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Be the Referee: Most Important Line
October 31, 2019
This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains what the goal line means for offenses, defenses and special teams in high school football.
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 - Most Important Line - Listen
There’s an old saying in football officiating that the most important line on the field is the goal line.
This is certainly true when it comes to touchdowns, as the high school rule is just like that at the college and pro level, where all the ball has to do is break the plane for the score.
One unique part of the goal line under high school rules deals with kicks. Whenever a kickoff or a punt breaks the plane of the goal line, it becomes a dead ball with an automatic touchback. Now, whenever the defense gets possession of the ball in the end zone, it can return a fumble or interception out of the end zone for advancement, except if it’s on an extra point or any time in overtime.
Past editions
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
![Today In The MHSAA](/sites/default/files/2021-03/Today%20In%20The%20MHSAA_8.png)
Today in the MHSAA: 4/10/23
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 10, 2023
1. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 13 Bay City Western earned coach Tim McDonald his 800th career win with a 5-0 shutout of Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart – Bay City Times
2. TRACK & FIELD Hart swept girls and boys championships at its Hart & Sole Music Invitational – Ludington Daily News
3. BASEBALL Saginaw Heritage swept Division 2 No. 16 Petoskey 2-1 and 2-0 – Saginaw News
4. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 4 Midland and Traverse City West played to a weekend split, West winning the opener – Traverse City Record-Eagle
5. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 14 Howell swept Fowlerville, with Owen Elsey throwing a no-hitter in the opener – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
6. TRACK & FIELD The Grass Lake boys and Quincy girls won Grass Lake Invitational titles – Jackson Citizen Patriot
7. TRACK & FIELD The Indian River Inland Lakes girls and Charlevoix boys were victorious at the Lake
Superior State University Indoor Invitational – Cheboygan Daily Tribune
8. BASEBALL Michigan Center defeated Sand Creek and Constantine to win the Union City Invitational – Jackson Citizen Patriot
9. SOFTBALL Monroe Jefferson swept Hazel Park in its Ring of Honor doubleheader – Monroe News
10. GIRLS SOCCER Birmingham Seaholm and Ann Arbor Pioneer played to a 2-2 draw – Hometown Life
Also of note …
BOYS LACROSSE Ron Hebert became the winningest boys lacrosse coach in Michigan high school history (including pre-MHSAA sponsorship) with Lake Orion’s 13-7 win over Birmingham United – Oakland Press