Be the Referee: Ski Finish
By
Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials
February 21, 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 – Ski Finish - Listen
The sun is out, the snow is in great condition, I’m zooming down the hill … making all my gates … I’m having a great run at the Ski Finals. But as I near the finish line, I lose a ski. Maybe I lose both skis. But my momentum is enough, or I’m good enough on one ski to cross the finish line. Is that a legal finish?
Ski rules state that the athlete’s feet must cross the finish line. That can be done on both skis, one ski – or no skis.
With electronic timing, the clock stops when any part of the skier crosses the line. With hand timing, the clock should be stopped when the skiers feet cross the line.
If there is a question, the referee and timekeeper are responsible for determining a legal finish.
Previous Editions:
Feb. 14: Swimming Touchpads - Listen
Feb. 7: In or Out-of-Bounds in Wrestling - Listen
Jan. 31: Over the Back - Listen
Jan. 24: Competitive Cheer Judges - Listen
Jan. 17: More Lines - Listen
Jan. 10: On the Line - Listen
Jan. 3: Basketball Measurements - Listen
Dec. 13: Pregame Dunks - Listen
Dec. 6: Gymnastics Judges - Listen
Nov. 22: Football Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 15: Back Row Illegal Blocker - Listen
Nov. 8: Swim Turn Judges - Listen
Nov. 1: Soccer Referee Jersey Colors - Listen
Oct. 25: Cross Country Tie-Breaker - Listen
Oct. 18: Soccer Shootouts - Listen
Oct. 11: Safety in End Zone - Listen
Oct. 4: Football Overtime Penalty - Listen
Sept. 27: Kickoff Goal - Listen
Sept. 20: Soccer Timing - Listen
Sept. 13: Volleyball Replays - Listen
Sept. 6: Switching Sides - Listen
Aug. 30: Play Clock - Listen
Aug. 23: Intentional Grounding Change - Listen
Be the Referee: Illegal Substitution/Participation
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
November 11, 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 – Illegal Substitution/Participation - Listen
We’re on the football field this week with 23 players.
Twenty-three is one too many; there should only be 22 on the field at once – 11 on offense, 11 on defense.
But on this play, the offense had a 12th player lined up on the field.
What’s the call?
It depends on when the penalty is spotted.
If the officials catch it before the play is run, that’s an illegal substitution and a 5-yard penalty.
But if the ball is snapped and a play is run with 12 on the field – and the 12th player is not attempting to get off the field – then it’s illegal participation and a 15-yard penalty. It’s also a 15-yard penalty if the offense uses a substitution to create a deception.
Previous 2025-26 editions
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