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: 4/22/24
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 22, 2024
1. SOFTBALL Lainey McDaniel threw a perfect game as undefeated Muskegon Reeths-Puffer handed previously-unbeaten Hamilton its first loss 10-0 in the Hawkeyes’ home invitational – Local Sports Journal
2. TRACK & FIELD Gladstone swept its home invitational’s team titles, and Ishpeming’s Lola Korpi broke a school record in the 3,200 from 1979 – Escanaba Daily Press
3. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 2 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice swept No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 12-4 and 5-1 – The PreP
4. SOFTBALL Division 3 honorable mention Evart defeated Central Montcalm, Benzie Central and honorable mention Sanford Meridian to win its Cat Classic – Cadillac News
5. BASEBALL Division 3 No. 7 Charlevoix won the Cat Classic on the baseball side, with Hunter Lemerand throwing a perfect game against Marion – Petoskey News-Review
6. BOYS GOLF Grand Blanc shot a 605 to win the Traverse City Tee-Off – Traverse City Record-Eagle
7. TRACK & FIELD The Hartland boys and Pinckney girls won Howell Highland Games championships, with Eagles sprinter Cameron Cheetam among individual standouts – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
8. BOYS LACROSSE Bay City Western won its fourth-straight Michigan North/South Invitational, defeating West Bloomfield 5-2 to finish a perfect day – Bay City Times
9. BASEBALL Williamston defeated Division 3 No. 10 Traverse City St. Francis and Charlotte to win the Charlotte Invitational – Lansing State Journal
10. TRACK & FIELD St. Joseph swept team championships at the Portage Northern Invitational, and among individual highlights Coldwater’s Ella Grabowski broke a school long jump record set 43 years ago – Coldwater Daily Reporter