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

Ice Matchups Shine On MHSAA TV Lineup

January 8, 2019

By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

A couple of match-ups involving four of the state’s higher-ranked ice hockey teams highlight an MHSAA.tv schedule packed with more 250 events to be produced in the coming week by School Broadcast Program participants.

The top-ranked team in Division 1, Detroit Catholic Central, will be at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood for a Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League battle on Friday (Jan. 11) at 7:15 p.m. The Cranes were ranked third in the latest coaches poll in Division 3.

Then on Saturday (Jan. 12),  Birmingham Brother Rice, rated third in Division 2, will be at Calumet for a 7 p.m. face-off. The Copper Kings are fifth in Division 3. Catholic Central and Brother Rice each reached the Semifinals of the MHSAA Tournament last year.

In its 10th 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 events. The SBP also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.

Here’s the upcoming MHSAA.tv schedule of video streams being produced by School Broadcast Program members and the NFHS Network: 

Tuesday - Jan. 8
Freshman Girls Basketball - Brighton at Howell  - 3:50 PM
Freshman Boys Basketball - Burton Bentley at Otisville Lakeville  - 3:50 PM
Freshman Boys Basketball - Midland at Saginaw Heritage  - 4 PM
Freshman Girls Basketball - Rockford at Grandville  - 4 PM
Freshman Girls Basketball - Lansing Catholic Central at Fowlerville  - 4 PM
Freshman Girls Basketball - Muskegon Catholic Central at Fremont  - 4 PM
Freshman Girls Basketball - Croswell-Lexington at Fenton  - 4 PM
Freshman Boys Basketball - Grandville Calvin Christian at Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian  - 4:15 PM
Freshman Boys Basketball - Vicksburg at Plainwell  - 4:15 PM
Freshman Boys Basketball - Ann Arbor Greenhills at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood  - 4:30 PM
Freshman Boys Basketball – Standish Sterling at Frankenmuth  - 4:30 PM
Freshman Boys Basketball - Warren Cousino at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore  - 4:30 PM
Freshman Girls Basketball - Essexville-Garber at Freeland  - 4:30 PM
JV Boys Basketball - Burton Bentley at Otisville Lakeville  - 5:20 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Brighton at Howell  - 5:20 PM
Girls Basketball - Plymouth Christian at Southfield Christian  - 5:30 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Rockford at Grandville  - 5:30 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Flint Kearsley at Linden  - 5:30 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Canton at Novi  - 5:30 PM
Girls Basketball - Mancelona at Pellston  - 5:30 PM
JV Boys Basketball - Bath at Mt. Morris  - 5:30 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Sparta at Comstock Park  - 5:30 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Comstock at Kalamazoo Christian  - 5:30 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Midland at Saginaw Heritage  - 5:30 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Lansing Catholic Central at Fowlerville  - 5:30 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Owosso at Fenton  - 5:30 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Lansing Sexton at Ovid-Elsie  - 5:30 PM
JV Boys Basketball - Linden at Flint Kearsley  - 5:30 PM
JV Boys Basketball - Watersmeet at Dollar Bay  - 5:45 PM
JV Boys Basketball - Grandville Calvin Christian at Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian  - 5:45 PM
JV Boys Basketball - Vicksburg at Plainwell  - 5:45 PM
Boys Basketball - Houghton Lake at Harrison  - 6 PM
JV Girls Basketball - North Muskegon at Hart  - 6 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Essexville-Garber at Freeland  - 6 PM
Girls Basketball - Ubly at Harbor Beach  - 6 PM
Girls Basketball - Newaygo at Fremont  - 6 PM
JV Boys Basketball – Standish Sterling at Frankenmuth  - 6 PM
Girls Basketball - Burton Bendle at Flint Powers Catholic  - 6 PM
JV Boys Basketball - Ann Arbor Greenhills at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood  - 6 PM
JV Boys Basketball - Warren Cousino at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore  - 6 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Iron Mountain at Norway  - 6:15 PM
Boys Basketball - Burton Bentley at Otisville Lakeville  - 6:50 PM
Girls Basketball - Brighton at Howell  - 6:50 PM
Girls Basketball - Rockford at Grandville  - 7 PM
Boys Basketball - Bath at Mt. Morris  - 7 PM
Girls Basketball - Flint Kearsley at Linden  - 7 PM
Boys Basketball - Midland at Saginaw Heritage  - 7 PM
Girls Basketball - Sparta at Comstock Park  - 7 PM
Girls Basketball - Notre Dame Prep at Lake Orion  - 7 PM
Girls Basketball - Lansing Catholic Central at Fowlerville  - 7 PM
Girls Basketball - Owosso at Fenton  - 7 PM
Girls Basketball – Lansing Sexton at Ovid-Elsie  - 7 PM
Girls Basketball - Comstock at Kalamazoo Christian  - 7 PM
Girls Basketball - Canton at Novi  - 7 PM
Boys Basketball - Linden at Flint Kearsley  - 7 PM
Boys Basketball - Watersmeet at Dollar Bay  - 7:15 PM
Boys Basketball - Vicksburg at Plainwell  - 7:15 PM
Boys Basketball - Grandville Calvin Christian at Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian  - 7:15 PM
Boys Basketball – Standish Sterling at Frankenmuth  - 7:30 PM
Girls Basketball - North Muskegon at Hart  - 7:30 PM
Girls Basketball - Essexville-Garber at Freeland  - 7:30 PM
Boys Basketball - Burton Bendle at Flint Powers Catholic  - 7:30 PM
Boys Basketball - Newaygo at Fremont  - 7:30 PM
Boys Basketball - Ann Arbor Greenhills at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood  - 7:30 PM
Boys Basketball - Warren Cousino at St. Clair Shores Lake Shore  - 7:30 PM
Boys Basketball – Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart at Vestaburg  - 7:30 PM
Girls Basketball - Iron Mountain at Norway  - 8 PM
 
