Be the Referee: Bat Safety
June 1, 2015
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains how bats have been altered the last few seasons to make baseball safer for pitchers and infielders.
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 - Bat Safety - Listen
The biggest change in the world of amateur baseball over the last five years has been the new standards for non-wood, or what most of us refer to as aluminum, bats.
Prior to these changes, it was quite common to see high school and college baseball scores in double digits on a regular basis.
The new bat standards first sought to address player safety. And now these new aluminum bats match the ball exit speed ratio – or in other words, the speed that the ball comes off the bat – for a non-wood bat with what it would be coming off a wood bat; making the amateur game safer for pitchers and infielders.
Past editions
May 25 - Balks - Listen
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
The Official View: Multiplying Legacies
By
Brent Rice
MHSAA Assistant Director
September 17, 2018
By Brent Rice
MHSAA Assistant Director
In this week’s edition, check out the latest news on the MHSAA’s Officials Review Committee and Officials Guidebook, rules scenarios to consider in football and swimming and a quick story of multiple generations learning through the Legacy Program.
It’s Official!
Officials Review Committee Meeting: The Officials Review Committee will meet next week, and the agenda will include a number of important topics such as officials’ tournament fees, registration options and benefits, and the current system of selecting tournament officials.
The Officials Guidebook will be released in the upcoming week. Whether you’re an official, assigner, or association leader, please take some time to review its policies, requirements, and restrictions. It should have much of the information you need regarding the administrative duties of MHSAA officiating.
Rule of the Week
FOOTBALL Late in a tight contest, A1 receives the snap and attempts to throw a bubble screen to a stacked receiver behind A1’s position. As A1’s arm motion begins forward in his attempt to make the backward pass, it is contacted by rushing B1 and is knocked loose. Team B falls on top of the ball.
Ruling: This is a turnover and Team B’s ball. Even though the arm motion is coming forward, this is not a legal forward pass because it is not in the direction of the line of scrimmage. As a result, this is a fumble and live ball until it is recovered by Team B.
It’s Your Call
SWIMMING This week’s clip involves determining the legality of a turn in swim. The swimmer is participating in a 100-yard backstroke race. This clip begins at the point where he is beginning his turn. Is this a legal turn in this backstroke event? Why or why not? Check back next week for the correct ruling. (Video courtesy of USA Swimming.)
Official View
In 1996, Dana Fuller (far left in top photo) was a Legacy official under the tutelage of mentor official Jerry Sosnowski (far right). Things came full circle at a recent volleyball contest while working with his new Legacy mentee, Olivia Kostiz, when all three generations of the Legacy program were able to work together.