Be the Referee: Too Much TV
February 26, 2015
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains how inaccuracies in TV play-by-play can lead fans to quote rules incorrectly.
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 - Too Much TV - Listen
The over-saturation of sporting events on television has turned too many people into thinking they know it all about coaching and especially officiating.
This only gets worse when the television commentators themselves don’t know the rules. On a recent Sunday afternoon college basketball broadcast, the team trying to bring the ball upcourt had the ball knocked out of bounds twice by the defense, and the color commentator said the offensive team was down to 6 seconds to get the ball across the center line.
The fact is, whenever the ball is knocked out under those circumstances, the 10-second count resets; and whenever there’s a mistake on television like that, you can bet someone will take that as gospel and berate an official when it happens the next time they’re at a game.
Past editions
Feb. 16 - Video Clip Library - Listen
Feb. 9 - Cheer Safety - Listen
Feb. 2 - Basketball PA Announcers - Listen
Jan. 26 - Wrestling Health Concerns - Listen
Jan. 19 - Basketball Physical Contact - Listen
Jan. 12 - Video Review Part 2 - Listen
Dec. 29 - Video Review Part 1 - Listen
Dec. 17 - Registration Part 2 - Listen
Dec. 10 - Registration Part 1 - Listen
Dec. 3 - Legacy Program - Listen
Nov. 26 - Sideline Management - Listen
Nov. 19 - 7-Person Mechanics - Listen
Nov. 12 - Blocking Below the Waist - Listen
Nov. 5 - Tournament Selection - Listen
Oct. 29 - Uncatchable Pass - Listen
Oct. 22 - Preparation for Officials - Listen
Oct. 15 - Automatic First Downs - Listen
Oct. 8 - Officials & Injuries - Listen
Oct. 1 - Overtime - Listen
Sept. 25 - Field Goals - Listen
Sept. 18 - Tackle Box - Listen
Sept. 11 - Pass Interference - Listen
Aug. 25 - Targeting - Listen
Be the Referee: Home Run or Not?
May 4, 2016
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl presents a "You Make the Call" on a fly ball that ends up over the fence, but with a little bit of help.
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 - Home Run or Not? - Listen
Today let’s play "You Make The Call" with this following baseball or softball situation:
With no runners on base, the batter hits a long fly ball directly down the left field line. The left fielder comes over and attempts to catch the ball directly in front of the outfield fence and the left field foul pole. The ball touches the fielder’s glove in fair territory and then hits off the glove and goes over the outfield fence, but on the foul side of the foul pole.
You Make The Call.
In this case, when the ball was touched in fair territory, it was a fair ball.
But when the ball went over the fence in foul territory, it became a ground rule double.
Past editions:
April 28: Norris Award Winner Linda Hoover - Listen
April 21: Legacy Program - Listen
April 14: Baseball/Softball Replay - Listen
March 24: Use of the Monitor - Listen
March 17: Block/Charge - Listen
March 10: Ball Stuck on the Rim - Listen
March 3: Three Seconds - Listen
Feb. 25: Deciding the Game - Listen
Feb. 18 : Cheer Safety - Listen
Feb. 11: Primary Areas - Listen
Feb. 4: Block/Charge Calls - Listen
Jan. 28: Dive on the Floor - Listen
Jan. 21: Hockey Officials' Options - Listen
Jan. 14: Recruiting Officials - Listen
Jan. 7: Wrestling Weight Monitoring - Listen
Dec. 31: Respect for Referees - Listen
Dec. 24: Basketball Instant Replay - Listen
Dec. 17: Basketball Communication - Listen
Dec. 10: Basketball Excessive Contact - Listen
Nov. 26: Pregame Communication - Listen
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