Be the Referee: Football Review

November 21, 2019

This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains how video will be used for the first time at this season's MHSAA Football Finals. 

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 Video Review - Listen

For the first time this year, video review of potential scoring plays and potential turnovers will take place at the MHSAA Football Finals at Ford Field for the 11-player games.

Under this system, any play which may or may not result in points being scored or any play which may or may not have resulted in a turnover can be reviewed. Personnel in the press box will look at all such plays and contact the referee on the field if a review takes place – and they give the final determination to the crew on the field.


Review may not be initiated by the officiating crew nor by the head coach of either team. Football joins basketball and ice hockey as sports where limited video review may now take place. 


Past editions

Nov. 14: Sideline Safety - Listen
Nov. 7: Officials Playlist - Listen
Oct. 31: Most Important Line - Listen
Oct. 24: Automatic 1st Downs - Listen
Oct. 17: Catch Momentum - Listen
Oct. 10: Golf Rules Changes - Listen
Oct. 3: No Tackle Box - Listen
Sept. 26: You Make the Overtime Call - Listen
Sept. 19: Swimming Finishing Touch - Listen
Sept. 12: Curbing Gamesmanship By Substitution - Listen
Sept. 5: Football Safety Rules Changes - Listen
Aug. 29: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen

Be the Referee: YMTC - 10-Second Clock

January 17, 2019

This week, MHSAA assistant director Brent Rice offers a "You Make the Call" scenario dealing with the 10-second clock in basketball.

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: 10-Second Clock - Listen

Let’s test your knowledge of high school basketball rules with this “you make the call.”

The Blue team is in control of the ball in the backcourt and the Red team is applying a full-court press. Eight seconds into the possession, the Blue team calls a timeout. You make the call.

When play resumes, how much time does the Blue team have to get the ball into the frontcourt?

Whenever play stops in the backcourt in high school basketball – for a timeout, a ball knocked out of bounds, a held ball, a foul or defensive violation; and a new-throw in is awarded – the 10-second clock is reset. This is different is several ways from the college rule. The Blue team resumes play with a fresh 10-second count to advance the ball into the frontcourt.

Past editions

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