Be the Referee: Safety in Football
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
October 7, 2025
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 – Safety in Football - Listen
We’re on the football field today, and the defense has sacked the quarterback in the offense’s own endzone, resulting in a safety. That’s two points for the defense, but what happens next?
Following a safety, the team that was on offense must kick the ball back to the team that was on defense.
The kicking team can either punt it, or drop kick it, with the line of scrimmage being their own 20-yard line. The kick must occur from within one step of the line of scrimmage. And the receiving team must have all of their players at least 10 yards from the line of scrimmage.
Once it’s kicked, play continues on as normal – much like a punt or kick return. But if a team chooses the drop-kick, they could recover the ball once it travels at least 10 yards.
Previous 2025-26 editions
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
What's My Why: Official Brady Driver
June 12, 2026
Brady Driver, Sturgis
Driver just completed his 20th year as an MHSAA-registered official. He has worked football, wrestling and boys lacrosse all 20 years, and also officiated basketball for six seasons and volleyball and girls lacrosse for one apiece.
One, the opportunity to continue interacting with athletics, and school districts, and sports, and being part of educational athletics.
Two, the thousands of student-athletes that I get to see grow up in and through sports and then go on to great things in their lives.
And then three, for me, to also be able to have the joy of building lifelong friendships with multiple officials across these three sports, and the opportunities to have been able to travel, in some cases across the United States to officiate, and also meeting some pretty incredible people through the circles of football, wrestling and lacrosse.
I would highly encourage, if you have a desire to stay involved and get the best seat in the house every time, every game, every night, to be an official. It’s one of the best things you’ll ever do.
“What’s My Why” is a weekly feature telling the stories of MHSAA-registered officials in their own words. If you’re an MHSAA official and would like to share your reason why, please submit a 15 to 45-second video, taken horizontally, to director of officials Sam Davis at [email protected].
Don't miss Officiate Michigan Day 2026, July 25 in Grand Rapids! Check out MHSAA.com/OMD to register and learn more.
What's My Why
June 8: Cindy Tyzo, West Bloomfield - Watch
June 3: Jeff Spedoske, DeWitt - Watch
June 1: Mike Carrier, Commerce Township - Watch
May 27: Stan Wright, Warren - Watch
May 26: Murray Rose, Zeeland - Watch
May 22: Mike VanLaan, Alto - Watch
May 18: Clint Abbott, Newaygo - Watch