![Referees have a brief discussion during the 2021 Finals at Ford Field.](/sites/default/files/2022-08/220823_referee_2H.jpg)
Be the Referee: Intentional Grounding Change
By
Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials
August 23, 2022
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 – Intentional Grounding Change - Listen
New this year in football is a change to intentional grounding.
What’s staying the same? A quarterback in the free block zone – who throws a pass to an area with no receiver nearby – will continue to be flagged for intentional grounding. That’s a five-yard penalty and loss of down.
So what’s different? Now … a quarterback outside of the free blocking zone can legally throw the ball away as long as the pass lands past the original line of scrimmage. This used to be flagged for grounding, but is now legal.
In fact, this rule doesn’t just pertain to the quarterback. Any passer, outside of the free blocking zone, can throw the ball away as long as it lands past the line of scrimmage.
STATE CHAMPS! Michigan: Extra Point Playoffs Week 3
November 11, 2022
This week on STATE CHAMPS! Extra Point: Sydney Cariel and Devin Gardner recap the notable games from Week 2 of the MHSAA Football Playoffs and preview the upcoming Regional Finals.
1:40 - Cass Tech vs. Southfield A&T Recap
3:55 - Macomb Dakota vs. Romeo Recap
5:40 - Brother Rice vs. Walled Lake Western Recap
8:15 - Trenton vs. Carlson Recap
9:43 - Mason McKenzie - Caledonia
11:27 - Goodrich ending vs. Freeland
12:55 - Mr. Football Update
16:54 - Detroit Athletic Club Athlete of the Year Promo
18:11 - DMC Gamechangers
19:11 - Anvil Award Update
22:35 - Menards Game Preview
23:55 - Rochester Adams at Clarkston - Game of the Week Preview