Be the Referee: On the Line
By
Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials
January 10, 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 – On the Line - Listen
I’m on the line today … but am I in or out?
Have you ever stopped to think about how the boundary lines of a field or court mean different things in different sports?
In basketball for example, if the ball touches the baseline or sideline, it’s out of bounds. Same if a player is in possession of the ball and touches the line.
Football is the same. A player is out of bounds if that player has the ball and touches the sideline.
But in soccer? The ball is still in play until it completely passes the line. If the ball is sitting on the line, it’s still in play.
A tennis ball on the line? That’s in and a great shot.
Volleyball? Also in.
And then you have baseball and softball – where a batted ball that hits the foul line … is fair.
Know the lines and you’ll always know if you are in … or out.
Previous Editions:
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 Zone - Listen
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
Be the Referee: Tennis Nets
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
September 24, 2024
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 – Tennis Nets - Listen
Let’s talk tennis… specifically, the rules around the net.
First – tennis nets are 42 inches high at the posts and 36 inches high in the center. And nets measure 42 feet wide.
Players and their equipment CANNOT touch the net during a point. However, a player’s follow-through can cross over the net if the ball was hit to the correct side of the court. But no part of the follow-through can touch the net.
Also, the ball must completely cross the net before it can be hit. If your opponent hits a high lob and you are standing at the net ready to smash a return – you must wait until the ball is completely over the net before hitting it.
Making contact with the net during play or hitting the ball before it’s over the net results in a loss of point.
Previous 2024-25 Editions
Sept. 18: Libero - Listen
Sept. 10: Cross Country Uniforms - Listen
Sept. 3: Soccer Handling - Listen
Aug. 24: Football Holding - Listen
(Photo by Douglas Bargerstock.)