Be the Referee: Deciding the Game

March 2, 2017

This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl discusses why officials must make calls even in the final moments of a close game during tournament time.

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 – Deciding the Game - Listen

Every American sports fan knows when the calendar turns to March, it’s time to start thinking about basketball tournament games.

With all of the pundits out there talking about the matchups and who may advance on the brackets, the comment gets made every single year that we simply hope the players decide the outcome of every game – and not a referee’s call.

The fact of the matter is that in the last 10 seconds of a tied game, when a player drives down the lane and gets hit and get knocked to the floor, an official has to make that foul call because the players did decide the outcome of that game. For the officials to simply swallow their whistles and let one team break the rules for a clear advantage is not letting those players decide the outcome.

    Past editions
    Feb. 23: Pitch Counts - Listen
    Feb. 16: Recruiting Officials - Listen
    Feb. 9: Ejections - Listen
    Feb. 2: Wrestling & Technology - Listen
    Jan. 26: Post Play - Listen
    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

    Be the Referee: Baker Bowling

    By Paige Winne
    MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

    February 28, 2023

    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 – Baker Bowling - Listen

    What happens if a player bowls out of turn during a Baker game?

    First – what’s a Baker game? That’s when the five members of a team alternate bowling frames. The number one bowler goes in frames 1 and 6 … and on down the line.

    If a bowler goes out of turn during MHSAA competition, in accordance with USBC Rule 8, Item d, a dead ball would be declared – the delivery does not count, the pins must be re-spotted, and the correct bowler is then required to continue play.

    While a recent change to NCAA Bowling rules would penalize bowling out of order on the wrong lane with a zero for the attempt starting with the first infraction, the NCAA rule is not used for MHSAA competition.

    Instead, the frame is re-set, and the correct bowler is free to continue.

    Previous Editions:

    Feb. 21: Ski Finish - Listen
    Feb. 14: Swimming Touchpads - Listen
    Feb. 7: In or Out-of-Bounds in Wrestling - Listen
    Jan. 31: Over the Back - Listen
    Jan. 24: Competitive Cheer Judges - Listen
    Jan. 17: More Lines - Listen
    Jan. 10: On the Line - Listen
    Jan. 3: Basketball Measurements - Listen
    Dec. 13: Pregame Dunks - Listen
    Dec. 6: Gymnastics Judges - Listen
    Nov. 22: Football Finals Replay - Listen
    Nov. 15: Back Row Illegal Blocker - Listen
    Nov. 8: Swim Turn Judges - Listen
    Nov. 1: Soccer Referee Jersey Colors - Listen
    Oct. 25: Cross Country Tie-Breaker - Listen
    Oct. 18: Soccer Shootouts - Listen
    Oct. 11: Safety in End ZoneListen
    Oct. 4: Football Overtime Penalty - Listen
    Sept. 27: Kickoff Goal - Listen
    Sept. 20: Soccer Timing - Listen
    Sept. 13: Volleyball Replays - Listen
    Sept. 6: Switching Sides - Listen
    Aug. 30: Play Clock - Listen
    Aug. 23: Intentional Grounding Change
    - Listen