Be the Referee: Officials Demographics
October 29, 2015
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl discusses the importance of recruiting young officials so they may gain experience now and prepare to replace veterans wearing the whistle.
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 - Officials Demographics - Listen
A daily activity of the MHSAA is to recruit more officials in all of our sports. There is an urgency to try and bring new, younger people into the game as the current average age of an MHSAA registered official is 51.86.
Young officials are needed now so they can gain experience and be ready to step into the varsity and tournament ranks when many of our aging officials are ready to hang up the whistle. With players getting bigger and faster all of the time, it is important that our officials keep up with the pace of play, and the more younger, athletic officials we can recruit, the better off all of our games will be.
Past editions:
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
Be the Referee: Girls Lacrosse Self Start
May 23, 2019
This week, officials coordinator Sam Davis explains a rule change in girls lacrosse designed to smooth out starts and stops in game 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 – Girls Lacrosse Self Start - Listen
There’s a new rule in girls lacrosse this year that’s designed to allow a great flow of the game, and it’s called the self-start.
Following a whistle blown for a foul, the player who was fouled previously had to wait for an official’s whistle from a stationary position before resuming play. The rule change this year allows for a player to self-start – or resume the game from a “settled stance” after being awarded a free position with all other players at least four meters away. Play resumes once the ball carrier takes a step or passes the ball.
Once play has commenced, the defenders may engage in play with the ball carrier. The self-start applies only to fouls called outside the critical scoring area.
Past editions
May 16: Lodged Ball - Listen
May 9: Bounced Pitch - Listen
May 2: Boys Lacrosse Safety - Listen
April 25: Softball Illegal Pitch - Listen
March 21: Instant Replay in Basketball - Listen
March 14: Basket Interference - Listen
March 7: Primary Areas - Listen
February 28: Under the Bus - Listen
February 21: You Make the Call - Listen
February 14: Because They Love It - Listen
February 7: Coach/Official Communication - Listen
January 31: Backcourt Violation? - Listen
January 24: Required Hockey Equipment - Listen
January 17: You Make the Call: 10-Second Clock - Listen
January 10: Tripping in Hockey - Listen
January 3: Sliding in Basketball - Listen
December 27: Stalling in Wrestling - Listen
December 20: Basketball: You Make the Call - Listen
December 13: Basketball Uniform Safety - Listen
December 6: Coaching Box Expansion - Listen
November 29: Video Review, Part 2 - Listen
November 22: Video Review, Part 1 - Listen
November 15: You Make the Call - Sleeper Play - Listen
November 8: 7-Person Football Crews - Listen
November 1: Overtime Differences - Listen
October 25: Trickery & Communication - Listen
October 18: Punts & Missed Field Goals - Listen
October 11: What Officials Don't Do - Listen
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