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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

    Title IX at 50

    Title IX at 50: Girls Lacrosse Finals Officials Set Empowering Example

    By Geoff Kimmerly
    MHSAA.com senior editor

    June 14, 2022

    Saturday's MHSAA Girls Lacrosse Finals – and notably the two crews who officiated those two championship games – perfectly exemplified what we’ve commemorated in recalling the legislation and opportunities Title IX has provided for girls and women in athletics over the last half-century.

    Eight women – four for each game – officiated this season’s girls lacrosse championship contests: Anne Acluche, from West Bloomfield; Sierra Bain, Ferndale; Laura Berger, Lake Orion; Ellery Blasch, Alto; Sydney Jaenicke, Rockford; Virginia Merlo, Ferndale; Marci Schaeffer, Eaton Rapids; and Paige Winne, from Lansing. Berger (15 years) and Acluche (14) both have officiated girls lacrosse nearly since its beginning as an MHSAA-sponsored sport in 2005.

    MHSAA assistant director Kathy Vruggink Westdorp explained the significance of these all-woman officiating crews in her letter to each announcing their selection for the Finals:

    “You are an important part of the past as well as the future of girls and women’s sports. 

    “While watching girls lacrosse throughout the last eighteen years, it has been amazing to see the evolution of the game. The athleticism that we see today by some of Michigan’s most skilled female athletes would never have been possible without the passage of Title IX and the offerings of sports for girls and women through our nation’s schools. … You have all been an important part of this journey as role models for these young women. 

    “Thank you for providing opportunities, action and validation for young girls and women. We will continue to be charged with educating and empowering the next generation in this quest. It is so exciting that youth today can see female athletes, officials and administrators lead the way to a future with unlimited options.”

    Both championship games ended with 12-11 scores – Brighton edging Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern/Eastern in overtime in Division 1, and East Grand Rapids narrowly defeating Detroit Country Day by sudden victory in Division 2. 

    Second Half's weekly Title IX Celebration posts are sponsored by Michigan Army National Guard.

    Previous Title IX at 50 Spotlights

    June 7: From Gymnastics to Wrestling, Girls Opportunities Continue to Grow - Read
    May 31:     Mumford Sprinter's Magnificent 2006 Final Remains Unmatched - Read
    May 24: Scane, Whiteside Alone on 400-Goal, 500-Point Girls Lacrosse Lists - Read
    May 17: Over 8 Days in 1988, Pair of Champs Set No. 1 Singles Standard - Read
    May 10:     Portage Central's Tarpley Scores as State's Superstar, U.S. Soccer Hero - Read
    May 3:     Prychitko 'Legend In Her Own Time,' Legend for All Time - Read
    April 26:     Braddock vs. Verdun Still Striding Among All-Time Sprint Matchups - Read
    April 19:     Holmes' Strikeout Record Rarely Approached, May Be Unbreakable - Read
    April 12:     Anticipation High as 45,000 Girls Return to Spring Sports - Read
    April 5:     Regina's Laffey Retiring as Definition of Legendary - Read
    March 29:     Edison's Whitehorn named 2022 Miss Basketball - Read
    March 22:     Carney-Nadeau Sets Girls Hoops Standard with 78-Win Streak - Read
    March 15:     Binder Among Voices Telling Our Story on MHSAA Network - Read
    March 8:     28 Years, Thousands of Cheers - Read
    March 1:     Kearsley Rolls On Among Girls Bowling's Early Successes - Read
    Feb. 22: Marquette Ties Record for Swim & Dive Finals Success - Read
    Feb. 15: Jaeger's 2004 Winter Run Created Lasting Connection - Read
    Feb. 8: Marian's Cicerone to Finish Among All-Time Elite - Read
    Feb. 1: WISL Award Honors Builders of State's Girls Sports Tradition - Read
    Jan. 25: Decades Later, Edwards' Legend Continues to Grow - Read
    Jan. 18: Iron Mountain Completes Championship Climb - Read
    Jan. 11: Harrold's Achievement Heralds Growth of Girls Wrestling - Read
    Dec. 20: Competitive Cheer Gives Michigan Plenty to Cheer About - Read
    Dec. 14:     Evelyn's Game Had Plenty of Magic - Read
    Dec. 7:     Council Term Ends, But Leinaar Leaves Lasting Impact - Read
    Nov. 30:     Basketball Season Ready to Add to Rich Tradition - Read
    Nov. 23:     Marysville Builds Winning Streak Yet to be Challenged - Read
    Nov. 16: Wroubel Has Championed Girls School Sports from Their Start - Read
    Nov. 9: Pioneer's Joyce Legendary in Michigan, National Swim History - Read
    Nov. 2: Royal Oak's Finch Leading Way on Football Field - Read
    Oct. 26: Coach Clegg Sets Championship Standard at Grand Blanc - Read
    Oct. 19: Rockford Girls Set Pace, Hundreds After Have Continued to Chase - Read
    Oct. 12:     Bedford Volleyball Pioneer Continues Blazing Record-Setting Trail - Read
    Oct. 5:     Warner Paved Way to Legend Status with Record Rounds - Read
    Sept. 28: Taylor Kennedy Gymnasts Earn Fame as 1st Champions - Read
    Sept. 21:     Portage Northern Star Byington Becomes Play-by-Play Pioneer - Read
    Sept. 14:     Guerra/Groat Legacy Continues to Serve St. Philip Well - Read
    Sept. 7:     Best-Ever Conversation Must Include Leland's Glass - Read
    Aug. 31: We Will Celebrate Many Who Paved the Way - Read

    PHOTO From left: Virginia Merlo, Laura Berger, Paige Winne, Ellery Blasch, Sydney Jaenicke, Sierra Bain, Anne Acluche and Marci Schaeffer. (MHSAA file photo)