Why be an Official? (Grand Rapids Press)

January 25, 2012

The Grand Rapids Press' Jane Bos tells the story of some of the most valuable, yet often-criticized people who help make our games go -- the officials enforcing the rules. 

Consider this interesting point: On a Tuesday or Friday, the O-K Conference must come up with 150 officials to work its basketball games. And it, like most if not all leagues, always is looking for more.

She also explains how another former Press sportswriter, Howie Beardsley, got into the reffing game.

Check it out:

"Why West Michigan high school referees say you should consider wearing stripes"

Today In The MHSAA: 9/22/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 22, 2021

1. BOYS SOCCER Division 2 No. 3 St. Joseph made a major move locally and statewide, downing No. 1 Richland Gull Lake 2-1 to pull into first place alone in the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

2. VOLLEYBALL Division 1 honorable mention Traverse City West sits alone atop the Big North Conference standings after sweeping former co-leader and Division 2 No. 8 Cadillac – Traverse City Record-Eagle

3. VOLLEYBALL Division 1 No. 4 Macomb Dakota moved into first place alone in the Macomb Area Conference Red with a 3-1 win over New Baltimore Anchor Bay – Macomb Daily

4. BOYS SOCCER Division 1 No. 2 Berkley and No. 7 Troy remain tied atop the Oakland Activities Association standings after a 1-1 draw – Oakland Press

5. CROSS COUNTRY The first Lakes 8 Activities Conference jamborees were both decided by two points, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian – ranked No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 4 – winning the girls race and Ludington winning the boys – Ludington Daily News

6. CROSS COUNTRY Romeo swept top team finishes at the MAC Red jamboree; Romeo’s boys are No. 3 in LPD1, and the girls are ranked No. 5 – Macomb Daily

7. VOLLEYBALL North Farmington edged Berkley in five sets in a match that could eventually have OAA White title implications – Oakland Press

8. VOLLEYBALL Remus Chippewa Hills twice came back from a set down to defeat Reed City in five – Big Rapids Pioneer

9. BOYS SOCCER Division 1 No. 13 Portage Central and Portage Northern tied for the second-straight “Portage Derby,” this one a scoreless draw – Kalamazoo Gazette

10. BOYS SOCCER Howard City Tri County handed Big Rapids its first defeat this fall, 2-0 – Big Rapids Pioneer