Be the Referee: Pass Interference
September 9, 2014
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains one of the toughest calls to make on the football field.
"Be the Referee" is designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating and to recruit officials. The segment can be heard on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the school year on The Drive With Jack Ebling on WVFN-AM, East Lansing.
Below is this week's segment - Pass Interference - Listen
Today we’re going to talk about one of the most difficult calls for any football official – pass interference. It’s important to know that whenever a forward pass is thrown beyond the line of scrimmage that both players – the offensive receiver as well as the defender – each have an equal right to make a play on the football.
Now, not all contact will automatically result in a pass interference foul. The official must judge if that early contact before the ball arrives has placed one of the two players at a distinct disadvantage. When that contact does create the disadvantage, you have a foul for pass interference. When the contact is minimal and is simply incidental, no foul has occurred.
Past editions
Aug. 25 - Targeting - Listen
Sept. 4 - Concussions - Listen
Be The Referee: Sideline Safety
November 12, 2019
This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains the expectation for sideline safety concerning officials, coaches and team personnel who occupy this area of the football field.
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 - Sideline Safety - Listen
Safety in football continues to be a hot topic. We have talked previously here about rules that have improved player safety. Today we’re going to focus on the adults - specifically coaches and officials that work at the sideline area just in front of the team box.
The rules require that from the time just before the snap until the end of the play, all coaches and team personnel must be completely out of the 6-foot safety zone located in front of the team box at each sideline. This then gives the official plenty of room to work unimpeded in either direction.
Now as soon as the play ends, coaches can move into this area to instruct their players or send in the next play and then move back prior to the next snap.
Past editions
Nov. 7: Officials Playlist - Listen
Oct. 31: Most Important Line - Listen
Oct. 24: Automatic 1st Downs - Listen
Oct. 17: Catch Momentum - Listen
Oct. 10: Golf Rules Changes - Listen
Oct. 3: No Tackle Box - Listen
Sept. 26: You Make the Overtime Call - Listen
Sept. 19: Swimming Finishing Touch - Listen
Sept. 12: Curbing Gamesmanship By Substitution - Listen
Sept. 5: Football Safety Rules Changes - Listen
Aug. 29: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen