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
Playoff Broadcasts Continue Online
November 6, 2018
By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
Plenty of Regional tournament activity takes place this week on MHSAA.tv and FoxSportsDetroit.com in football and girls volleyball.
Volleyball coverage begins Tuesday (Nov. 6) with the School Broadcast Program at Lake Orion High School streaming Division 1 matches, and the SBP at Fowlerville streaming a Division 2 match. Here’s the schedule:
- Lake Orion v. Troy – 5:30 p.m.
- Walled Lake Northern v. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek – 7 p.m.
- Marshall v. Fowlerville – 7:30 p.m.
On Friday (Nov. 6), five games will be shown at 7 p.m. – three on the PrepZone on Fox Sports Detroit and two on MHSAA.tv. Here’s the PrepZone schedule:
- Dearborn Fordson at Clinton Township Chippewa Valley
- Clarkston at Lapeer
- Warren DeLaSalle at Port Huron Northern
Viewing of Prep Zone games is free on the FoxSportsDetroit.com website. Authentication may be required to view on the FOX Sports app. All Prep Zone games also will be available for free on-demand viewing on the MHSAA.tv website.
The Prep Zone is part of the “Football Week In Michigan” promotion by FOX Sports Detroit, which is offering a $2,500 cash prize for the best photo posted on Instagram showing what Football Week In Michigan means to that individual. Tag the photo @FOXSportsDetroit and include the hashtag #FWIMPHOTOCONTEST. Submissions will be accepted until Nov. 13.
Here is Friday’s schedule on MHSAA.tv:
- Cedar Springs v. Muskegon at Grand Haven, 7 p.m.
- Pewamo-Westphalia v. New Lothrop at Chesaning, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games on MHSAA.tv will be:
- Detroit Southeastern at Reading, 12:30 p.m.
- Rockford at Saline, 1 p.m.
- Montrose at Flint Hamady, 2 p.m.
NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $9.95 a month, which allows access to a number of MHSAA Tournaments during the month of November:
- Nov. 9-10 – Selected Football Playoff Regional Finals
- Nov. 15-17 – Girls Volleyball Semifinals & Finals
- Nov. 17 – Lower Peninsula Girls Swimming & Diving Finals
- Nov. 17 – Football Playoff Semifinals (13 games)
All sporting events – live or delayed – are available on a subscription basis only for their first 72 hours online. They become available for free, on-demand viewing approximately 72 hours following their completion.