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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

Video 2/3/16: Basketball, Hockey

February 3, 2016

By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director

Each week, MHSAA.tv features highlights of events produced by schools involved in the MHSAA School Broadcast Program.

This week's package includes clips from the Paw Paw/Plainwell and Pellston/Onaway girls basketball and Detroit Catholic Central/Trenton ice hockey games.


Two of the top Class C girls basketball teams in the Upper Peninsula square off in their only regular-season meeting to lead the schedule of the games that can been seen over the next week on a subscription basis on MHSAA.tv, produced by students involved in the MHSAA’s School Broadcast Program. 

Defending Class C champion Calumet, the top-ranked team statewide, will host Negaunee next Tuesday (Feb.9) at 7:30 p.m. Both are undefeated in league play. Calumet entered this week 11-0 overall, 4-0 in the West PAC Conference; while Negaunee was 10-2 overall and 7-0 in the Mid-Peninsula Conference. The two teams could meet again in the MHSAA Regional Semifinals at Marquette on March 8.

In its seventh 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 On-Demand – 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

Here’s the schedule of events School Broadcast Program members plan to stream this week for broadcast at MHSAA.tv. On-Demand listings may be available as soon as one hour following an event’s completion.  

Wednesday – Feb. 3

Thursday – Feb. 4

Friday – Feb. 5

Saturday – Feb. 6

Monday – Feb. 8

Tuesday – Feb. 9

Wednesday – Feb. 10

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