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

Be the Referee: No More One-And-Ones

By Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials

December 12, 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 – No More One-And-Ones - Listen

A rule change in high school basketball means there will no longer be one-and-one free throws, and team fouls now reset after each quarter, not at the half. Here’s how it works:

A team will reach the bonus in each quarter once its opponent has committed five fouls. That means teams will shoot two free throws for all common fouls after the fourth team foul in a quarter.

Previously, teams weren’t in the bonus until the seventh team foul and then shot one-and-one free throws until the 10th team foul of a half, or double bonus, was reached.

A foul on a 3-point attempt will still result in three free throws for the shooter and still counts as a team foul.

Previous Editions

Nov. 21: Football Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 14: Volleyball Unplayable Areas - Listen
Nov. 7: Pass/Kick Off Crossbar - Listen
Oct. 31: Cross Country Interference - Listen
Oct. 24: Soccer Overtime - Listen
Oct. 17: Tennis Spin - Listen
Oct. 10: Blocked Kick - Listen
Oct. 3: Volleyball Double & Lift - Listen
Sept. 26: Registration Process - Listen
Sept. 20: Animal Interference - Listen
Sept. 13: Feet Rule on Soccer Throw-In - Listen
Sept. 6: Volleyball Jewelry - Listen
Aug. 30: Football Rules Similarities - Listen
Aug. 23: Football Rules Differences - Listen