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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

    Be the Referee: Baker Bowling

    By Paige Winne
    MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

    February 28, 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 – Baker Bowling - Listen

    What happens if a player bowls out of turn during a Baker game?

    First – what’s a Baker game? That’s when the five members of a team alternate bowling frames. The number one bowler goes in frames 1 and 6 … and on down the line.

    If a bowler goes out of turn during MHSAA competition, in accordance with USBC Rule 8, Item d, a dead ball would be declared – the delivery does not count, the pins must be re-spotted, and the correct bowler is then required to continue play.

    While a recent change to NCAA Bowling rules would penalize bowling out of order on the wrong lane with a zero for the attempt starting with the first infraction, the NCAA rule is not used for MHSAA competition.

    Instead, the frame is re-set, and the correct bowler is free to continue.

    Previous Editions:

    Feb. 21: Ski Finish - Listen
    Feb. 14: Swimming Touchpads - Listen
    Feb. 7: In or Out-of-Bounds in Wrestling - Listen
    Jan. 31: Over the Back - Listen
    Jan. 24: Competitive Cheer Judges - Listen
    Jan. 17: More Lines - Listen
    Jan. 10: On the Line - Listen
    Jan. 3: Basketball Measurements - Listen
    Dec. 13: Pregame Dunks - Listen
    Dec. 6: Gymnastics Judges - Listen
    Nov. 22: Football Finals Replay - Listen
    Nov. 15: Back Row Illegal Blocker - Listen
    Nov. 8: Swim Turn Judges - Listen
    Nov. 1: Soccer Referee Jersey Colors - Listen
    Oct. 25: Cross Country Tie-Breaker - Listen
    Oct. 18: Soccer Shootouts - Listen
    Oct. 11: Safety in End Zone - Listen
    Oct. 4: Football Overtime Penalty - Listen
    Sept. 27: Kickoff Goal - Listen
    Sept. 20: Soccer Timing - Listen
    Sept. 13: Volleyball Replays - Listen
    Sept. 6: Switching Sides - Listen
    Aug. 30: Play Clock - Listen
    Aug. 23: Intentional Grounding Change     - Listen