Be the Referee: Football OT
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
November 5, 2024
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Football OT - Listen
We’ve got a football overtime question for you today. In high school, what is the only way a defensive team can score in overtime?
- Can they return an interception for a touchdown?
- Can they pick up a fumble and take it back for a touchdown?
If you said yes to either of those, you’re wrong.
In overtime, if the defense gains possession of the ball – be it by fumble or interception – the play is over. There’s no advancing of the ball, and the offensive possession is over.
So back to the original question: How can the defense score in overtime? There’s only one way – via safety. And with teams starting at the 10-yard line, that would be a pretty wild play – and it would end the game with the defensive team victorious.
Previous 2024-25 Editions
Oct. 29: Officials Registration - Listen
Oct. 22: Volleyball Serve - Listen
Oct. 15: "You Make the Call" - Soccer Offside - Listen
Oct. 8: Roughing the Passer - Listen
Oct. 1: Abnormal Course Condition - Listen
Sept. 25: Tennis Nets - Listen
Sept. 18: Libero - Listen
Sept. 10: Cross Country Uniforms - Listen
Sept. 3: Soccer Handling - Listen
Aug. 24: Football Holding - Listen
PHOTO An officiating crew confers before this season’s Fowler/Bath varsity football game. (Photo by John Johnson.)
Be the Referee: Avoiding the Tag
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
May 14, 2024
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Avoiding the Tag - Listen
We’re on the baseball diamond today where we’ve got a runner on second with one out.
The batter hits a ground ball that gets through the infield and the runner makes the turn at third, attempting to score. The throw comes in ahead of him, and as he nears home plate he dives head-first over the catcher, avoiding the tag, and touches home plate.
Is this legal?
It is not.
Runners are not required to slide. They can jump or hurdle a fielder if the fielder is lying on the ground. And they can jump over an outstretched arm attempting to make a tag. But diving over a fielder is illegal. The runner is out.
If no contact is made between the runner and fielder, the ball remains live, unless interference is called. If contact is made, the ball becomes dead.
Previous Editions
May 7: Baseball Pitch Count - Listen
April 30: Boys Lacrosse Helmets - Listen
April 23: Softball Interference - Listen
April 16: Soccer Red Card - Listen
April 9: Batted Baseball Hits Runner - Listen
March 12: Basketball Replay - Listen
March 5: Hockey Officials - Listen
Feb. 27: Less Than 5 - Listen
Feb. 20: Air Ball - Listen
Feb. 13: Hockey Penalties - Listen
Jan. 30: Wrestling Tiebreakers - Listen
Jan. 23: Wrestling Technology - Listen
Jan. 9: 3 Seconds - Listen
Dec. 19: Unsuspecting Hockey Hits - Listen
Dec. 12: No More One-And-Ones - Listen
Nov. 21: Football Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 14: Volleyball Unplayable Areas - Listen
Nov. 7: Pass/Kick Off Crossbar - Listen
Oct. 31: Cross Country Interference - Listen
Oct. 24: Soccer Overtime - Listen
Oct. 17: Tennis Spin - Listen
Oct. 10: Blocked Kick - Listen
Oct. 3: Volleyball Double & Lift - Listen
Sept. 26: Registration Process - Listen
Sept. 20: Animal Interference - Listen
Sept. 13: Feet Rule on Soccer Throw-In - Listen
Sept. 6: Volleyball Jewelry - Listen
Aug. 30: Football Rules Similarities - Listen
Aug. 23: Football Rules Differences - Listen
(PHOTOS by Gary Shook.)