Be the Referee: Clarifying Takedowns
February 28, 2020
This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains new clarifications to the takedown rule for high school wrestling.
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 - Clarifying Takedowns - Listen
One of the rules changes in high school wrestling this year clarifies the definition of a takedown. This rule change eliminates some confusion from last year.
The high school rule is not the college rule that if the hands touch the mat, you immediately score a takedown. To be consistent in high school, whenever the hand touches the mat they are considered supporting points.
By removal of this "majority of the wrestler's weight" criteria, the need is eliminated for the official to make a judgmental call on weight bearing extremities.
In addition, the application of the new rule on "supporting points" becomes consistent throughout the rulebook, not just on or around the 28-foot circle.
Past editions
Feb. 20: Basketball Officials Manual - Listen
Feb. 13: Held Ball or Traveling - Listen
Feb. 6: Hockey Rules Chart - Listen
Jan. 30: Cheer Safety - Listen
Jan. 23: Goaltending - Listen
Jan. 16: Wrestling Tie-Breaker - Listen
Jan. 9: Pregame Meeting - Listen
Dec. 19: Alternating Possession - Listen
Dec. 12: Ratings - Listen
Dec. 5: Video Review Success - Listen
Nov. 28: More Injury Time - Listen
Nov. 21: Football Review - Listen
Nov. 14: Sideline Safety - Listen
Nov. 7: Officials Playlist - Listen
Oct. 31: Most Important Line - Listen
Oct. 24: Automatic 1st Downs - Listen
Oct. 17: Catch Momentum - Listen
Oct. 10: Golf Rules Changes - Listen
Oct. 3: No Tackle Box - Listen
Sept. 26: You Make the Overtime Call - Listen
Sept. 19: Swimming Finishing Touch - Listen
Sept. 12: Curbing Gamesmanship By Substitution - Listen
Sept. 5: Football Safety Rules Changes - Listen
Aug. 29: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen
Be the Referee: Fifth-Quarter/Third-Half Rule
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
April 25, 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 – Fifth-Quarter/Third-Half Rule - Listen
Did you know? ... Many sports now offer student-athletes the opportunity to compete on both varsity and subvarsity teams during the same week or even the same day.
The Fifth-Quarter or Third-Half Rule was instituted to help subvarsity teams with low participation numbers. Now, a student-athlete on the varsity team can participate in part of the JV game – so each level of team can play with a safer number of players.
For example, a football player who plays in three quarters of the JV game may also play in two quarters of the varsity game – for a total of five quarters played.
The rule is not designed for high-caliber players to play down a level and dominate games or pad stats.
The Fifth Quarter is available in basketball, football, and boys lacrosse – Soccer has the Third-Half Rule.
Previous Editions:
April 18: Soccer Referee in Play? - Listen
April 11: Softball Strikeout - Listen
March 14: Basketball Instant Replay - Listen
March 7: Hockey Overtime - Listen
Feb. 28: Baker Bowling - Listen
Feb. 21: Ski Finish - Listen
Feb. 14: Swimming Touchpads - Listen
Feb. 7: In or Out-of-Bounds in Wrestling - Listen
Jan. 31: Over the Back - Listen
Jan. 24: Competitive Cheer Judges - Listen
Jan. 17: More Lines - Listen
Jan. 10: On the Line - Listen
Jan. 3: Basketball Measurements - Listen
Dec. 13: Pregame Dunks - Listen
Dec. 6: Gymnastics Judges - Listen
Nov. 22: Football Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 15: Back Row Illegal Blocker - Listen
Nov. 8: Swim Turn Judges - Listen
Nov. 1: Soccer Referee Jersey Colors - Listen
Oct. 25: Cross Country Tie-Breaker - Listen
Oct. 18: Soccer Shootouts - Listen
Oct. 11: Safety in End Zone - Listen
Oct. 4: Football Overtime Penalty - Listen
Sept. 27: Kickoff Goal - Listen
Sept. 20: Soccer Timing - Listen
Sept. 13: Volleyball Replays - Listen
Sept. 6: Switching Sides - Listen
Aug. 30: Play Clock - Listen
Aug. 23: Intentional Grounding Change - Listen