Be the Referee: Officials & Injuries
October 9, 2014
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains the official's role when it comes to player injuries.
"Be the Referee" is designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating and to recruit officials. The segment can be heard on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the school year on The Drive With Jack Ebling on WVFN-AM, East Lansing.
Below is this week's segment - Officials & Injuries - Listen
Player safety is the number one topic in football, from the NFL level to college to high school, all the way down to the youth levels. We often get the question, what is the official’s role when it comes to player injuries?
Officials have no role in diagnosing injuries. However, they must be constantly aware of what’s taking place on the field, and whenever a player is showing signs and symptoms of a possible injury, the game needs to be stopped and that team’s staff alerted to a possible injury.
The decisions on that injury are made by the team’s staff, which often includes a doctor, certified athletic trainer and members of the coaching staff to be certain that the best interests of the student-athlete is being followed in every case.
Past editions
Oct. 1 - Overtime - Listen
Sept. 25 - Field Goals - Listen
Sept. 18 - Tackle Box - Listen
Sept. 11 - Pass Interference - Listen
Aug. 25 - Targeting - Listen
What's My Why: Official Dino Paganelli
August 5, 2026
Dino Paganelli, Wyoming
Michigan has produced several notable Super Bowl officials, including brothers Dino, Carl and Perry Paganelli from Wyoming Rogers High School. Remarkably, at least one Paganelli has officiated in eight of the 60 Super Bowls.
Dino has been part of three Super Bowls – XLVII, LV, and LVII – and previously was an MHSAA-registered football official from 1986-87 through 2003-04. He also officiated basketball during 14 of those 17 school years.
I think back to my positive experiences in football from high school, college and pros, and some of my fondest memories were working Friday night football.
It fostered that sense of giving back to the community, interaction with coaches and players, and – most importantly – my fellow crew mates.
Officiating has been a big part of our family, although it doesn’t define us, but it is a major beacon or guidance in regards to how we not only conduct ourselves professionally but also as officials. Those are lessons that were valuable, learned through the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
“What’s My Why” is a weekly feature telling the stories of MHSAA-registered officials in their own words. If you’re an MHSAA official and would like to share your reason why, please submit a 15 to 45-second video, taken horizontally, to director of officials Sam Davis at [email protected].
What's My Why
Aug. 3: Stacy Smith, Caledonia - Watch
July 22: Jason Nickleby, Lake Elmo, Minn. - Watch
July 15: Sam Davis, Lansing - Watch
July 9: Candace Cox, Quincy - Watch
July 1: Robert Williams, Redford - Watch
June 24: Will Godfrey, Jackson - Watch
June 19: Jarrett Skorup, Midland - Watch
June 12: Brady Driver, Sturgis - Watch
June 8: Cindy Tyzo, West Bloomfield - Watch
June 3: Jeff Spedoske, DeWitt - Watch
June 1: Mike Carrier, Commerce Township - Watch
May 27: Stan Wright, Warren - Watch
May 26: Murray Rose, Zeeland - Watch
May 22: Mike VanLaan, Alto - Watch
May 18: Clint Abbott, Newaygo - Watch