Be the Referee: Basketball Announcers

February 4, 2015

This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains the proper role of high school basketball public address announcers.

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 - Basketball PA Announcers - Listen

Whenever there are rules changes in any sport, we usually think of the three groups that are most affected by those changes – obviously, the players, the coaches and the referees. This year in basketball, an additional group is receiving some attention from the rules makers, and those are the public address announcers. 

At the college and pro levels, the P.A. Announcers are almost taking on a life of their own. They are seen in their communities and their towns as the home team’s biggest fan. 

At the high school level, a good P.A. Announcer gives attention to both teams – the kids from both the home team and the visiting team – that do things that are noteworthy during the game. A P.A. Announcer should be there first to inform – not to entertain – and keeping sportsmanship at the forefront of every game.

Past editions
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: Post Play

January 26, 2017

This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl discusses how unnecessary rough basketball play in the post area is being called by officials.

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 – Post Play - Listen

Over the past several years, a point of emphasis in basketball has been to eliminate the unnecessary – and unneeded – rough and physical play, especially in the post area.

This year, a point of emphasis continues to be the calling of an automatic foul whenever a player in the post or lane area commits one of these four actions:

  • It will automatically be a foul whenever one of the post players uses an arm bar;
  • Or when one of those players uses an elbow to gain position;
  • It’s also an automatic foul when that player uses the leg or knee to move an opponent out of the way;
  • Or when that player backs down an opponent to establish new position.

Past editions
Jan. 19: Ice Hockey Overtime - Listen
Jan. 12: Free Throw Change - Listen
Jan. 5: Ratings - Listen
Dec. 22: Video Review - Part 2 - Listen
Dec. 15: Video Review - Part 1 - Listen
Dec. 8: Registration - Part 2 - Listen
Dec. 1: Registration - Part 1 - Listen
Nov. 24: You Make the Call - Sleeper Play - Listen
Nov. 17: Automatic 1st Downs - Listen
Nov. 10: Uncatchable Pass - Listen
Nov. 3: The Goal Line - Listen
Oct. 27: Help Us Retain Officials - Listen
Oct. 20: Point After Touchdown - Listen
Oct. 13: Untimed Down - Listen
Oct. 6: Soccer Penalty Kick Change - Listen
Sept. 29: Preparation for Officials - Listen
Sept 22: You Make the Call: Returning Kickoffs - Listen
Sept. 15: Concussions - Listen
Sept 8: Equipment Covering the Knees - Listen
Sept. 1: Play Clock Experiment - Listen
Aug. 25: Clipping in the Free Blocking Zone - Listen