Be the Referee: Illegal Football Kick

October 22, 2020

This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis presents a "You Make the Call" on the legality of a kicking scenario.

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 - You Make the Call: Illegal Kick - Listen

Here’s a you-make-the-call situation today. It’s fourth down and a field goal is being attempted – but the holder muffs the snap. With the loose ball rolling around, the kicker swings his leg at it and boots it through the uprights. You make the call – is this legal?

There are only two ways a ball can be legally kicked for points on a play which starts with a snap from center. One is a place kick being held by another player – the other is the rarely seen drop kick.

Had the kicker picked up the ball, dropped it to the ground and kicked it on the bounce through the uprights, the result of the play would have been a field goal. In this instance, though, a 10-yard penalty is assessed from the line of scrimmage for illegal kicking, and the opposing team takes over from that spot.

Past editions

10/15: Toe the Line on Penalty Kicks - Listen
10/8: Disconcerting Acts - Listen
10/1: Ball Hits Soccer Referee - Listen
9/24: Clocking the Ball from the Shotgun - Listen

Performance of the Week: Grand Ledge's Shawn Foster

October 7, 2022

Shawn FosterShawn Foster ♦ Grand Ledge
Football ♦ Senior

The name “Shawn Foster” is well-known in the Lansing-area football community, and the Grand Ledge senior quarterback added to its prestige Friday with a performance that made many recall his father Shawn Foster, who starred at Lansing Sexton until graduating in 1998 and played at Michigan State.

The Comets’ Shawn Foster, a spread offense quarterback, ran 27 times for 396 yards and seven touchdowns as Grand Ledge defeated DeWitt 56-49 – with his 75-yarder with 51 seconds to play the game-winner. Foster’s yardage was a school and family record, and his seven rushing touchdowns are tied for third-most in one game in MHSAA history. The win put Grand Ledge at 5-1 and was its first over the Panthers since 2016. Foster has committed to continue his academic and football careers at Grand Valley State University.

@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Shawn Foster #performanceoftheweek #football #grandledge #comets #7td #touchdown #win #letsgo #MHSAA #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #TikTok#mistudentaid #fyp ♬ Beat Automotivo Tan Tan Tan Viral - WZ Beat

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MI Student Aid

Second Half’s "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

2022-23 Honorees

Sept. 30: Hannah Smith, Temperance Bedford swimming - Report
Sept. 22:
Helen Sachs, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Sept. 15:
Nina Horning, Lake Orion volleyball - Report
Sept 8:
Arturo Romero, Muskegon Oakridge soccer - Report
Sept. 1:
Austin King, Midland Dow tennis - Report
Aug. 25:
Olivia Hemmila, Troy Athens golf - Report

(Photos courtesy of the Grand Ledge athletic department.)