Be the Referee: Swim Finishing Touch
September 19, 2019
This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains a new rule in swimming that allows for more flexibility when determining when a competitor has finished a race.
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 - Swimming Finishing Touch - Listen
There’s a swimmer-friendly rules change being made in that sport this season. The definition of a legal finish has been changed to allow a competitor to touch any part of the finish end of the lane.
Previously, a swimmer had to contact the touch pad for a legal finish. The touch rule has also been changed to apply during relay races – where prior to this season only the final swimmer had to touch the finish end of the pool.
While the changes may provide some flexibility for swimmers, it does put additional responsibility on lane judges and back-up hand timers to be ready for those occurrences when a swimmer does not contact the touch pad.
Sept. 12: Curbing Gamesmanship By Substitution - Listen
Sept. 5: Football Safety Rules Changes - Listen
Aug. 29: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen
Be the Referee: Weight Monitoring
November 30, 2017
In this week's edition, assistant director Mark Uyl explains the how wrestlers' weights are monitored, an important part of making the sport safe for all who take the mat.
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 – Wrestling Weight Monitoring - Listen
It has often been said that wrestling is the toughest and most grueling six minutes in all of sports. It is a sport that requires great dedication, discipline and conditioning from those kids that step onto the mat.
One of the most important parts of the high school wrestling program in Michigan is the weight monitoring program. Prior to the season, every wrestler undergoes a body composition test where the body fat percentage of each student is determined – and based on that data, a minimum weight and weight class is established for every participant.
This data provides a safe and healthy plan for kids that wish to drop weight and move down to a lower weight class as a wrestler can never lose more than 1.5 percent of their body weight in a given week. This program has made wrestling a safer and healthier sport for every single wrestler in the state of Michigan.
Past editions
November 23: Ejections - Listen
November 16: Toughest Call - Listen
November 9: Hurdling - Listen
November 2: The Survey Says - Listen
October 26: Helmet Comes Off - Listen
October 19: Goal Line Rules - Listen
October 12: No 1st-Year Fee - Listen
October 5: Athletic Empty Nesters - Listen
September 28: Misunderstood Football Rules: Kicking - Listen
September 21: Preparation for Officials - Listen
September 14: Always Stay Registered - Listen
September 7: Other Football Rules Changes - Listen
August 31: Pop-Up Onside Kicks - Listen
August 24: Blindside Blocks - Listen