Be the Referee: Vern L. Norris Award

April 30, 2015

This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl discusses the MHSAA's highest honor awarded annually to officials. 

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 - Vern L. Norris Award - Listen

The Vern Norris Award is the most prestigious award the MHSAA has for officials. The Norris Award, named after former MHSAA Executive Director and long-time official Vern Norris, doesn’t just go to the official of the year. The award is for leaders in the officiating industry, those who have recruited new people into officiating and have been leaders in the areas of training and preparing young new officials.

This year’s winner, right here from the Lansing area, is Sam Davis, a long-time wrestling leader and official, and we could not be more proud of Sam as this year’s winner of the Vern Norris Award.

Past editions
March 23 - Deciding the Game - Listen
March 16 - Block/Charge Call - Listen
March 9 - Dive on the Floor - Listen
March 2 - Primary Areas - Listen
Feb. 23 - Too Much TV - Listen
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: Air Ball

By Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials

February 20, 2024

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 – Air Ball - Listen

We’re on the basketball court today, where a player fires up a shot that fails to make it to the basket. An air ball.

But he is able to catch the ball before anyone else touches it. Is this a traveling violation? If not – what is this player able to do now?

It is not traveling as long as the referee judges the first release of the ball as a shot attempt. After catching the shot – it’s treated the same as grabbing an offensive rebound that hit the rim. The player can now restart his dribble, pass the ball or shoot again. A shot attempt is a shot attempt regardless of it hitting the rim or backboard.

Previous Editions

Feb. 13: Hockey Penalties - Listen
Jan. 30: Wrestling Tiebreakers - Listen
Jan. 23: Wrestling Technology - Listen
Jan. 9: 3 Seconds - Listen
Dec. 19: Unsuspecting Hockey Hits - Listen
Dec. 12: No More One-And-Ones - Listen
Nov. 21: Football Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 14: Volleyball Unplayable Areas - Listen
Nov. 7: Pass/Kick Off Crossbar - Listen
Oct. 31: Cross Country Interference - Listen
Oct. 24: Soccer Overtime - Listen
Oct. 17: Tennis Spin - Listen
Oct. 10: Blocked Kick - Listen
Oct. 3: Volleyball Double & Lift - Listen
Sept. 26: Registration Process - Listen
Sept. 20: Animal Interference - Listen
Sept. 13: Feet Rule on Soccer Throw-In - Listen
Sept. 6: Volleyball Jewelry - Listen
Aug. 30: Football Rules Similarities - Listen
Aug. 23: Football Rules Differences - Listen