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
Be the Referee: Fair or Foul?
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
May 6, 2026
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 – Fair or Foul? - Listen
In baseball or softball, what makes a batted ball fair or foul? Seems pretty easy, right?
Let’s go through some scenarios.
The white chalk line is considered fair territory. So are any foul poles. If a ball hits the foul pole – it’s a fair ball.
If a ball hits a base – it’s a fair ball.
If a ball that hits the ground in the infield, crosses over a base in fair territory before slicing into foul ground, it’s a fair ball because it crossed the base in fair territory.
A ball in the infield that is hit into foul territory that spins back into fair ground is fair. It doesn’t matter that it hit in foul territory first.
And a ball that rolls to a stop before getting to a base, that is sitting in foul territory but is hanging over the white chalk line, is fair.
Previous 2025-26 editions
April 28: Wrong Green - Listen
April 21: Injured Runner - Listen
April 14: Officiate Michigan Day - Listen
March 11: Basketball Replay - Listen
March 3: Over the Back - Listen
Feb. 24: Wrestling Out-of-Bounds - Listen
Feb. 17: Backwards Skiing - Listen
Feb. 10: Faking Being Fouled - Listen
Feb. 3: Bowling Pins - Listen
Jan. 27: Ski Gates - Listen
Jan. 20: Cheer Judges - Listen
Jan. 13: Basketball Over the Back - Listen
Jan. 6: Bowling Ball Bounces Out of Gutter - Listen
Dec. 9: Puck on Goal Netting - Listen
Dec. 2: Goaltending vs. Basket Interference - Listen
Nov. 25: Football Finals Instant Replay - Listen
Nov. 18: Volleyball Libero Uniforms - Listen
Nov. 11: Illegal Substitution/Participation - Listen
Nov. 4: Losing a Shoe - Listen
Oct. 28: Unusual Soccer Goals - Listen
Oct. 21: Field Hockey Penalty Stroke - Listen
Oct. 14: Tennis Double Hit - Listen
Oct. 7: Safety in Football - Listen
Sept. 30: Field Hockey Substitution - Listen
Sept 23: Multiple Contacts in Volleyball - Listen
Sept. 16: Soccer Penalty Kick - Listen
Sept. 9: Forward Fumble - Listen
Sept. 2: Field Hockey Basics - Listen
Aug. 26: Golf Ball Bounces Out - Listen