Be the Referee: Mentoring New Officials
December 14, 2017
In this week's edition, assistant director Mark Uyl emphasizes the important role played by mentors in retaining high school officials.
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 – Mentoring New Officials - Listen
The MHSAA often talks about recruiting new officials, and retaining those folks that give officiating a try. Without question, the most important part in getting a new or young official off on the right foot is the relationship with a mentor official.
For that rookie referee, it is critical that they connect with an experienced official. Even though they may not work every game with that experienced official, that person serves as a sounding board, or a mentor, someone who can give advice and feedback and suggestions for improvement over a new official’s first two or three years in the game.
Mentors are what keeps officials in the game.
Past editions
December 7: Dive on the Floor - Listen
November 30: Wrestling Weight Monitoring - Listen
November 23: Ejections - Listen
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: What Officials Don't Do
October 11, 2018
This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis discusses some of the things that do not fall under officials' many game-day responsibilities.
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 – What Officials Don't Do - Listen
Game officials at all levels have a lot of responsibilities. But there are some critical things that take place at local high school games where officials don’t have the authority that some folks think they do.
Let’s start with injuries – specifically concussions. Concussion management starts and ends with the local school. If an official suspects a concussion – or any injury – all he or she can do is notify the coach of the team. The school makes the decision about whether or not a player stays in the game.
We often get calls about whether or not an official is responsible for enforcing MHSAA Handbook rules. Again, it’s up to the school, which agrees to follow and enforce the rules when joining the Association. Even if the official suspects an ineligible player is in the game, it’s not his or her role to enforce that rule. It’s all on the school.
Past editions
October 4: Always 1st-and-Goal - Listen
September 27: Unique Kickoff Option - Listen
September 20: Uncatchable Pass - Listen
September 13: Soccer Rules Change - Listen
September 6: You Make the Call: Face Guarding - Listen
August 30: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen
August 23: Football Rules Changes - Listen