Officials group marks 25th year

The speed at which high school volleyball is played has increased tremendously in recent years.
Because of that, officials must keep pace with the ever-growing talent that schools are placing on the floor.
That is the focus of the Mahoning Valley Volleyball Officials Association, which is celebrating its 25th year of service to Ohio high school athletics.
Making strides
"When volleyball first started, it was a sport for the girls. Nobody put any stock into it. It wasn't an important sport," said Pat Gaia, president of the MVVOA.
"Times are changing," he said. "The sport has gotten better. The girls' ability in the last five or six years has improved."
And the speed?
"It's gotten so quick," Gaia said. "You blink your eye and something's happened. It's over."
More girls are attending camps, Gaia said, such as those that coach Joe Conroy holds at Youngstown State. In addition, Junior Olympic volleyball keeps the girls training year-round.
"The kids, if they want to apply themselves, can move along [in the sport]," Gaia said. "There are some great JO coaches and high school coaches out there."
Keeping up
Just as girls have devoted their time and focus into becoming better athletes, volleyball officials are doing the same. And it shows.
The MVVOA was formed in September 1978 with 28 original members. Today, membership has grown to nearly 75.
"Each year we get six to eight new members," Gaia said. "A lot of girls played the game and come back and start officiating."
Gaia, the president since 1988, didn't foresee his involvement in the sport.
"When I got into it, it was just something to pass my time," he said.
Now, it has become much more than that.
Aiming to please
The focus of the association is simple: Know the rules -- through meetings and classes -- and enforce them accurately.
"Practice, practice, practice," Gaia said, when asked what officials can do to improve. "Going out and watching good matches, observing good officials, asking why they do such a thing."
The association, Gaia stresses, is for the high school girls who play the sport. It is a message he gives to them during a pregame meeting.
"It's not for me or your coaches," he tells the girls. "It's for you kids. If you have a question, come up to me and I'll answer it for you."
Defining success
The MVVOA bases its success on its continued growth in membership and its representation at the state tournament level.
Jim Pepperney, John Rorick, Joyce Ramsey, Mel Klinger, Kevin McKinstry, Tony DelBene, Glen Windram, Rick Shriver and Gaia have officiated at the state level.
"We get members who go to the state tournament each year," said Ramsey, who coached at Youngstown State from 1975-76. "That's voted on by the coaches across the state, so for us to get as many representatives as we do, that says a great deal."
Also speaking volumes is change in which the MVVOA has instituted over the years. It was the driving force in getting officials to wear shorts and a solid white shirt, instead of the traditional black and white officials uniform.
"At the college level, they wear white. In JO ball, they wear white. So we petitioned the OHSAA," Gaia said. "In August, it's pretty hot."
The MVVOA will celebrate this weekend by honoring its charter members at 6 p.m. Sunday at Dino's in North Jackson. The original members are Mike Butch, Phil Clacko, Ken Clark, Bill Leskovec, Joe Pisano, John Vicarel, Pepperney, Ramsey and Rorick.
XBrian Richesson covers high school sports for The Vindicator. Write him at richesson@vindy.com.