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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

5 Weekends of MHSAA Finals, 1 Low Price

February 20, 2018

By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties   

Over the next five weeks, fans of Michigan high school sports can catch hundreds of hours of live video coverage of MHSAA Championships on MHSAA.tv and the NFHS Network for just $9.95.

This week’s championship coverage comes from Wings Events Center in Kalamazoo on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 23-24) at the Team Wrestling Finals. Here’s the complete schedule:

Friday – Feb. 23 – Team Wrestling Quarterfinals 

Division 4 @ Noon

Division 1 @ 2:15 p.m.

Division 3 @ 4:30 p.m.

Division 2 @ 6:45 p.m.

Saturday – Feb. 24 – Team Wrestling Semifinals & Finals 

Division 4 Semifinals @ 9:30 a.m.

Division 1 Semifinals @ 9:30 a.m.

Division 3 Semifinals @ Noon

Division 2 Semifinals @ Noon

Saturday Finals - 3:30 p.m.

Here’s the week-by-week NFHS Network coverage schedule of MHSAA winter Championships:

  • Feb. 22-24 – Team Dual Wrestling Quarterfinals-Semifinals-Finals
  • March 2-3 – Individual Wrestling Finals
  • March 2-3 – Girls Competitive Cheer Finals
  • March 8-10 – Ice Hockey Semifinals & Finals
  • March 13 – Girls Basketball Quarterfinals
  • March 15-16 – Girls Basketball Semifinals
  • March 20 – Boys Basketball Quarterfinals
  • March 22-23 – Boys Basketball Semifinals

The 16 Team Wrestling events on Friday are part of the busiest day ever on MHSAA.tv, as a total of 44 events will be streamed by the NFHS Network and by participants in the School Broadcast Program.

In addition to day-to-day regular-season productions, School Broadcast Program participants cover tournament games taking place at their facilities as a condition of membership in the program. SBP schools also play a major role in the production of Quarterfinal games in the Boys and Girls Basketball Tournaments in March.

For the second straight week, a record 115 events are on this week’s MHSAA.tv schedule, with 74 at the varsity level and more to be added as the week progresses. A total of 51 events will be produced by schools using Pixellot, the NFHS Network’s automated coverage solution. Be sure to check “Upcoming Events” on the MHSAA.tv home page daily for last-minute additions.

Here’s this week’s MHSAA.tv schedule of video streams being produced by SBP members:

Tuesday – February 20

Wednesday – February 21

Thursday – February 22

Friday – February 23

Saturday – February 24

Monday – February 26

Tuesday – February 27

In its ninth 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 is used by schools wishing to live stream games, but lacking the ability to staff the events. The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions. 

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

Highlights of games produced in the past week by MHSAA School Broadcast Program members feature last weekend’s Upper Peninsula Swimming & Diving Finals.

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

With the winter sports season fully underway, StateChamps! High School Sports Show returns with new weekly editions debuting each Sunday at 9 a.m. on Fox Sports Detroit – featuring fresh editions of the MHSAA Minute.

The MHSAA Minute takes a look each week at different things happening in the life of the Association, from promoting educational programs to rules changes in high school sports. This week’s Minute takes a look at the School Broadcast Program – and as part of its salute to Black History Month, MHSAA Assistant Director Nate Hampton will be featured. Archived editions of MHSAA Minute can be found on the StateChamps! YouTube Channel.