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Be the Referee: Play Clock Experiment
September 1, 2016
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains the 40-second game clock Michigan football schools are allowed to try this fall.
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 Experiment - Listen
From time to time, the MHSAA receives permission from the national rules making body, the National Federation of State High School Associations, to experiment with a new rule.
This fall in high school football, Michigan schools can experiment with a 40-second play clock. In this experiment, the 40-second play clock begins at the end of the previous play, giving teams consistency from week to week when the offense can next snap the ball.
With using the traditional 25-second play clock, it really depends on the referee of the game in terms of the pace on how quickly the offenses can go.
Past editions
Aug. 25: Clipping in the Free Blocking Zone - Listen
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Be the Referee: Respect for Referees
January 1, 2016
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl discusses the importance of respecting the referees who are learning as well while working with our youngest athletes.
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 - Respect for Referees - Listen
Over the past three years, I’ve gotten to attend my share of middle school athletic events with my oldest two children being involved in a variety of sports at this level.
In just about every game, there have been times where I have shaken my head in watching how the some of the adults involved conduct themselves, especially those adults sitting in the stands.
Middle school sports should have the focus of kids participating, learning the game and having fun. In these games, you have the most inexperienced players, newer coaches and often times officials just starting out. Everyone is learning at this level, and a critical eye could identify numerous things done by each of these groups that could be improved upon.
Adult spectators at subvarsity games need to be positive people … cheer for your team and child, and avoid the second-guessing and criticism of officials. We need to give these officials a chance to gain experience and become a good referee.
Past editions:
Dec. 24: Basketball Instant Replay - Listen
Dec. 17: Basketball Communication - Listen
Dec. 10: Basketball Excessive Contact - Listen
Nov. 26: Pregame Communication - Listen
Nov. 19: Trick Plays - Listen
Nov. 12: 7-Person Football Mechanics - Listen
Nov. 5: Make the Call: Personal Fouls - Listen
Oct. 29: Officials Demographics - Listen
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