Be the Referee: No More One-And-Ones

By Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials

December 12, 2023

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 – No More One-And-Ones - Listen

A rule change in high school basketball means there will no longer be one-and-one free throws, and team fouls now reset after each quarter, not at the half. Here’s how it works:

A team will reach the bonus in each quarter once its opponent has committed five fouls. That means teams will shoot two free throws for all common fouls after the fourth team foul in a quarter.

Previously, teams weren’t in the bonus until the seventh team foul and then shot one-and-one free throws until the 10th team foul of a half, or double bonus, was reached.

A foul on a 3-point attempt will still result in three free throws for the shooter and still counts as a team foul.

Previous Editions

Nov. 21: Football Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 14: Volleyball Unplayable Areas - Listen
Nov. 7: Pass/Kick Off Crossbar - Listen
Oct. 31: Cross Country Interference - Listen
Oct. 24: Soccer Overtime - Listen
Oct. 17: Tennis Spin - Listen
Oct. 10: Blocked Kick - Listen
Oct. 3: Volleyball Double & Lift - Listen
Sept. 26: Registration Process - Listen
Sept. 20: Animal Interference - Listen
Sept. 13: Feet Rule on Soccer Throw-In - Listen
Sept. 6: Volleyball Jewelry - Listen
Aug. 30: Football Rules Similarities - Listen
Aug. 23: Football Rules Differences - 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.