Twenty one years into his volleyball officiating profession, Shawn Davis nonetheless has as a lot enjoyable as he did in 12 months one. Whether or not he’s superbly singing the nationwide anthem or facilitating a juniors volleyball match, Shawn is grateful for the chance to function a Volleyball Official. His volleyball profession started in highschool, due to the mentorship of a pair individuals who guided him to the game. He actually loved watching the game in the course of the Olympics, vaguely understanding it, however afterward he fell extra in love with it when his life modified course.
Shawn enlisted within the navy in 1992 and believes it is without doubt one of the greatest issues he may have completed to alter the trajectory of his life. He served as a Logistical Specialist/S4 for 15 years, spending time in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, Ft. Lee, Virginia, Mannheim, Germany, Ft. Lewis, Washington, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. After 9/11 he was deployed, and whereas stationed at Kandahar Airbase in Afghanistan throughout Operation Enduring Freedom, Shawn began a volleyball program to assist hold morale up among the many troopers.
“After issues turned much less hectic and safer, I positioned an order for a volleyball internet and volleyballs. We performed on a regular basis as soon as the solar lowered or when it was secure to be exterior from the blistering warmth. It was there after I fell in love with the game,” mentioned Davis.
Previous to officiating volleyball, Shawn was a softball umpire. As soon as he started his journey as a Volleyball Official, Shawn had one mentor that began him off on the precise foot. Invoice Charge guided him by way of all of his ups and downs and educated him on the principles and their interpretations. After officiating many highschool matches, Shawn lastly jumped into the membership volleyball scenes, and it was there the place he would discover his new mentors: Steve Kenyon, Dan Apol and Paul Albright.
“Now let me be extraordinarily clear after I say that having these mentors in my world was not a simple stroll for me. On the time, I had no clue what contributions they’d made to our sport. Dan Apol, was an Worldwide Seaside official primarily based out of Colorado. Paul Albright, was an Worldwide Indoor official and the Head of USAV Officers cadre. Steve Kenyon, who was my Ref Chair within the Southern Area, and a really adorned Official within the seashore volleyball realm, was a Head Official for a lot of qualifiers and is now the Southern Area Commissioner,” added Davis.
After three to 4 years of their steering, Shawn acquired his Regional Patch. He refers back to the subsequent chapter as “Camp Prater delivered to you by Michelle and Mark Prater, the mannequin residents of Officiating.” Michelle is an Worldwide Official from the Southern Area and Mark is a properly renown Official all through the USA.
“I spent 5 to seven years at their camp studying the craft of a superb Official. That course of was probably the most useful level in my volleyball profession because of how meticulous and OCD they had been regarding the artwork of officiating. Being round them, watching how they handle Officers and the way they reply the questions that nobody thinks about was paramount for me,” shared Davis.
At this time, Shawn may be seen officiating males’s and ladies’s collegiate matches along with Head Officiating junior occasions, together with the junior nationwide championships for the boys and the women. He enjoys watching the younger athletes develop up and change into superstars, watching their careers flourish into school {and professional} careers. He has officiated lengthy sufficient to seeing them get married, have children of their very own, then change into dad and mom of volleyball gamers.
“My expertise with JVA occasions has been superb. I used to be given so many alternatives to shine brightly whereas working these occasions that they turned my catalyst to maneuver up inside the ranks of volleyball. I had the prospect to work with a couple of superior Officers with the assistance of Joseph O’Neal, Donnie Goodwin and Michael Mirassa,” mentioned Davis.
Shawn is grateful to his journey as an Official, because it lead him to fulfill his spouse throughout a event. When Shawn will not be officiating, he focuses on his profession as a singer, songwriter, and producer in Nashville the place he owns a studio. He works with A-list artists, in addition to new artists within the genres of Nation, Gospel, Christian, R&B and Soul.
Shawn has been a part of the motion to recruit new junior volleyball Officers, as there’s a scarcity within the sport. He feels there must be extra regulation for fogeys who violate the code of conduct for junior tournaments. Over the previous few years, over 100 officers give up officiating who had a tough time managing a match that was overrun by dad and mom. He urges dad and mom, coaches and athletes to be extra understanding to the truth that Officers are susceptible to make errors, and so they human like everybody else. It’s necessary that everybody is educated on the principles, in addition to modifications of the principles to advertise a extra constructive aggressive setting for the athletes, spectators, and Officers. In spite of everything, those that make Officiating their journey, all began with a love and keenness for the sport.
JVA acknowledges and rewards Officers by way of the JVA Officers’ Reward Program, open to all licensed Officers, from newbie to most skilled. The JVA values your service to junior volleyball. We encourage those that are passionate in regards to the sport and wish to discover a profession in junior volleyball to think about changing into a Licensed Official. Contact JVA Head Official Joseph O’Neal at this time.