Be the Referee: Play Clock Experiment

September 1, 2016

This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains the 40-second game clock Michigan football schools are allowed to try this fall. 

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  Play Clock Experiment - Listen

From time to time, the MHSAA receives permission from the national rules making body, the National Federation of State High School Associations, to experiment with a new rule.

This fall in high school football, Michigan schools can experiment with a 40-second play clock. In this experiment, the 40-second play clock begins at the end of the previous play, giving teams consistency from week to week when the offense can next snap the ball.

With using the traditional 25-second play clock, it really depends on the referee of the game in terms of the pace on how quickly the offenses can go.

Past editions
Aug. 25: Clipping in the Free Blocking Zone - Listen

Be the Referee: Libero

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

September 17, 2024

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 – Libero - Listen

In volleyball, a libero is a defensive player who plays in the back row. It’s a fairly new position, as it was introduced in 1998 – and the libero plays by some unique rules:

► The libero wears a different color jersey from the rest of the team – so they are easily identifiable. Only one libero can be designated for each set of a match.

► The libero can serve, but can't perform an overhead set in front of the attack line, or complete an attack if the ball is above the net.

► The libero is never allowed to rotate to the front line.

► The libero is the first line of defense, often passing to the setter and covering open spaces.

► The libero can be replaced without restriction – but in the event of an injury, can only be replaced by the player the libero originally replaced.

Previous 2024-25 Editions

Sept. 10: Cross Country Uniforms - Listen
Sept. 3: Soccer Handling - Listen
Aug. 24: Football Holding - Listen

PHOTO Livonia Franklin libero Mckenna Moore (1) defends during her team's match against Livonia Churchill this season. (Photo by Douglas Bargerstock.)