Be the Referee: Pregame Communication
November 27, 2015
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl discusses how officials prepare for an upcoming football game.
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 - Pregame Communication - Listen
Just like teams and coaches prepare all week for a football game, officials also spend hours every week preparing for their upcoming assignment that Friday night or on Saturday.
Many of our officials around the state are accessing a system called Hudl, which is a video sharing system in which schools are sharing game film with officials to review last week’s performance, as well as look ahead at the style of play that the upcoming opponents will be using.
Also, officials spend a great deal of time pregaming as a crew; talking about rules, mechanics, coverages, and how to best communicate with each sideline during the game.
Past editions:
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
2019-20 Officials Registration Underway
June 17, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The MHSAA is accepting registrations online or by mail for game officials for the 2019-20 school year.
The MHSAA annually receives registration by more than 9,500 officials, and had 9,519 during the 2018-19 school year. The highest total of officials registered for basketball, 4,026, with football also with more than 2,000 registered officials during this past school year.
For all new and returning officials, those who register online again will receive a $5 discount off their processing fees. A $16 fee is charged for each sport in which an official wishes to register, and the online processing fee is $40. Officials submitting registration forms by mail or on a walk-up basis will incur a $45 processing fee. Officials registered in 2018-19 will be assessed a late fee of $30 for registration after July 31. The processing fee includes liability insurance coverage up to $1 million for officials while working contests involving MHSAA schools.
Online registration can be accessed by clicking “Officials” on the home page of the MHSAA Website. Forms also are available online that can be printed and submitted by traditional mail or hand delivery to the MHSAA Office at 1661 Ramblewood Drive in East Lansing. More information about officials registration may be obtained by contacting the MHSAA by phone at (517) 332-5046 or by e-mail at [email protected].
There is an officials' registration test for first-time officials and officials who were not registered during the past school year. The test is derived from the MHSAA Officials Guidebook, which also is available on the Officials page of the MHSAA Website. Additional exams must be taken by those registering for football or basketball for the first time or those who were not registered for those sports during the previous school year. Manuals for both sports also are available on the Officials page. New officials and those who didn’t officiate during 2018-19 also must complete the online MHSAA Principles of Officiating course, also available on the MHSAA Website.
There also are opportunities to officiate for students at least 14 years old and in grades 9-12 through the MHSAA Legacy Program. Juniors and seniors may officiate subvarsty contests, while freshmen and sophomores may officiate contests at the middle school/junior high levels. Mentor officials will work events with Legacy participants to provide guidance and support. Find information on the Legacy Program on the Officials page of the MHSAA Website.