Bordering on legendary status as a Volleyball referee in the Lou (also known as the city of St. Louis, Missouri), Marty Prochko is without a doubt “Simply the Best” Volleyball official I have ever seen. My acknowledgment to Mike Chapman and Holly Knight, the writers behind those lyrics, and to Bonnie Tyler and Tina Turner, the primary artists who immortalized the song. Back to Volleyball now.
Skill, experience, and expertise separate and delineate Marty Prochko from most other Volleyball referees, and his credentials as an official are extraordinary and almost overwhelming. If you have watched the women’s Volleyball “Final Four” in recent years, you have undoubtedly seen Marty. He has officiated and called the Women’s Final Four Championship match as the R1, or the Up Referee, twice, including Illinois – UCLA in 2011. He has served as the Championship match R2, or Down Referee, once, and, in total, he has officiated in nine women’s Final Four tournaments. (My note: Since there are about 160 men’s college Volleyball programs and approximately 1,600 women’s college programs, or 10 times as many women’s programs as men’s programs, all good Volleyball referees will obviously work the women’s game more than the men’s game.)
Marty is certified to officiate in the Big Ten Conference, the Big Twelve Conference, the Missouri Valley Conference, Conference USA, the Big East Conference, the Ohio Valley Conference, the NAIA, and the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA). In other words, anywhere and everywhere in the eastern US. He holds a National rating with the Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO) and a “Junior National” status with USA Volleyball (USAV). (My note again: Although USAV Junior National is considered a lower rating than USAV National, Marty holds this Junior National designation by choice. He actually prefers to officiate and mentor juniors Volleyball in lieu of calling adult matches for USA Volleyball whenever possible.)
He is also one of those somewhat rare officials who realize that the fans don’t worry about the officials but just want to see good, or even great, volleyball. As he stated in a recent telephone conversation, “There really isn’t room for a big ego out there. The fans did not come out to see me blow the whistle.” Marty also believes that a successful referee must have a “quiet confidence” in himself, a “good demeanor”, and a “decisive” nature or personality. Since refereeing a volleyball match is so much “more than just calling balls in and out”, the referee must “take charge of the match” and “keep things moving” in a positive direction.
Marty actually became a Volleyball referee by accident, literally. He was a minor league baseball player who became injured and was bored with seemingly nothing to do. His Mom somehow convinced him to try working as a referee in a recreational league in Berkeley, a St. Louis suburb. In Marty’s own words, “I was horrible.” However, his tenacity won out and he continued to learn how to be a referee. Since girl’s high school Volleyball was not yet widespread in Missouri, Marty actually worked small colleges before refereeing high school Volleyball. His skill and demeanor attracted some attention, and, he became a desired and sought after referee by coaches and conferences alike. The rest, as they say, is history.
Marty, our sincere thanks for all you have done and continue to do to promote and advance this wonderful sport of Volleyball. So, all you college coaches out there, if you are looking for a skilled, fair, honest, and fearless referee who will make the tough calls correctly, get in touch with Marty Prochko through your conference or PAVO or USAV or even me. Let’s grow the game!
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