MHSAA Winter Tournaments to Begin Busy Run of Streaming, Radio Broadcasts

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

March 18, 2021

More than 150 games in the District rounds of the Michigan High School Athletic Association Girls and Boys Basketball Tournaments next week will have live streaming video on the NFHS Network and MHSAA.tv.

Girls Basketball Districts begin Monday, March 22, with Boys Basketball Districts tipping off March 23. Games will be produced by MHSAA member schools participating in the School Broadcast Program, either with traditional student crews or by Pixellot, the NFHS Network’s automated production solution.

The broadcast schedules for the District Semifinals and Finals will be released the day before those rounds. You can always reach a list of the upcoming tournament games to be streamed by Clicking Here.
 
The MHSAA Finals for Competitive Cheer, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, and Lower Peninsula Boys Swimming & Diving will also be available on the NFHS Network:

► Competitive Cheer is March 26-27 from the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Stacy Smith and Genna Rose will be the broadcasters for the Cheer Finals.

► Gymnastics is March 26 (team) and 27 (individual) from Rockford High School, with Renae Weaver on the call.

► Ice Hockey Semifinals are March 25-26 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, with the Finals on March 27.  Joe Jason, Pat Ronayne, and Jeremy Otto will cover the nine games. All nine games also will be available on the MHSAA Radio Network.

► Lower Peninsula Boys Swimming & Diving is March 26 (diving) and 27 (swimming) at Hudsonville High School for Division 1, Jenison High School for Division 2, and Hamilton High School (diving only) and Holland Aquatic Center (swimming only) for Division 3. Announcers Tom Skinner, Phil Johnson, and Gary Ratski are returning to call the action in the pool.

Now in its 13th 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 – The NFHS Network’s automated streaming solution – 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.

NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $10.99 per month. Subscribers will have access to all live video and on-demand video from across the country. School Broadcast Program participants benefit as 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

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