Wednesday - Jan. 9
Freshman Girls Basketball – Bay City Central at Saginaw Heritage  - 4 PM
Freshman Boys Basketball – Ann Arbor Pioneer at Flint Powers Catholic  - 4 PM
Wrestling – Quad at Mt. Morris with Durand, Otisville Lakeville, Chesaning   - 5 PM
Wrestling - New Lothrop at Ovid-Elsie  - 5 PM
Wrestling – Triangular at Flint Kearsley with Holly and Flushing - 5 PM
Wrestling - Ravenna at Hart  - 5 PM
JV Girls Basketball – Flint Carman-Ainsworth at Saginaw Heritage  - 5:30 PM
JV Girls Basketball – Wixom St. Catherine at Ann Arbor Greenhills  - 5:30 PM
Boys Basketball – Gaylord St. Mary at Pellston  - 5:30 PM
Wrestling – Triangular at Saline with Monroe and Jackson   - 5:30 PM
JV Boys Basketball – Ann Arbor Pioneer at Flint Powers Catholic  - 5:30 PM
Wrestling –  Quad at White Lake Lakeland with Waterford Mott, Walled Lake Northern, South Lyon East - 5:30 PM
Unified Sports - Northville at Howell  - 5:30 PM
JV Girls Basketball – Madison Heights Bishop Foley at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood  - 6 PM
Boys Basketball - Ubly at Harbor Beach  - 6 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Manton at McBain  - 6 PM
Competitive Cheer – OAA Jamboree at Lake Orion with Rochester Adams, Rochester, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, Tory Athens, West Bloomfield - 6:30 PM
Girls Basketball – Wixom St. Catherine at Ann Arbor Greenhills  - 7 PM
Girls Basketball – Flint Carman-Ainsworth at Saginaw Heritage  - 7 PM
Girls Basketball – Madison Heights Bishop Foley at Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood  - 7:30 PM
Girls Basketball - Manton at McBain  - 7:30 PM
 
Thursday - Jan. 10
Freshman Boys Basketball - Chesaning at Otisville Lakeville  - 3:55 PM
Freshman Boys Basketball - Grant at Fremont  - 4 PM
Freshman Boys Basketball - Hamilton at Comstock Park  - 4 PM
Freshman Boys Basketball - Bridgeport at Frankenmuth  - 4:30 PM
Middle School Boys Basketball – Allen Park Inter-City Baptist at Southfield Christian  - 4:30 PM
Freshman Girls Basketball - Otsego at Plainwell  - 5 PM
JV Boys Basketball - Chesaning at Otisville Lakeville  - 5:20 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Grant at Fremont  - 5:30 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Hanover-Horton at Manchester  - 5:30 PM
JV Boys Basketball - Hamilton at Comstock Park  - 5:30 PM
JV Boys Basketball - Bridgeport at Frankenmuth  - 6 PM
JV Boys Basketball - Owosso at Flint Kearsley  - 6 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Otsego at Plainwell  - 6:15 PM
Boys Basketball - Chesaning at Otisville Lakeville  - 6:50 PM
Girls Basketball - Troy Athens at Lake Orion  - 7 PM
Girls Basketball - Hanover-Horton at Manchester  - 7 PM
JV Boys Basketball - Grant at Fremont  - 7 PM
JV Girls Basketball - Bridgeport at Frankenmuth  - 7:30 PM
 
Friday - Jan. 11
Freshman Boys Basketball - Salem at Howell  &l