Be the Referee: Video Review Success

December 5, 2019

This week, MHSAA assistant director Brent Rice discusses the video review utilized for the first time at last weekend's Football Finals, and how it was successful. 

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 - Video Review Success - Listen

For the first time in MHSAA history, video review was utilized to confirm or correct judgment calls on the field for our Football Finals. While there is always some apprehension when adding new technologies to sports, the MHSAA’s approach to a limited replay process, reviewing only those plays that involved turnovers or scores, proved to be a terrific success.

There were a few instances where very close but consequential plays were overturned. However, the biggest confirmation replay provided was something we already knew – that is, that MHSAA officials are putting in hard work and dedication and getting the vast majority of their plays correct in real-time live action.

When needed though, competent replay officials were right on top of the situation to correct the plays without challenges, without controversy and with very little delay in the process.

Past editions

Nov. 28: More Injury Time - Listen
Nov. 21: Football Review - Listen
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

Through the Years: Football 1975-2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

August 9, 2016

Another football season kicked off Monday with first practices across the state, so it's a perfect time to take a look back at what is annually our most attended MHSAA tournament series. 

High schools in this state have played football for more than a century. The first MHSAA champions were awarded in 1975, and the playoffs have continued to evolve to now recognize a total of nine champions over two formats, 11 and 8-player.

This feature is from the spring issue of benchmarks, built and written by Rob Kaminski. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a link to our previous installments. We'll continue to look at more MHSAA postseason events every Tuesday and Friday this fall.

Previous installments 

August 5: Girls Volleyball - Read
August 2:
Boys Soccer - Read
July 30:
Boys Cross Country - Read
July 26:
Girls Cross Country - Read
July 22:
Boys/Girls Lacrosse - Read
July 19:
Boys/Girls Tennis - Read
July 15:
Boys/Girls Golf - Read
July 12:
Girls Soccer - Read
July 8:
Boys Track & Field - Read
July 5:
Girls Track & Field - Read
July 1: Baseball - Read
June 28: Softball - Read