Be the Referee: Ejections

November 24, 2017

In this week's edition, assistant director Mark Uyl discusses the penalties that come with a player or coach ejection. 

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 – Ejections - Listen

Good sportsmanship is at the foundation of what high school sports is all about. Whenever a coach or player is ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct or behavior, that individual is suspended for the rest of that day of competition.

In some sports, that means that they’re done for the rest of that game on that day; or in sports where there are doubleheaders or tournament play involved, the person is disqualified from that entire day of competition.

The rule then also requires that the coach or player is ineligible for the subsequent day of competition, essentially being a one-day suspension for anyone who is ejected. 

Past editions
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

Be the Referee: 7-Person Mechanics

November 18, 2014

This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains the addition of two officials for this season's MHSAA Football Semifinals and Finals.

"Be the Referee" is designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating and to recruit officials. The segment can be heard on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the school year on The Drive With Jack Ebling on WVFN-AM, East Lansing.

Below is this week's segment - 7-Person Mechanics - Listen

Today we are going to talk about a significant change for the MHSAA Semifinal and Final football playoff games this year, and that’s the size of the officiating crew.

Traditionally, five officials have been used for most high school games, comprised of a Referee, Umpire, Head Linesman, Line Judge and Back Judge. The change this year is moving from five officials to seven officials for all Semifinal and Final games, the two new positions being a Field Judge and a Side Judge. 

These officials, stationed on each sideline 20 yards downfield from the line of scrimmage, will give us much better coverage when it comes to officiating spread offenses and the passing game which has been a huge area of growth in high school football over the last decade.

Past editions
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