in tournaments if you don't have one. 

Regionals is the first tournament that really checks certifications.  Prior to Regionals (this year, March 27th in College Station), tournament referees and scorekeepers need to know what they're doing but a team doesn't get penalized if they don't have a certified referee.  The expectation is that your team is working towards getting one of each once the team is formed.  The cost involved is $25 per person certified -- this includes the class (about 2 - 3 hours for referees, about an hour for scorekeepers) and the certification for two years.  There are classes scheduled once a month (or so) in each city; almost every weekend from what I can tell if you look at the region. 

Realistically, this requirement is a slight barrier to entry but shouldn't prevent people from becoming a USAV member in my opinion.  It does require a little bit of effort on the part of the player or team/club director, but I don't think that it should be a make or break for most people.