Be the Referee: Overtime Differences

November 1, 2018

This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains how high school football overtime differs from extra play at the college level.

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 – Overtime Differences - Listen

There are a few differences in high school football overtime compared to college games.

During overtime in high school football, each team begins its offensive series 1st-and-Goal from the 10- yard line as opposed to 1st–and-10 at the 25. The only way a team can pick up a first down is on a roughing foul – roughing the passer, the holder, the center or the kicker.

A lost fumble or intercepted pass ends a team’s offensive series, (and on) a try for an extra point following a touchdown, the defense cannot return the ball for a score. And unlike college football, there is never a requirement that a team go for a 2-point conversion. What is common between the two levels is that each team gets one timeout per overtime, and unused timeouts don’t carry over from regulation or from overtimes.

Past editions

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

Be the Referee: Lodged Ball

May 15, 2019

This week, assistant director Brent Rice offers a baseball/softball "You Make the Call" regarding a batted ball that becomes lodged in the fence. 

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 – Lodged Ball - Listen

Let’s test your rules knowledge with a “You Make The Call” on this baseball-softball situation.

The batter hits a line drive – and the ball caroms directly off first base into foul territory and wedges itself into a gate near a dugout without ever touching the ground. What’s the call?

First, the batted ball is a fair ball because it struck a base. At this point, it’s still a live ball. Then, when the ball became wedged in the dugout gate, it became a dead ball. By rule, the batter would be awarded second base, and any other runners on base would be awarded two bases at the time of the pitch.

Past editions

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