Be the Referee: Field Goals

September 24, 2014

This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains a rule unique to high school football – what results at our level after a missed field goal attempt.

"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 - Field Goals - Listen

Today we are going to talk about one of the most unique rules to high school football, and it deals with field goals; in particular, what happens after a missed field goal.

Under high school rules, field goals are really treated just like punts. The only difference for the kicking team is that you can score three points if the ball goes through the uprights. 

On a missed field goal that comes up well short, let’s say at the 5-yard line, and the ball either comes to a rest or rolls out of bounds at the 5, the new offense will take over first down and 10 at that 5-yard line. The only time the offense would take over at the 20 is if that missed field goal does break the plane of the goal line. 

Never under high school rules would the team take over where the ball was kicked or originally snapped.

Past editions
Aug. 25 - Targeting - Listen
Sept. 4 - Concussions - Listen
Sept. 11 - Pass Interference - Listen
Sept 18 - Tackle Box -
 Listen

Be the Referee: Volleyball Obstruction

By Brent Rice
MHSAA Assistant Director

September 23, 2021

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 – Volleyball Obstruction - Listen

Ever wonder why in volleyball some balls hit into obstructions remain in play, while others are replayed, and some end the rally?

If a ball hits an obstruction over a playable area during a rally, and then is played by the same team, it has the same status as any other hit. However, that isn’t the case in all other instances.

If the ball hitting the wall or an object attached flush to the wall doesn’t actually interfere with a player’s legitimate effort to play the ball, the ball is dead and a loss of rally and point shall be awarded. If it does interfere with the playing of the ball, a replay is declared if the wall is less than six feet from the boundary.

If the ball hits a suspended backboard over the playable area, a replay will be declared as long as the referee believes the ball would have remained in play. Serves that hit any obstruction are a loss of rally and point.

Previous editions

Sept. 16: Catch or No Catch Listen
Sept. 9: Intentional Grounding – Listen 
Sept. 2: Pass Interference – Listen 
Aug. 26: Protocols and Mechanics  Listen