Be the Referee: Hockey Equipment

January 24, 2019

This week, MHSAA assistant director Brent Rice discusses the need to monitor the proper wearing of the ice hockey neck guard.

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 – Required Hockey Equipment - Listen

A number of sports require certain equipment be worn, and be worn unaltered. In ice hockey, one such piece of equipment is the neck guard.

This is something not very well understood. And it’s not just that some players try to either not wear the neck guard or alter it – resulting in a team warning if caught – but that upwards of half of the neck guards on the ice on any given night of high school play are actually altered. Common alterations are putting tape around the guards, removing padding and wearing the donut style way below the collar bone.

Coaches, officials, players, parents and administrators have to treat this risk management issue more seriously than they are now to make the game as safe as it can possibly be.

Past editions

January 17: You Make the Call: 10-Second Clock - Listen
January 10: Tripping in Hockey - Listen
January 3: Sliding in Basketball - Listen
December 27: Stalling in Wrestling - Listen
December 20: Basketball: You Make the Call - Listen
December 13: Basketball Uniform Safety - Listen
December 6: Coaching Box Expansion - Listen
November 29: Video Review, Part 2 - Listen
November 22: Video Review, Part 1 - Listen
November 15: You Make the Call - Sleeper Play - Listen
November 8: 7-Person Football Crews - Listen
November 1: Overtime Differences - Listen
October 25: Trickery & Communication - Listen
October 18: Punts & Missed Field Goals - Listen
October 11: What Officials Don't Do - Listen
October 4: Always 1st-and-Goal - Listen
September 27: Unique Kickoff Option - Listen
September 20: Uncatchable Pass - Listen
September 13: Soccer Rules Change - Listen
September 6: You Make the Call: Face Guarding - Listen
August 30: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen
August 23: Football Rules Changes - Listen

Be the Referee: Cross Country Interference

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

October 31, 2023

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 – Cross Country Interference - Listen

I am running a great race at Michigan International Speedway. I’m about two miles into the 3.1-mile event, and I am on track to set a PR for the season.

As I run towards the next turn, a runner a few steps to my left, cuts right in front of me, causing me to slow down and nearly stumble. I regain my balance and keep going – but lose precious seconds during the altercation. Is interfering with a runner a penalty?

It is. If a race official sees a runner bump, trip, or run across another runner’s path causing them to change course or lose their natural rhythm, it’s interference. The runner charged with interference is disqualified. The runner who was interfered with continues on with his or her race.

Previous Editions

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