Be the Referee: 8-Player vs. 11-Player Football
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
November 19, 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 – 8-Player vs. 11-Player Football - Listen
Do you know the two main differences between 8-player and 11-player football?
The name gives away one … 8-player is played with 3 less players.
The other difference is the field size. An 11-player field is 120 yards long and 53½ yards wide. An 8-player field in Michigan is the same length, but 40 yards wide, which moves the hash marks in as well.
But other than those two differences, the rules of football remain pretty much the same. At least five players on offense must be on the line of scrimmage at the snap, and each offensive player must be within 12 yards of the spot of the ball when snapped.
High school overtime rules are the same – each team gets four downs from the 10-yard line to score.
Previous 2024-25 Editions
Nov. 12: Back Row Setter - Listen
Nov. 5: Football OT - Listen
Oct. 29: Officials Registration - Listen
Oct. 22: Volleyball Serve - Listen
Oct. 15: "You Make the Call" - Soccer Offside - Listen
Oct. 8: Roughing the Passer - Listen
Oct. 1: Abnormal Course Condition - Listen
Sept. 25: Tennis Nets - Listen
Sept. 18: Libero - Listen
Sept. 10: Cross Country Uniforms - Listen
Sept. 3: Soccer Handling - Listen
Aug. 24: Football Holding - Listen
Be the Referee: Football Rules Differences
By
Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials
August 23, 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 Differences - Listen
The first week of the high school football season is always exciting … and sometimes confusing. Here are some – not all – differences between the high school game and what you see on Saturdays and Sundays.
In high school, there is no such thing as an uncatchable ball when judging pass interference. It is a penalty if there is illegal contact, whether the ball is catchable or not.
In overtime, high school teams start with the ball at the 10-year line – not the 25 like in college. And in high school overtime, you are only able to get a first down via penalty. And, at no time is a high school team required to go for two points.
And on extra point plays, if the defense gains possession, the try is over. The defense cannot return the ball for two points.