Be the Referee: Football Rules Changes

September 5, 2019

This week, MHSAA Assistant Director Brent Rice discusses a pair of football rules changes made the enhance safety.

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 Safety Rules Changes - Listen

Among our football rules changes for this year are two which involve player safety.

The foul for tripping has been expanded to include a trip on the ball carrier. Intentionally tripping any player on the field – using the lower leg or foot to obstruct an opponent below the knees – will result in a 15-yard penalty.

And the definition of a horse-collar tackle has been expanded to include bringing down a runner backwards or sideways by grabbing the nameplate area on the back of the jersey – or inside the neck area of the jersey or shoulder plate. The penalty for a horse-collar tackle is 15 yards.

Past editions

Aug. 29: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen

Unforgettable 5ive: 2021 Football Week 5

By Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

September 29, 2021

Here's a look at our Week 5 "Unforgettable 5ive" from MHSAA.tv and MHSAA media partner broadcasts:

► Wyatt Nausadis of Traverse City St. Francis maneuvers for a 31-yard touchdown run as his team defeated Boyne City 48-14.

► Shane Aho scores from two yards out to give Hancock a 20-17 win in the Copper Bowl over Houghton. The game was played in a driving rainstorm.

► Cole Lindow of Frankenmuth goes 93 yards for the score before halftime as the Eagles rolled to a 48-21 win over Freeland.

► DeWitt's Tommy McIntosh hauls in a 56-yard touchdown pass from Ty Holtz as the Panthers defeated Grand Ledge 57-15.

► Logan McColley intercepts a Plainwell pass and returns it for a touchdown in Edwardsburg's 49-0 win over the Trojans.

Previous clips

Week 4: Watch
Week 3: Watch
Week 2: Watch
Week 1: Watch