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: 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 ZoneListen
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