Be the Referee: Baseball Pitch Counts
May 12, 2016
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl discusses how some states are moving toward a rule regulating overuse of high school baseball pitchers based on pitch count.
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 - Baseball Pitch Counts - Listen
One of the big health and safety issues right now in the athletic world deals in the sport of baseball – and that’s the arm care restrictions for pitchers.
For many years, the MHSAA has had an innings limitations rule. In other words, once a pitcher reached 30 outs over a period of days, that pitcher had to have a mandatory rest period.
Much of the most recent research now points towards most states having some sort of a pitch count limitation. This work has been supported by a blue-ribbon panel sponsored by Major League Baseball and USA Baseball, that has looked at the science, and the push now is for pitch counts versus inning limitations.
Past editions:
May 5: Home Run or Not? - Listen
April 28: Norris Award Winner Linda Hoover - Listen
April 21: Legacy Program - Listen
April 14: Baseball/Softball Replay - Listen
March 24: Use of the Monitor - Listen
March 17: Block/Charge - Listen
March 10: Ball Stuck on the Rim - Listen
March 3: Three Seconds - Listen
Feb. 25: Deciding the Game - Listen
Feb. 18 : Cheer Safety - Listen
Feb. 11: Primary Areas - Listen
Feb. 4: Block/Charge Calls - Listen
Jan. 28: Dive on the Floor - Listen
Jan. 21: Hockey Officials' Options - Listen
Jan. 14: Recruiting Officials - Listen
Jan. 7: Wrestling Weight Monitoring - Listen
Dec. 31: Respect for Referees - Listen
Dec. 24: Basketball Instant Replay - Listen
Dec. 17: Basketball Communication - Listen
Dec. 10: Basketball Excessive Contact - Listen
Nov. 26: Pregame Communication - Listen
Nov. 19: Trick Plays - Listen
Nov. 12: 7-Person Football Mechanics - Listen
Nov. 5: Make the Call: Personal Fouls - Listen
Oct. 29: Officials Demographics - Listen
Oct. 15: Make the Call: Intentional Grounding - Listen
Oct. 8: Playoff Selection - Listen
Oct. 1: Kick Returns - Listen
Sept. 24: Concussions - Listen
Sept. 17: Automatic First Downs - Listen
Sept. 10: Correcting a Down - Listen
Sept 3: Spearing - Listen
Aug. 27: Missed Field Goal - Listen
Be the Referee: Volleyball Differences
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
May 27, 2026
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 – Volleyball Differences - Listen
The very first MHSAA Boys Volleyball Finals are less than two weeks away. How does boys volleyball compare to girls volleyball in terms of rules and gameplay?
Very similarly. There’s really just one difference – the height of the net.
- The girls play with the top of the net set to 7-feet-4 and 1/8 inches.
- The boys play with the top of the net set to 7-feet-11 and 5/8 inches.
A difference of 7½ inches.
But other than that, the games are the same. Same size ball. Same size court. Same number of players. Same scoring system.
And all rules pertaining to the libero, multiple contacts, player position at moment of serve and unplayable areas are the same for both.
Now you’re ready for Battle Creek and the Boys Volleyball Finals.
Previous 2025-26 editions
May 19: Soccer Goal? - Listen
May 6: Fair or Foul? - Listen
April 28: Wrong Green - Listen
April 21: Injured Runner - Listen
April 14: Officiate Michigan Day - Listen
March 11: Basketball Replay - Listen
March 3: Over the Back - Listen
Feb. 24: Wrestling Out-of-Bounds - Listen
Feb. 17: Backwards Skiing - Listen
Feb. 10: Faking Being Fouled - Listen
Feb. 3: Bowling Pins - Listen
Jan. 27: Ski Gates - Listen
Jan. 20: Cheer Judges - Listen
Jan. 13: Basketball Over the Back - Listen
Jan. 6: Bowling Ball Bounces Out of Gutter - Listen
Dec. 9: Puck on Goal Netting - Listen
Dec. 2: Goaltending vs. Basket Interference - Listen
Nov. 25: Football Finals Instant Replay - Listen
Nov. 18: Volleyball Libero Uniforms - Listen
Nov. 11: Illegal Substitution/Participation - Listen
Nov. 4: Losing a Shoe - Listen
Oct. 28: Unusual Soccer Goals - Listen
Oct. 21: Field Hockey Penalty Stroke - Listen
Oct. 14: Tennis Double Hit - Listen
Oct. 7: Safety in Football - Listen
Sept. 30: Field Hockey Substitution - Listen
Sept 23: Multiple Contacts in Volleyball - Listen
Sept. 16: Soccer Penalty Kick - Listen
Sept. 9: Forward Fumble - Listen
Sept. 2: Field Hockey Basics - Listen
Aug. 26: Golf Ball Bounces Out - Listen
(Photo by Adam Sheehan.)