Perspective: Football Rules Revisited
August 29, 2012
A number of new football rules were introduced during last week's season openers around the state.
In this week's MHSAA Perspective, we explain those regulations taking effect this fall.
"Football Rules Revisited" - Listen
MHSAA Perspective is a weekly audio commentary about the world of high school sports. The program runs from late August through mid March on over 60 radio stations across the state.
Click to see a list and listen to all of this school year's commentaries. Archived "Perspectives" can be heard on demand at MHSAAnetwork.com -- choose school year from the list on the right..
Be the Referee: Fumble Out of Bounds
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
August 25, 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 – Fumble Out of Bounds - Listen
We are on the football field today, where the offense has the ball on their own 20-yard line. It’s 3rd-and 10. They run a draw play, with the running back gaining nine yards before fumbling at the 29 yard-line.
The fumbled ball goes forward to the 35-yard line before another offensive player recovers. Where should the ball be marked?
Because the ball was recovered in-bounds, it’s first down for the offense at the point of recovery, the 35-yard line.
If the ball had rolled out of bounds at the 35-yard line, before anyone could recover it, it would have been brought back to the spot of the fumble – the 29-yard line – making it 4th-and-1 for the offense.
(Photo by Larry Arreguin/Team Arreguin Photos.)