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
Tune in Live for Major Matchups
January 29, 2020
By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
Here are some of the top viewing picks for the coming week on MHSAA.tv and the NFHS Network.
Click Here to look at the latest list of all upcoming varsity games:
Tuesday, Jan. 28
BBB – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central at East Grand Rapids, 7 p.m.
BBB - Iron Mountain at Negaunee, 7:15 p.m.
BBB - Clare at Pewamo-Westphalia, 7:30 p.m.
GBB – Farmington Hills Mercy at Bloomfield Hills Marian, 7 p.m.
GBB – Standish Sterling at Freeland, 7:30 p.m.
BBB – Ann Arbor Huron at Saline, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 29
GBB – Marquette at Calumet, 7:15 p.m.
HKY – Detroit Country Day at Brighton, 8 p.m.
WR – Niles Quad, 5 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 31
BBB - Shepherd at Clare, 7:30 p.m.
BBB - Powers North Central at Munising, 7:30 p.m.
GBB – Menominee at Marquette, 6 p.m.
HKY – Hartland at Brighton, 7:30 p.m.
HKY – Detroit U-D Jesuit at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 1
BBB - Adrian Lenawee Christian at Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, 4 p.m.
Now in its 11th year, the School Broadcast Program gives members an opportunity to showcase excellence in their schools by creating video programming of athletic and non-athletic events with students gaining skills in announcing, camera operation, directing/producing and graphics. Pixellot – The NFHS Network’s automated streaming solution – is used by schools wishing to live stream games but lacking the ability to staff the events. The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.
NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $10.99 a month. Subscribers will have access to all live video and streaming statistics across the country. All content becomes available for free, on-demand viewing 72 hours after being shown live. School Broadcast Program participants benefit as a portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program.
A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA Website.