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: Field Hockey Basics

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

September 3, 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 – Field Hockey Basics - Listen

Field Hockey is now a fully sponsored MHSAA sport. So let’s start by getting up to speed on some basics.

Field Hockey is a fall sport.

Games are administered by two officials.

Each team plays with 11 players on the field – including the goalkeeper.

The field is 100 yards by 60 yards – roughly the same size as a football field.

The goals are 12 feet wide and seven feet high, with the penalty stroke line being drawn seven yards in front of the center of the goal.

Players are not allowed to play the ball with the rounded side of the stick – nor are they allowed to charge, hit, shove, or trip an opposing player.

Field hockey games are 60 minutes long, played in four 15-minute quarters.

Previous 2025-26 editions

Aug. 26: Golf Ball Bounces Out - Listen

PHOTO by Jamie Crawford/JC Sports Photography.