Be the Referee: Primary Areas
March 7, 2019
This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains why sometimes the official farthest away from the action is the one with the best angle to make the 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 – Primary Areas - Listen
In just about every single basketball game ever played, there are times where fans will turn to each other and wonder, “Why did that official make the call when there was another member of the crew that was a whole lot closer to the play?”
The most important thing in all of officiating, and especially basketball officiating, is the angle for an official. There will be many times during the game that the official that is closest to the play actually has the worst look or the worst angle.
Many times the player is going up in the lane for that shot, and the whistle will come from one of the two outside officials because they had the perfect angle to see all the elements of the play and can rule correctly.
Past editions
February 28: Under the Bus - Listen
February 21: You Make the Call - Listen
February 14: Because They Love It - Listen
February 7: Coach/Official Communication - Listen
January 31: Backcourt Violation? - Listen
January 24: Required Hockey Equipment - Listen
January 17: You Make the Call: 10-Second Clock - Listen
January 10: Tripping in Hockey - Listen
January 3: Sliding in Basketball - Listen
December 27: Stalling in Wrestling - Listen
December 20: Basketball: You Make the Call - Listen
December 13: Basketball Uniform Safety - Listen
December 6: Coaching Box Expansion - Listen
November 29: Video Review, Part 2 - Listen
November 22: Video Review, Part 1 - Listen
November 15: You Make the Call - Sleeper Play - Listen
November 8: 7-Person Football Crews - Listen
November 1: Overtime Differences - Listen
October 25: Trickery & Communication - Listen
October 18: Punts & Missed Field Goals - Listen
October 11: What Officials Don't Do - Listen
October 4: Always 1st-and-Goal - Listen
September 27: Unique Kickoff Option - Listen
September 20: Uncatchable Pass - Listen
September 13: Soccer Rules Change - Listen
September 6: You Make the Call: Face Guarding - Listen
August 30: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen
August 23: Football Rules Changes - Listen
Be the Referee: Field Hockey Basics
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
September 3, 2025
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 – Field Hockey Basics - Listen
Field Hockey is now a fully sponsored MHSAA sport. So let’s start by getting up to speed on some basics.
Field Hockey is a fall sport.
Games are administered by two officials.
Each team plays with 11 players on the field – including the goalkeeper.
The field is 100 yards by 60 yards – roughly the same size as a football field.
The goals are 12 feet wide and seven feet high, with the penalty stroke line being drawn seven yards in front of the center of the goal.
Players are not allowed to play the ball with the rounded side of the stick – nor are they allowed to charge, hit, shove, or trip an opposing player.
Field hockey games are 60 minutes long, played in four 15-minute quarters.
Previous 2025-26 editions
Aug. 26: Golf Ball Bounces Out - Listen
PHOTO by Jamie Crawford/JC Sports Photography.