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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

Playoffs Ramp Up on MHSAA TV, FSD

October 23, 2018

By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

Highlighted by more than a dozen Football Playoff games, this week’s MHSAA broadcast schedule is loaded with tournament action in three sports.

The slate is highlighted by the first Pre-District Football Playoff game to be shown on cable television statewide, as FOX Sports Detroit launches its Football Week In Michigan activities for 2018 by traveling to Kent City for a Division 7 first-round showdown between the 8-1 Falcons and last year’s Division 8 runner-up, Saugatuck (8-1).

Matt Shepard and Rob Rubick have the call of the game Friday (Oct. 26) at 7 p.m., which also can be seen free on the FoxSportsDetroit.com website and on the FOX Sports app. Authentication may be required to view on the FOX Sports app.

The highly popular Prep Zone series returns for its eighth season as well Friday, with Davison (7-2) at Oxford in a Division 1 Pre-District game and Haslett (8-1) at East Lansing (8-1) in a Division 3 contest. Both games begin at 7 p.m. on the FoxSportsDetroit.com website and on the FOX Sports app.

All games produced on FOX Sports Detroit will be available for on-demand viewing on the MHSAA.tv website.

Another 10 football games Friday evening and another four on Saturday are being produced by School Broadcast Program members and the NFHS Network.

School Broadcast Program members also will be covering a Boys Soccer Regional this week at Cedar Springs and Girls Volleyball Districts beginning Monday (Oct. 29) at four locations.

Here’s this week’s MHSAA.tv schedule of video streams being produced by School Broadcast Program members and the NFHS Network: (Check this list online at MHSAA.com for updates throughout the week as SBP members schedule additional games.)

Tuesday - Oct. 23

Wednesday - Oct. 24

Thursday - Oct. 25

Friday - Oct. 26

Saturday - Oct. 27

Monday - Oct. 29

Tuesday - Oct. 30

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.

NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $9.95 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 also will be selling Season and Annual Passes at a discounted rate. 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.