Be the Referee: Football OT
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
November 5, 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 OT - Listen
We’ve got a football overtime question for you today. In high school, what is the only way a defensive team can score in overtime?
- Can they return an interception for a touchdown?
- Can they pick up a fumble and take it back for a touchdown?
If you said yes to either of those, you’re wrong.
In overtime, if the defense gains possession of the ball – be it by fumble or interception – the play is over. There’s no advancing of the ball, and the offensive possession is over.
So back to the original question: How can the defense score in overtime? There’s only one way – via safety. And with teams starting at the 10-yard line, that would be a pretty wild play – and it would end the game with the defensive team victorious.
Previous 2024-25 Editions
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
PHOTO An officiating crew confers before this season’s Fowler/Bath varsity football game. (Photo by John Johnson.)
Be the Referee: Instant Replay
By
Brent Rice
MHSAA Assistant Director
November 26, 2021
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 – Instant Replay - Listen
The use of instant replay in football varies at each level. But at the high school level in Michigan, replay is not used for any regular-season or postseason games, except for the Football Finals at Ford Field.
Unlike the professional and college leagues, however, the only plays that are reviewed are potential scoring plays and potential turnovers. On those plays, the officials in the replay booth will look at the various angles provided by the television broadcast and either confirm or overturn the play.
For each game at Ford Field, there are three replay officials in the booth – all with experience at higher levels. Over the years, replay has rarely been used, but it’s always in an effort of getting the correct call made.
Previous editions
Nov. 11: Tourney Selection - Listen
Nov. 4: Receiver Carried Out of End Zone – Listen
Oct. 28: Volleyball Back-Row Block – Listen
Oct. 21: Soccer Disallowed Goal – Listen
Sept 30: Field Goal Falls Short – Listen
Sept. 23: Volleyball Obstruction – Listen
Sept. 16: Catch or No Catch – Listen
Sept. 9: Intentional Grounding – Listen
Sept. 2: Pass Interference – Listen
Aug. 26: Protocols and Mechanics – Listen