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: Soccer Goal?
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
May 19, 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 – Soccer Goal? - Listen
Soccer is mostly played with the feet — but can a team score by throwing the ball into the goal?
On a throw-in from the sideline, the answer is no. The ball cannot be thrown directly into either goal and count as a goal. If Team A throws it into Team B’s goal, Team B now gets a goal kick. If Team A somehow throws it into their own goal, then Team B would be awarded a corner kick.
And a goalkeeper cannot score by throwing the ball the length of the field into the opponent’s net. If that happens, it’s a goal kick for the opponent.
But what if the goalkeeper throws the ball into his or her own goal?
Under NFHS rules, that is a goal. The ball is live, it crossed the goal line, and the goal is awarded to the opposing team.
Previous 2025-26 editions
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