Be the Referee: Block/Charge Calls

February 22, 2018

In this week's edition, assistant director Mark Uyl clears up confusion about the differences between a block and a charge in basketball. 

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 – Block/Charge Calls - Listen

Today we’re going to talk about one of the great myths in all of basketball rules – that a defensive player must be completely stationary to take a charging foul against an offensive player either on the drive or on the dribble.

The reality is that a defender only has to obtain what is called a legal guarding position. A legal guarding position is when the defender is facing the offensive player and has essentially beaten him or her to that spot on the floor. Once the defender is in this legal guarding position, the defender can be moving, and can even have one or both feet off the floor at the time that contact occurs.

Past editions
February 15: Dog Days of February - Listen
February 8: National Playing Rules Process - Listen
February 1: Calling Intentional Fouls - Listen
January 25: Points at the Edge of the Mat - Listen
January 18: Behavior Warning - Listen
January 11: Ice Hockey Safe & Sound - Listen
January 4: Why No Shot Clock - Listen
December 21: Coaches Responsible for Equipment - Listen
December 14: Mentoring New Officials - Listen
December 7: Dive on the Floor - Listen
November 30: Wrestling Weight Monitoring - Listen
November 23: Ejections - Listen
November 16: Toughest Call - Listen
November 9: Hurdling - Listen
November 2: The Survey Says - Listen
October 26: Helmet Comes Off -
 Listen
October 19: Goal Line Rules - Listen
October 12: No 1st-Year Fee - Listen
October 5: Athletic Empty Nesters - Listen
September 28: Misunderstood Football Rules: Kicking - Listen
September 21: Preparation for Officials - Listen
September 14: Always Stay Registered - Listen
September 7: Other Football Rules Changes - Listen
August 31: Pop-Up Onside Kicks - Listen
August 24: Blindside Blocks - Listen

Be the Referee: Athletic Empty Nesters

October 5, 2017

In this week's edition, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl talks about one of our prized recruiting targets when it comes to pursuing new officials. 

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 – Athletic Empty Nesters - Listen


The recruitment of new officials is an ongoing task for the MHSAA.

Over the years, most recruiting efforts have sought to target young people, finding those graduating high school senior student athletes, or pursuing those college students who are looking for a way to make some extra cash while in school in becoming a sports official.

One group, however, that we’re continuing to recruit are what we call the athletic empty nesters. It’s those moms and dads who have been following their kids as they played their own high school sports. Once the kids have finished their time on the team, we’d like to get those moms and dads to become part of our team and become an official.

There’s Help Wanted – Just Whistle!

Past editions
September 28: Misunderstood Football Rules: Kicking - Listen
September 21: Preparation for Officials - Listen
September 14: Always Stay Registered - Listen
September 7: Other Football Rules Changes - Listen
August 31: Pop-Up Onside Kicks - Listen
August 24: Blindside Blocks - Listen