Be the Referee: Most Important Line
October 31, 2019
This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains what the goal line means for offenses, defenses and special teams in high school football.
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 - Most Important Line - Listen
There’s an old saying in football officiating that the most important line on the field is the goal line.
This is certainly true when it comes to touchdowns, as the high school rule is just like that at the college and pro level, where all the ball has to do is break the plane for the score.
One unique part of the goal line under high school rules deals with kicks. Whenever a kickoff or a punt breaks the plane of the goal line, it becomes a dead ball with an automatic touchback. Now, whenever the defense gets possession of the ball in the end zone, it can return a fumble or interception out of the end zone for advancement, except if it’s on an extra point or any time in overtime.
Past editions
Oct. 24: Automatic 1st Downs - Listen
Oct. 17: Catch Momentum - Listen
Oct. 10: Golf Rules Changes - Listen
Oct. 3: No Tackle Box - Listen
Sept. 26: You Make the Overtime Call - Listen
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
3 Sports Finish Live on MHSAA TV - UPDATE
June 12, 2017
By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director
A three-ring championship weekend will have all of its action on the internet with live streaming audio and video this weekend on MHSAA.tv and the MHSAA Network.
Baseball and Softball Semifinal coverage begins Thursday (June 15) and runs through Saturday’s (June 17) Finals from Old College Field at Michigan State University. On Friday (June 16) and Saturday, you also can catch the action of the Lower Peninsula Girls Soccer Finals from Williamston High School.
On Tuesday (June 13), the final event of the year for the MHSAA’s School Broadcast Program will be originated by Cedar Springs High School, which is hosting a Semifinal game in girls soccer.
Here’s the complete schedule of games on MHSAA.tv and the MHSAA Network this week: (All game links are to MHSAA.tv)
Tuesday (June 13) Girls Soccer Semifinal – Division 3
Thursday Baseball Semifinals (Quarterfinals Tuesday)
- 9 a.m. – Division 1 – Northville v. Grand Haven
- 11:30 a.m. – Division 1 – Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett v. Saline
- 2:30 p.m. – Division 2 – Stevensville Lakeshore v. Chelsea
- 5 p.m. – Division 2 – Dearborn Divine Child v. Bay City John Glenn
Thursday Softball Semifinals (Quarterfinals Tuesday)
- 10 a.m. – Division 2 – Richmond v. Escanaba
- 12:30 p.m. – Division 2 – Stevensville Lakeshore v. Ida
- 3 p.m. – Division 1 – Clarkston v. Grandville
- 5:30 p.m. – Division 1 – Macomb Dakota v. Mattawan
Friday (June 16) Baseball Semifinals (Quarterfinals Tuesday)
- 9 a.m. – Division 3 – Madison Heights Bishop Foley v. Caro
- 11:30 a.m. – Division 3 - Traverse City St. Francis v. Schoolcraft
- 2:30 p.m. – Division 4 – Unionville-Sebewaing v. Portland St. Patrick
- 5 p.m. – Division 4 – Hudson v. Gaylord St. Mary
Friday Softball Semifinals (Quarterfinals Tuesday)
- 10 a.m. – Division 4 – Kalamazoo Christian v. Indian River Inland Lakes
- 12:30 p.m. – Division 4 – Ottawa Lake-Whiteford v. Coleman
- 3 p.m. – Division 3 – Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central v. Shepherd
- 5:30 p.m. – Division 3 – Gladstone v. Napoleon
Friday L.P. Girls Soccer Finals (Semifinals – Tuesday)
- 1 p.m. – Division 3 – Freeland v. Flint Powers Catholic
- 4 p.m. – Division 2 – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern v. Bloomfield Hills Marian
Saturday (June 17) Baseball Finals
- 9 a.m. – Division 1
- 11:30 a.m. – Division 2
- 2:30 p.m. – Division 3
- 5 p.m. – Division 4
Saturday Softball Finals
- 10 a.m. – Division 2
- 12:30 p.m. – Division 1
- 3 p.m. – Division 4
- 5:30 p.m. – Division 3
Saturday L.P. Girls Soccer Finals (Semifinals Wednesday - June 14)
- 1 p.m. – Division 4 – Muskegon Catholic Central/Kalamazoo Christian winner v. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett winner
- 4 p.m. – Division 1 - Grand Blanc/Utica Ford winner v. Saline/Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central winner
A $9.95 subscription allows viewing of live content on MHSAA.tv and the NFHS Network for 30 days. All events will be archived for free on-demand viewing, beginning three days after their completion. Subscriptions must be cancelled before the 30-day period is over to avoid recurring charges.
In its eighth year, the School Broadcast Program gives members an opportunity to showcase excellence in their schools by creating video programming of athletic and non-athletic events with students gaining skills in announcing, camera operation, directing/producing and graphics.
The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.
All sporting events – live or delayed – are available on a subscription basis only for their first 72 hours online. They become available for free, on-demand viewing approximately 72 hours following their completion.
Schools interested in becoming a part of the School Broadcast Program should contact John Johnson at the MHSAA Office.