About Ohio Valley Region Volleyball | OH, WV, & Western PA

About Us

Introduction

The Ohio Valley Region (OVR), Inc. is the largest of the 40 regional volleyball associations (RVAs) of USA Volleyball (USAV). The OVR’s primary purpose as an amateur athletic sports association is to promote and establish quality volleyball through participation by adults and juniors, according to the standards set forth by USAV and the Amateur Sports Act of 1978. Geographically, the Ohio Valley Region includes the states of Ohio and West Virginia and the following bordering counties of Western Pennsylvania (Beaver, Crawford, Erie, Green, Lawrence, Mercer, and Washington).

Who We Are

The Ohio Valley Region, Inc. (OVR) holds a significant position within USA Volleyball (USAV) as the largest region among the 40 regions comprising USAV. Here are some key points about the OVR:

Nonprofit Status: The OVR operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, indicating its commitment to serving the community and advancing the sport of volleyball in the Ohio Valley region.
Affiliation with USA Volleyball: As an affiliate of USA Volleyball, the OVR operates within the framework and guidelines established by the national governing body for volleyball in the United States. This affiliation ensures alignment with national standards, initiatives, and rules set forth by USAV – such as indoor and outdoor playing rules, uniform guidelines, and safety standards for all adults working with minors in the game of volleyball.
Authorization by USOC: The OVR’s affiliation with USA Volleyball is authorized by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), as mandated by the Amateur Sports Act of 1978. This affiliation underscores the OVR’s role in promoting amateur sports and fostering athletic development.
Size and Membership: With over 27,000 members annually, OVR membership primarily consists of female and male athletes, with over 2000 teams participating in various programs and competitions. Additionally, the OVR’s membership includes Club Directors, Tournament Directors, Coaches, Officials, and Administrators, highlighting the diverse roles and stakeholders within the organization.

Overall, the Ohio Valley Region, Inc. plays a vital role in promoting volleyball participation, development, and excellence while serving a broad and diverse membership base and upholding the principles of amateur sports and the mission of USA Volleyball.

Our Mission

The OVR’s mission is to promote and develop the sport of volleyball and register members, teams, administrators, and officials for all sanctioned volleyball competitions within the OVR. The OVR also conducts regional championships and sanctions all other competitions within the OVR.

The mission of the Ohio Valley Region (OVR) is focused on promoting and developing the sport of volleyball within its region, including these key objectives:

Promotion of Volleyball: The OVR is dedicated to promoting volleyball as a sport within the Ohio Valley region. This includes raising awareness of the sport, attracting new participants, and fostering a culture of volleyball enthusiasm.
Development Initiatives: The OVR aims to facilitate the growth and development of volleyball players, teams, coaches, officials, and administrators. This may involve providing resources, organizing training programs, and offering support to individuals, teams, or clubs involved in volleyball.
Registration for Sanctioned Competitions: As part of its mission, the OVR registers members, teams, administrators, and officials for all sanctioned volleyball competitions within its jurisdiction. This ensures that participants are properly registered and eligible to compete in sanctioned events.
Conducting Regional Championships: The OVR organizes and conducts regional championships to allow teams to showcase season-long improvements.
Sanctioning Other Competitions: In addition to regional championships, the OVR sanctions all other volleyball competitions within its jurisdiction. This includes various tournaments, leagues, and other events organized by clubs, schools, and other entities.

By pursuing these objectives, the OVR seeks to fulfill its mission of promoting and developing volleyball while facilitating a vibrant and competitive volleyball community within the Ohio Valley Region.

Our History

The history of the Ohio Valley Region (OVR) within the context of USA Volleyball (USAV) is rich with significant events, individuals, and contributions to the sport. Here’s an overview:

Formation and Evolution: The OVR traces its origins back to 1928 when the United States Volleyball Association (USVBA) was established. It served as the National Governing Body (NGB) for volleyball, overseeing national team training, competition, and development. Over time, the USVBA transformed into USA Volleyball (USAV), which is responsible to this day for selecting athletes for all U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams.
Historical Background: Originally established as Region 4 in 1943, the OVR encompassed Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. In 1968, it expanded to include seven bordering counties of Western Pennsylvania. In 1997, Kentucky formed the Pioneer Region, and Region 4 was renamed the Ohio Valley Region (OVR), the name it operates under today.
Notable Figures & Events: The OVR has been associated with several notable individuals who have made significant contributions to volleyball. Jim Coleman, from Springfield, Ohio, was the first USA men’s national coach to defeat the Soviet Union and played a role in forming the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA). Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Doug Beal coached the USA Men’s National Team to its first Olympic Gold Medal in 1984 and later served as CEO of USA Volleyball. Doug was also one of the co-founders of Sports Imports, based in Worthington, Ohio. Sports Imports is considered one of the world’s leading design, engineering, and manufacturing companies for volleyball equipment. Max Holt, hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, is a current USA Men’s National Team member and has earned numerous international accolades as a middle blocker. In 2023, Columbus was announced as one of the initial seven cities to host a Pro Volleyball League (PVL) team in the Columbus Fury. The PVL is women’s pro volleyball league that began play in February 2024 with world class players and coaches, including some of America’s greatest volleyball players

Regional Commissioners: Throughout its history, the OVR has been led by dedicated individuals who served as Regional Commissioners. Those individuals are:

 1943-49 — A.A. Hammersmith, Massillon, Ohio 
1949-52 — A.A. Joselyn, Dayton, Ohio 
1952-59 — Bill Seebohm, Cincinnati, Ohio 
1959-62 — Jim Coleman, Springfield, Ohio
 1962-64 — Robert Ewing, Dayton, Ohio 
1964-71 — Jeep McDonald, Youngstown, Ohio 
1971-90 — Roland Stone, Coraopolis, PA
 1990-96 — Ron Wyzynski, Kent, Ohio
 1996-2022 — Bob Price, Westerville, Ohio 
2022-Present — Brian Hofman, Ada, Ohio

What We Do

The Ohio Valley Region (OVR) serves as a crucial hub for volleyball in Ohio, West Virginia, and Western Pennsylvania, offering a comprehensive range of services and initiatives:

Child Protection Standards: The OVR, in partnership with USA Volleyball (USAV), ensures the highest level of child protection training and safety standards for club directors, coaches, and officials in the sports industry through mandatory Safe Sport certification and background screenings, as mandated by the Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017.
Support for National Teams: The OVR plays a pivotal role in supporting the USA National Men’s and Women’s Olympic Indoor, Beach, Sitting, and Paralympic teams. By fostering talent and providing resources, the OVR contributes to the success of these elite teams.
Referee Training: With a commitment to excellence, the OVR offers top-tier referee training, boasting a pool of over 500 referees each season. Top-level training ensures fair play and high-quality officiating across all levels of competition.
Youth Registration: Annually registering over 27,000 youth players, coaches, referees, and administrators, the OVR facilitates widespread participation in volleyball. This robust registration demonstrates the OVR’s popularity and significance in volleyball.
All-Star Championships Sponsorship: The OVR sponsors two boys’ and two girls’ teams each season to attend the prestigious USA All-Star Championships. This opportunity allows teams from the region to showcase their skills and compete against top players from 39 other regions, fostering growth and development in the sport.

Overall, the Ohio Valley Region serves as a cornerstone of volleyball development and excellence, prioritizing safety, training, and opportunities for athletes, coaches, referees, and administrators alike.