Be the Referee: Ratings

January 5, 2017

This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains how Michigan's high school officials are evaluated for their game performance.

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 – Ratings - Listen

Just about every sports fan, at one time or another, has left a game wondering, “How do the officials get evaluated or graded for their performance during a game?”

At the high school level, the MHSAA has the school rating system to where following each game both teams submit a rating for the official’s work. The rating, on a 1 through 5 scale, is then sent to the MHSAA Office and these ratings are compiled over a three-year period. An official then has a rating average, and the schools can also indicate areas for improvement or growth that they deem are appropriate.

Those rating numbers then determine what officials are first used in postseason play.

Past editions
Dec. 22: Video Review - Part 2 - Listen
Dec. 15: Video Review - Part 1 - Listen
Dec. 8: Registration - Part 2 - Listen
Dec. 1: Registration - Part 1 - Listen
Nov. 24: You Make the Call - Sleeper Play - Listen
Nov. 17: Automatic 1st Downs - Listen
Nov. 10: Uncatchable Pass - Listen
Nov. 3: The Goal Line - Listen
Oct. 27: Help Us Retain Officials - Listen
Oct. 20: Point After Touchdown - Listen
Oct. 13: Untimed Down - Listen
Oct. 6: Soccer Penalty Kick Change - Listen
Sept. 29: Preparation for Officials - Listen
Sept 22: You Make the Call: Returning Kickoffs - Listen
Sept. 15: Concussions - Listen
Sept 8: Equipment Covering the Knees - Listen
Sept. 1: Play Clock Experiment - Listen
Aug. 25: Clipping in the Free Blocking Zone - Listen

Be the Referee: Help Us Retain Officials

October 27, 2016

This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains how we as fans, coaches and athletes can help keep officials in our games. 

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 – Help Us Retain Officials - Listen

One of the biggest challenges each and every year is the recruitment, and more importantly, retaining our sports officials – that’s the referees, umpires and judges that allow our games to be played.

In numerous surveys, the two biggest areas that are driving officials out of the game are a lack of sportsmanship from adult spectators as well as coaches.

The next time you’re at a game, either as a fan or if you happen to be a high school coach, try and put yourselves in the shoes of the official.  

While the officials will never be perfect, they do deserve at least your support as well as the benefit of the doubt on those tough plays.

Past editions
Oct. 20: Point After Touchdown - Listen
Oct. 13: Untimed Down - Listen
Oct. 6: Soccer Penalty Kick Change - Listen
Sept. 29: Preparation for Officials - Listen
Sept 22: You Make the Call: Returning Kickoffs - Listen
Sept. 15: Concussions - Listen
Sept 8: Equipment Covering the Knees - Listen
Sept. 1: Play Clock Experiment - Listen
Aug. 25: Clipping in the Free Blocking Zone - Listen