Be the Referee: Wrestling Technology
By
Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials
January 24, 2024
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 – Wrestling Technology - Listen
You see the use of technology in football quite frequently. A quarterback throws an incomplete pass on third down and when he comes to the sidelines, coaches are able to show him on a tablet or TV screen what went wrong.
But can that same technology be used in wrestling? It can.
Current National Federation playing rules allow coaches in the wrestler’s corner to use video or still photographs to instruct wrestlers during any timeout or dead clock situations. Just like in the football example, a wrestler could view footage from earlier in their match during a timeout and use that information going forward. However, that video cannot be used to dispute a call.
One thing coaches can’t do is transmit audio to a wrestler through an earpiece.
Previous Editions
Jan. 9: 3 Seconds - Listen
Dec. 19: Unsuspecting Hockey Hits - Listen
Dec. 12: No More One-And-Ones - Listen
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.