Be the Referee: More Lines
By
Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials
January 17, 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 – More Lines - Listen
Lines, lines, everywhere lines. But as we learned last week, different lines mean different things.
To recap, on the line in basketball and football is out of bounds. But in soccer, tennis, volleyball, baseball and softball – on the line is in bounds.
But what about other sports?
In hockey – the puck has to be all the way over the line to be considered a goal or to be in the next zone.
In golf, a ball on the line is in play, not out-of-bounds.
Lacrosse is like football – a ball touching the line is out.
How about a track example? In the long jump – if your foot touches the line, it’s a foul.
And in bowling, if you completely cross the line – it’s a foul.
Know the lines and you’ll always know if you are in … or out.
Previous Editions:
Jan. 10: On the Line - Listen
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: Play Clock
By
Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials
August 30, 2022
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 – Play Clock - Listen
There’s a new rule in football this year that provides the offense more time to draw up a play and prepare matchups when the defense commits a foul.
In the past, if the defense committed a foul, the play clock would be set to 25 seconds, potentially changing the approach by the offense entirely.
Under the change, when the defense or receiving team commits a foul, the play clock will start at 40 seconds, giving the offense an extra 15 seconds to prepare their scheme for the next play.
For all other administrative stoppages, including fouls against the offense or kicking team, the play clock will be set to 25 seconds when play resumes.
Previous Editions:
Aug. 23: Intentional Grounding Change - Listen