Be the Referee: We Get Letters
March 15, 2018
In this week's edition, assistant director Mark Uyl tells of a letter that caught our attention, sent by one of our member school superintendents in support of officials and pledging to improve sportsmanship.
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 – We Get Letters - Listen
Over the course of any school year, the MHSAA receives thousands of pieces of correspondence. We recently received a letter from a member school superintendent that really caught our attention.
The letter was addressed to the officials in this superintendent’s local area; and in that was a pledge – it was a pledge by that individual school, along with the entire league – that they were going to improve sportsmanship in their area, and also improve the experience that officials had when working at those schools.
The superintendent promised more accountability for his coaches, his players, and especially his adult spectators in raising the bar for those sportsmanship expectations, to keep those officials in the game.
Past editions
February 22: Block/Charge Calls - Listen
February 15: Dog Days of February - Listen
February 8: National Playing Rules Process - Listen
February 1: Calling Intentional Fouls - Listen
January 25: Points at the Edge of the Mat - Listen
January 18: Behavior Warning - Listen
January 11: Ice Hockey Safe & Sound - Listen
January 4: Why No Shot Clock - Listen
December 21: Coaches Responsible for Equipment - Listen
December 14: Mentoring New Officials - Listen
December 7: Dive on the Floor - Listen
November 30: Wrestling Weight Monitoring - Listen
November 23: Ejections - Listen
November 16: Toughest Call - Listen
November 9: Hurdling - Listen
November 2: The Survey Says - Listen
October 26: Helmet Comes Off - Listen
October 19: Goal Line Rules - Listen
October 12: No 1st-Year Fee - Listen
October 5: Athletic Empty Nesters - Listen
September 28: Misunderstood Football Rules: Kicking - Listen
September 21: Preparation for Officials - Listen
September 14: Always Stay Registered - Listen
September 7: Other Football Rules Changes - Listen
August 31: Pop-Up Onside Kicks - Listen
August 24: Blindside Blocks - Listen
Be the Referee: YMTC - Face Guarding
September 6, 2018
In this week's edition, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis takes us through a "You Make the Call" scenario regarding football face guarding.
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 – You Make the Call: Face Guarding - Listen
Let’s check out your knowledge of high school football rules with a “you make the call.”
The quarterback drops back to pass, and his intended receiver gets a step on the cornerback. As the ball approaches the receiver, the defensive player sticks his hands and arms out in front of the receiver’s face without contact. The receiver loses sight of the ball, and the pass falls to the ground.
What’s the call?
A national high school playing rule instituted last year removed the penalty for face guarding without contact. The change brought high school football rules in line with collegiate and professional rules. The pass is incomplete and there is no flag for defensive pass interference.
Past editions
August 30: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen
August 23: Football Rules Changes - Listen