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Be the Referee: The Goal Line
November 3, 2016
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl discusses how rules regarding the football goal line are at times the same and differ from those at other levels of the sport.
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 – The Goal Line - Listen
There’s an old saying in football officiating that the most important line on the field is the goal line. This is certainly true when it comes to touchdowns as the high school rule is just like that at the college and pro level, where all the ball has to do is break the plane for a score.
One unique part of the goal line under high school rules deals with kicks. Whenever a kickoff or a punt breaks the plane of the goal line, it becomes a dead ball with an automatic touchback.
Now whenever the defense gets possession of the ball in the end zone, it can return a fumble or interception out of the end zone for advancement – except if it’s on an extra point or anytime in overtime.
Past editions
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
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Be the Referee: Ball Stuck on the Rim
March 10, 2016
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains what happens when the basketball becomes stuck between the rim and the backboard, stopping play.
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 - Ball Stuck on the Rim - Listen
Today, let's see how well you do with this basketball "You Make the Call" scenario:
The offensive team is coming down the floor, passing the ball around the perimeter. A player pulls up for a 10-foot jumpshot that hits exactly between the rim and the backboard. Instead of the ball bouncing off the rim, it actually plugs or sticks between the rim and the backboard. As the ball is stuck there, 10 players look up, thinking, "What do we do now?"
In this case, the ball becomes dead as soon as the ball sticks in the rim, and it actually now becomes an alternating possession. The team that has the arrow will next get to possess the ball.
Past editions:
March 3: Three Seconds - Listen
Feb. 25: Deciding the Game - Listen
Feb. 18 : Cheer Safety - Listen
Feb. 11: Primary Areas - Listen
Feb. 4: Block/Charge Calls - Listen
Jan. 28: Dive on the Floor - Listen
Jan. 21: Hockey Officials' Options - Listen
Jan. 14: Recruiting Officials - Listen
Jan. 7: Wrestling Weight Monitoring - Listen
Dec. 31: Respect for Referees - Listen
Dec. 24: Basketball Instant Replay - Listen
Dec. 17: Basketball Communication - Listen
Dec. 10: Basketball Excessive Contact - Listen
Nov. 26: Pregame Communication - Listen
Nov. 19: Trick Plays - Listen
Nov. 12: 7-Person Football Mechanics - Listen
Nov. 5: Make the Call: Personal Fouls - Listen
Oct. 29: Officials Demographics - Listen
Oct. 15: Make the Call: Intentional Grounding - Listen
Oct. 8: Playoff Selection - Listen
Oct. 1: Kick Returns - Listen
Sept. 24: Concussions - Listen
Sept. 17: Automatic First Downs - Listen
Sept. 10: Correcting a Down - Listen
Sept 3: Spearing - Listen
Aug. 27: Missed Field Goal - Listen