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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

Titles On Line During Dot-TV Streams

October 9, 2018

By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

Some interesting conference race outcomes may take place during a trio of football games this week on MHSAA.tv, produced by participants in the School Broadcast Program.

The first scenario is cut and dry – Monroe is at Saline (Both 6-1 overall, 4-0 league) on Friday (Oct. 12) at 7 p.m. playing for outright possession of the Southeastern Conference Red title. Brighton (6-1, 6-0) can claim the West crown in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association with a win at Howell on Friday at 7 p.m.  A loss and a Canton win at Hartland would force a tie for the division championship.

The third game in the group – Clarkston (6-1, 4-1) at Lake Orion (4-3, 3-2) Friday at 7 p.m. – could force a logjam in the Oakland Activities Association Red.  A Clarkston win gives the Wolves the division outright.  A loss to Lake Orion would tie the Dragons with Clarkston and West Bloomfield (5-2, 4-2) for the title; and if Oxford (5-2, 3-2) beats Bloomfield Hills (1-6, 0-5), there would be a four-way split of the crown.

On Monday (Oct. 15), coverage of District action in the MHSAA Boys Soccer Tournament begins with a number of games hosted by School Broadcast Program participants.

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. 9

Wednesday - Oct. 10

Thursday - Oct. 11

Friday - Oct. 12

Saturday - Oct. 13

Monday - Oct. 15

  • Potential MHSAA Boys Soccer District Games – Birch Run at Montrose, 4:30 PM; Niles at Stevensville Lakeshore, 6 PM; Walled Lake Central at Brighton, 6 PM; Midland Bullock Creek at Freeland, 7 PM

Tuesday - Oct. 16

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.