Be the Referee: You Make the OT Call
September 26, 2019
This week, MHSAA assistant director Brent Rice presents a "You Make the Call" regarding a penalty during football overtime.
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 Overtime Call - Listen
Let’s test your rules knowledge with this football You Make The Call.
A close game has gone to overtime, and Team A scores a touchdown on its first possession. During the extra point try, the kick is good, but Team B is called for roughing the kicker. What are Team A’s options?
You make the call.
In this case, the kicking team has two options – one is to accept the penalty and reattempt the point after from a yard and a half out, or accept the penalty on the succeeding spot, which would begin Team B’s overtime possession – 1st and Goal – that’s right – 1st and goal – at the 25-yard line.
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: Puck on Goal Netting
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
December 9, 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 – Puck on Goal Netting - Listen
We’re on the ice today, where after being last touched by Team A, the puck comes to rest on top of the goal netting. What happens?
New this year in high school ice hockey: If a puck is on the top of the goal netting, it’s an immediate stoppage. The puck is considered out of play.
It goes back into play via a faceoff from the nearest faceoff dot in the defending team’s zone.
Why the change from previous years? Because a puck on top of the netting creates too many problematic scenarios to be considered playable – you could have high sticking, closed hand (handling of the puck), goalkeeper contact or player-in-the-goal-crease.
If the puck is on top of the goal netting, blow the whistle and resume with a faceoff.
Previous 2025-26 editions
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
PHOTO Marquette's Skyler Blackburn and Negaunee goalie Kurt O'Brien scramble for the puck during a Nov. 8 matchup. (Photo by Randy Ritari.)