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Coming up on 2H (11/24-11/25)
November 23, 2012
The fall season finishes up this weekend at Ford Field with eight MHSAA 11-player Football Finals, even-numbered divisions playing Friday and odds Saturday. And there are a variety of ways to follow the action.
- Check in to Second Half within hours after each game for coverage by Geoff Kimmerly and Bill Khan, plus links to photos and an embed of the full press conference.
- Go to MHSAA.tv to watch those press conferences streamed live.
- Visit our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @MHSAA.
- New this year: See some of what happens behind the scenes on our Instagram page.
![A football official signals holding during a 2023 game.](/sites/default/files/2024-08/240827_referee_2H.png)
Be the Referee: Football Holding
By
Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials
August 27, 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 Holding - Listen
In football, it’s often said that holding happens on every play. But does it?
When an offensive player uses their hands or arms to illegally restrain a defensive player – that’s holding. This typically happens when blockers grab or pull defensive players away from their path – impeding their ability to make a play. The penalty is 10 yards from the previous spot.
Defensive players can be flagged for holding as well. That’s also a 10-yard penalty. An example of defensive holding is when a cornerback grabs a receiver to slow him down before the ball is thrown. If that same contact happens while the pass is in the air – then it’s pass interference. Defensive pass interference is a 15-yard penalty.
PHOTO A football official signals holding during a 2023 game. (Photo by Gary Shook.)