Be the Referee: Balks
May 27, 2015
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains the often-misunderstood baseball balk rule.
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 - Balks - Listen
One of the most misunderstood rules in all levels of baseball deals with the pitcher and the balk rule.
The balk rule is in place to make sure that the pitcher does not cheat to gain an unfair advantage on a baserunner who is either attempting to steal a base or advance to that next base.
In high school, whenever a pitcher commits a balk, the ball becomes dead immediately. The pitch does not count, and simply, all runners on base advance one base.
Under professional rules, when watching the Tigers, you’ll notice that if the pitcher balks – and it’s followed immediately by a pitch – and the hitter then puts the ball in play – and advances to at least first base – the balk is ignored, and we now go based on the ball put in play.
Past editions
May 18 - Baseball Pace of Play - Listen
May 11 - Fair or Foul Ball? - Listen
May 4 - Non-Glare Helmets - Listen
April 27 - Vern L. Norris Award - Listen
March 23 - Deciding the Game - Listen
March 16 - Block/Charge Call - Listen
March 9 - Dive on the Floor - Listen
March 2 - Primary Areas - Listen
Feb. 23 - Too Much TV - Listen
Feb. 16 - Video Clip Library - Listen
Feb. 9 - Cheer Safety - Listen
Feb. 2 - Basketball PA Announcers - Listen
Jan. 26 - Wrestling Health Concerns - Listen
Jan. 19 - Basketball Physical Contact - Listen
Jan. 12 - Video Review Part 2 - Listen
Dec. 29 - Video Review Part 1 - Listen
Dec. 17 - Registration Part 2 - Listen
Dec. 10 - Registration Part 1 - Listen
Dec. 3 - Legacy Program - Listen
Nov. 26 - Sideline Management - Listen
Nov. 19 - 7-Person Mechanics - Listen
Nov. 12 - Blocking Below the Waist - Listen
Nov. 5 - Tournament Selection - Listen
Oct. 29 - Uncatchable Pass - Listen
Oct. 22 - Preparation for Officials - Listen
Oct. 15 - Automatic First Downs - Listen
Oct. 8 - Officials & Injuries - Listen
Oct. 1 - Overtime - Listen
Sept. 25 - Field Goals - Listen
Sept. 18 - Tackle Box - Listen
Sept. 11 - Pass Interference - Listen
Aug. 25 - Targeting - Listen
Be the Referee: Weight Monitoring
November 30, 2017
In this week's edition, assistant director Mark Uyl explains the how wrestlers' weights are monitored, an important part of making the sport safe for all who take the mat.
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 – Wrestling Weight Monitoring - Listen
It has often been said that wrestling is the toughest and most grueling six minutes in all of sports. It is a sport that requires great dedication, discipline and conditioning from those kids that step onto the mat.
One of the most important parts of the high school wrestling program in Michigan is the weight monitoring program. Prior to the season, every wrestler undergoes a body composition test where the body fat percentage of each student is determined – and based on that data, a minimum weight and weight class is established for every participant.
This data provides a safe and healthy plan for kids that wish to drop weight and move down to a lower weight class as a wrestler can never lose more than 1.5 percent of their body weight in a given week. This program has made wrestling a safer and healthier sport for every single wrestler in the state of Michigan.
Past editions
November 23: Ejections - Listen
November 16: Toughest Call - Listen
November 9: Hurdling - Listen
November 2: The Survey Says - Listen
October 26: Helmet Comes Off - Listen
October 19: Goal Line Rules - Listen
October 12: No 1st-Year Fee - Listen
October 5: Athletic Empty Nesters - Listen
September 28: Misunderstood Football Rules: Kicking - Listen
September 21: Preparation for Officials - Listen
September 14: Always Stay Registered - Listen
September 7: Other Football Rules Changes - Listen
August 31: Pop-Up Onside Kicks - Listen
August 24: Blindside Blocks - Listen