Be the Referee: Video Clip Library

February 20, 2015

This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains MHSAA policy for video submitted to argue an official's call. 

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 - Video Clip Library - Listen

Throughout the year, callers and e-mailers to our office will often complain about an official’s call, and this concerned person will then tell us that they have video to back up their claim. 

The policy here at the MHSAA is to not review video tape for the purposes of changing an official’s call. Many times this video that is provided to the MHSAA is from a single angle, and that one angle would never allow us to overturn a call, even if our rules were similar to the college and pro level to allow for instant replay. 

We do, however,use that video to put in our video clip library to help officials and others continue to train and learn from different situations.

Past editions
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: Football Rules Similarities

By Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials

August 30, 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 – Football Rules Similarities - Listen

Last week we highlighted some major differences between high school football and the college and pros. This week — how about some of the things that are similar?

New as of last year is the addition of a tackle box when judging intentional grounding. In high school, like college and pros, the QB must be outside of the tackle box and throw it past the line of scrimmage for it to NOT be intentional grounding.

Horse collar tackles are penalties at all three levels of play. The ball carrier must be pulled down backward or to one side for there to be a foul … but if there is, it’s 15 yards.

And a receiver at the high school level needs to have a body part down in bounds, the same as in college. But the NFL requires two feet in for a catch.

Previous Editions

Aug. 23: Football Rules Differences - Listen

(PHOTO by Douglas Bargerstock.)