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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 SBP Schools Receive DSBA Grants

November 8, 2016

By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director

Three members of the MHSAA’s School Broadcast Program have been named recipients of grants from the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association to purchase equipment for their broadcasting programs.

Cedar Springs, Montrose and Taylor Truman high schools were three of seven to receive grants from the DSBA which will be used to purchase audio and video equipment. Check presentations to each school took place in September.

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.  

Six Regional Final games in the MHSAA Football Playoffs – powered by the Michigan Army National Guard – will have live streaming video this weekend on FoxSportsDetroit.com and MHSAA.tv.

It’s the third weekend of Playoffs on the PrepZone on FoxSportsDetroit.com, where the following games will be featured on Friday (Nov. 11) at 7 p.m.

Saturday (Nov. 13) Playoff games live on MHSAA.tv are covered by members participating in the School Broadcast Program.  This week’s games are:

All PrepZone games will be archived on MHSAA.tv.

A subscription to watch live on MHSAA.tv is $9.95 and allows access to the full schedule of MHSAA Tournaments during the month of November:

  • Nov. 17-19 – Girls Volleyball Semifinals & Finals
  • Nov. 19 – Lower Peninsula Girls Swimming & Diving Finals
  • Nov. 19 – Football Playoff Semifinals (12 games)

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.

Weekly highlights from games produced by participants in the MHSAA's School Broadcast Program are back for another school year on MHSAA.tv. This week's highlights include a Girls Volleyball District Final between Clarkston and Lake Orion, a Boys Soccer Semifinal match between Grand Rapids Catholic Central and Charlevoix and a Football Playoff contest with Escanaba at Alma.

Schools interested in becoming a part of the School Broadcast Program should contact John Johnson at the MHSAA Office.