Be the Referee: Tripping in Ice Hockey

January 10, 2019

This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains another of the most misunderstood rules in high school sports  this one concerning tripping in hockey.

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 – Tripping in Hockey - Listen

Today, we’re in our series of the most misunderstood rules in high schools sports, and we’re going to talk about tripping in ice hockey.

In high school hockey, a player intentionally leaving his or her feet and knocking an opponent down is tripping – even if the puck hits the player leaving his or her feet.

This is different than the professional interpretation and frustrates amateur officials at all levels. A player can dive and legally knock the puck off the opponent’s stick, but if on the follow-through cuts down the opponent – it’s a trip. A dangerous play, pure and simple.

Past editions

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: Football OT

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

November 5, 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 – Football OT - Listen

We’ve got a football overtime question for you today. In high school, what is the only way a defensive team can score in overtime?

  • Can they return an interception for a touchdown?
  • Can they pick up a fumble and take it back for a touchdown?

If you said yes to either of those, you’re wrong.

In overtime, if the defense gains possession of the ball – be it by fumble or interception – the play is over. There’s no advancing of the ball, and the offensive possession is over.

So back to the original question: How can the defense score in overtime? There’s only one way – via safety. And with teams starting at the 10-yard line, that would be a pretty wild play – and it would end the game with the defensive team victorious.

Previous 2024-25 Editions

Oct. 29: Officials Registration - Listen
Oct. 22: Volleyball Serve - Listen
Oct. 15: "You Make the Call"
- Soccer Offside - Listen
Oct. 8: Roughing the Passer - Listen
Oct. 1: Abnormal Course Condition - Listen
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

PHOTO An officiating crew confers before this season’s Fowler/Bath varsity football game. (Photo by John Johnson.)