Be The Referee: Play Clock

By Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials

August 30, 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 – Play Clock - Listen

There’s a new rule in football this year that provides the offense more time to draw up a play and prepare matchups when the defense commits a foul. 

In the past, if the defense committed a foul, the play clock would be set to 25 seconds, potentially changing the approach by the offense entirely. 

Under the change, when the defense or receiving team commits a foul, the play clock will start at 40 seconds, giving the offense an extra 15 seconds to prepare their scheme for the next play. 

For all other administrative stoppages, including fouls against the offense or kicking team, the play clock will be set to 25 seconds when play resumes.
 

Previous Editions:

Aug. 23: Intentional Grounding Change - Listen

Be the Referee: Abnormal Course Condition

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

October 1, 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 – Abnormal Course Condition - Listen

We’re on the golf course today and our approach into 18 has gone from bad to worse. Or has it?

Our shot lands in a puddle, in the middle of a bunker, which certainly isn’t good. But because water in a bunker is an abnormal course condition, we’re allowed free relief.

We’re able to go to the nearest spot of relief, no closer to the hole, and drop within a club’s length of that spot while still playing from the bunker.

Or relief can be taken outside of the bunker, no closer to the hole, and within line of the shot – but a penalty stroke is added.

So you have two options if you find water inside a bunker; only one requires you to take a penalty stroke.

Of course the best course of action is to avoid the bunkers all together!

Previous 2024-25 Editions

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