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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

OAA, TVC Showdowns to Stream Live

October 2, 2018

By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

The top spots in divisions in two leagues are up for grabs this week on MHSAA.tv, part of a live video streaming buffet of over 75 events being produced by participants of the School Broadcast Program.

On Tuesday (Oct. 2), the top spot in the Oakland Activities Association Red in volleyball is on the line when No. 9 (Division 1 coaches poll) Rochester Hills Stoney Creek and No. 3 Lake Orion square off at Lake Orion at 7 p.m. Both are 4-0 in OAA play.

Then on Friday (Oct. 5), the Tri-Valley Conference East football title will be settled when Millington travels to Frankenmuth for a 7 p.m. clash. Both teams are 5-1 overall, 4-0 in league play, and ranked in the top 10 in different divisions in media polls this week.

The TVC also has another football match-up of top-ranked teams on MHSAA.tv this week. On Friday, Alma is at Freeland at 7 p.m. While both teams are tied for second behind No. 2-ranked (Division  5) Saginaw Swan Valley in the TVC Central, they are both in the top 10 in Division 4.

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

Tuesday - Oct. 2

Wednesday - Oct. 3

Thursday - Oct. 4

Friday - Oct. 5

Saturday - Oct. 6

Monday - Oct. 8

Tuesday - Oct. 9

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. 

Highlights of games broadcast during the past week by MHSAA School Broadcast Program members include clips from the Saginaw Heritage/Bay City Central and Stevensville Lakeshore/Battle Creek Lakeview football games and Freeland/Saginaw Swan Valley volleyball match.

Highlights can be found each week on the MHSAA.tv website, the home page of the MHSAA Website, and the MHSAASports Channel on YouTube.

A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA website.