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

2022 Officials Awards Again Honors Hundreds Who Make Our Games Possible

By Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

July 15, 2022

The MHSAA annually honors high school game officials with 20, 30, 40, 45 and 50 years of service as part of its Officials’ Awards & Alumni Banquet.

This year's virtual banquet honored our Vern L. Norris and Randy Paulson Award winners and 395 officials who celebrated a milestone school year.

This year's honorees included two officials with 60 years of service, and eight celebrating 55 years.  Eighteen officials with 50 years of service were honored, along with 44 officials with 45 years. A 40-year award has been presented to 54 officials. In addition, 98 officials with 30 years and 171 officials with 20 years of experience were honored.