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Be the Referee: Under the Bus

March 16, 2017

This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains why officials are not the correct target for criticism when a basketball game gets chippy or sloppy. 

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 – Under the Bus - Listen

It seems whenever a high school game breaks down in a negative way, the coaches, players, fans, and school administrators quickly blame the officials. It’s easy to take out aggression on these nameless, faceless, almost inanimate objects.

But sloppy or chippy play is on the coaches to control – not the officials – as they simply call what happens. Fans up in the stands then quickly follow the lead of their coach berating the officials, thinking they are so well versed in the art of officiating – but often don’t have the guts to put on the stripes themselves. Officials aren’t perfect, but often they have to clean up messes created by others during the game – the people who should really be thrown under the bus.

    Past editions
    March 9: Hockey Hits - Listen
    March 2: Deciding the Game - Listen
    Feb. 23: Pitch Counts - Listen
    Feb. 16: Recruiting Officials - Listen
    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: Three Seconds

    March 9, 2016

    This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains one of the most misunderstood rules in basketball, the 3-second rule. 

    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 - Three Seconds - Listen

    It's hard to go to a basketball game and not sit near other fans who are yelling about the officials not calling three seconds. The 3-second rule is one of the most misunderstood rules in the game of basketball.

    The purpose and philosophy of the rule is to not allow a player who is significantly taller than his or her opponent to camp out in the middle of the lane and create an unfair advantage. The 3-second count is in effect whenever an offensive player has at least one foot in the lane when their team has possession of the ball. That count stops as soon as a try is attempted, or a try is imminent.

    Keep this in mind at the next game you attend.

    Past editions:
    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