Be the Referee: Football Holding
By
Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials
August 27, 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 – Football Holding - Listen
In football, it’s often said that holding happens on every play. But does it?
When an offensive player uses their hands or arms to illegally restrain a defensive player – that’s holding. This typically happens when blockers grab or pull defensive players away from their path – impeding their ability to make a play. The penalty is 10 yards from the previous spot.
Defensive players can be flagged for holding as well. That’s also a 10-yard penalty. An example of defensive holding is when a cornerback grabs a receiver to slow him down before the ball is thrown. If that same contact happens while the pass is in the air – then it’s pass interference. Defensive pass interference is a 15-yard penalty.
PHOTO A football official signals holding during a 2023 game. (Photo by Gary Shook.)
Broadcast Schedules Set for MHSAA Football Finals Exclusively on NFHS Network
By
Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
November 18, 2025
Over the next two weekends, and for the first time, all 10 MHSAA Football Finals will broadcast exclusively on the NFHS Network.
The two 8-Player Finals will be contested Saturday at the Superior Dome on the campus of Northern Michigan University, while the eight 11-Player Finals will be played Nov. 28 and Nov. 30 at Ford Field in Detroit. The Detroit Lions also host the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 27, and on Nov. 29, Michigan State will host Maryland in a Big Ten matchup also at Ford Field.
A subscription to the NFHS Network is $13.99 per month – subscribe at NFHSNetwork.com. The broadcast teams for each game is below:
|
Division |
Day |
Time |
Play by Play |
Analyst |
Sideline |
|
8P-Div. 1 |
Nov. 22 |
11 am |
Sean Baligian |
Grant Perry |
Patti Cesarini |
|
8P-Div. 2 |
Nov. 22 |
2 pm |
Sean Baligian |
Grant Perry |
Patti Cesarini |
|
Div. 1 |
Nov. 30 |
7 pm |
Evan Stockton |
Grant Perry |
Alexis Ayala |
|
Div. 2 |
Nov. 28 |
7 pm |
Evan Stockton |
Grant Perry |
Cristiana Rosa |
|
Div. 3 |
Nov. 30 |
12:30 pm |
Evan Stockton |
Grant Perry |
Dave Ellis |
|
Div. 4 |
Nov. 28 |
12:30 pm |
Evan Stockton |
Grant Perry |
Cristiana Rosa |
|
Div. 5 |
Nov. 30 |
4 pm |
Joe Jason |
Chris Fritzsching |
Alexis Ayala |
|
Div. 6 |
Nov. 28 |
4 pm |
Joe Jason |
Chris Fritzsching |
Dave Ellis |
|
Div. 7 |
Nov. 30 |
9:30 am |
Ben Holden |
Chris Fritzsching |
Dave Ellis |
|
Div. 8 |
Nov. 28 |
9:30 am |
Ben Holden |
Chris Fritzsching |
Dave Ellis |
You can also listen to all 10 finals via MHSAANetwork.com. The audio call of each game is carried there for both live and on-demand listening.
|
Division |
Day |
Time |
Play by Play |
Analyst |
|
8P-Div. 1 |
Nov. 22 |
11am |
Matt Tjapkes |
none |
|
8P-Div. 2 |
Nov. 22 |
2pm |
Matt Tjapkes |
none |
|
Div. 1 |
Nov. 30 |
7pm |
Eric Vandefifer |
Adam Schihl |
|
Div. 2 |
Nov. 28 |
7pm |
Eric Vandefifer |
Adam Schihl |
|
Div. 3 |
Nov. 30 |
12:30pm |
Eric Vandefifer |
Adam Schihl |
|
Div. 4 |
Nov. 28 |
12:30pm |
Eric Vandefifer |
Adam Schihl |
|
Div. 5 |
Nov. 30 |
4pm |
Eric Vandefifer |
Adam Schihl |
|
Div. 6 |
Nov. 28 |
4pm |
Eric Vandefifer |
Adam Schihl |
|
Div. 7 |
Nov. 30 |
9:30am |
Joe Jason |
Eric Vandefifer |
|
Div. 8 |
Nov. 28 |
9:30am |
Joe Jason |
Eric Vandefifer |
PHOTO From left: Ben Holden, Madison McCarter, Ryan Riopelle and Evan Stockton crew the first "Sunday Selection Show" exclusively on the NFHS Network, Oct. 26 from the Michigan State University School of Journalism Newsroom.