Be the Referee: Recruiting Officials

February 16, 2017

This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl discusses the recruitment of officials and why the avocation is rewarding. 

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 – Recruiting Officials - Listen

One of the most challenging tasks for the MHSAA is the recruitment and retention of game officials and referees. In many cases, the job of the referee can be a thankless one. It’s an avocation where others expect an official to be perfect on their very first day on the job, and then improve on that performance.

Officials must be fit, knowledgeable on the rules, decisive and most importantly, have good people skills in handling competitive situations with emotional players, coaches and fans. While this can be a great challenge, many of our officials find this experience to be incredibly rewarding. There is no better feeling than to officiate a game where the rules are fairly enforced, judgment calls are made decisively and the teams involved determine the outcome of the game.

If you are interested in becoming a part of this great team, go to MHSAA.com to learn more about officiating and how to get started in this rewarding avocation.

    Past editions
    Feb. 9: Ejections - Listen
    Feb. 2: Wrestling & Technology - Listen
    Jan. 26: Post Play - Listen
    Jan. 19: Ice Hockey Overtime - Listen
    Jan. 12: Free Throw Change - Listen
    Jan. 5: Ratings - Listen
    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: Winter Officials Mechanics

    By Sam Davis
    MHSAA Director of Officials

    December 9, 2021

    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 – Winter Officials Mechanics - Listen

    This season, MHSAA officials will return to the courts, mats and ice under some different conditions than over the past 20 months.

    Other than a few select instances, all MHSAA protocols, procedures and playing rules have returned to what they were pre-COVID.

    This means the jump ball in basketball returns, postgame handshakes will be permitted as each school sees fit, and traditional ball-handling by officials for free throws and throw-ins is back.

    Of course, individual schools may retain certain precautionary measures, and officials are always permitted to use personal medical protective equipment.

    The health and welfare of athletes, coaches and spectators is our No. 1 priority, and compliance with all local school district and health department mandates is required.

    Previous editions

    Nov. 26: Instant Replay - Listen
    Nov. 11: Tourney Selection - Listen
    Nov. 4: Receiver Carried Out of End Zone Listen
    Oct. 28: Volleyball Back-Row Block Listen
    Oct. 21: Soccer Disallowed Goal Listen
    Sept 30: Field Goal Falls Short Listen
    Sept. 23: Volleyball Obstruction Listen
    Sept. 16: Catch or No Catch  Listen
    Sept. 9: Intentional Grounding – Listen 
    Sept. 2: Pass Interference – Listen 
    Aug. 26: Protocols and Mechanics 
     Listen