Be the Referee: Primary Areas
March 5, 2015
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains how seeing the right angle is the most important part of officials making the right call.
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 - Primary Areas - Listen
In just about every single basketball game ever played, there are times where fans will turn to each other and wonder, “why did that official make the call when there was another member of the crew that was a whole lot closer to the play?”
The most important thing in all of officiating and especially basketball officiating is: angle is the most important element for an official.
There will be many times during the game that the official that is closest to the play actually has the worst look or the worst angle. Many times the player is going up in the lane for that shot, and the whistle will come from one of the two outside officials because they had the perfect angle to see all the elements of the play and can rule correctly.
Past editions
Feb. 23 - Too Much TV - Listen
Feb. 16 - Video Clip Library - Listen
Feb. 9 - Cheer Safety - Listen
Feb. 2 - Basketball PA Announcers - Listen
Jan. 26 - Wrestling Health Concerns - Listen
Jan. 19 - Basketball Physical Contact - Listen
Jan. 12 - Video Review Part 2 - Listen
Dec. 29 - Video Review Part 1 - Listen
Dec. 17 - Registration Part 2 - Listen
Dec. 10 - Registration Part 1 - Listen
Dec. 3 - Legacy Program - Listen
Nov. 26 - Sideline Management - Listen
Nov. 19 - 7-Person Mechanics - Listen
Nov. 12 - Blocking Below the Waist - Listen
Nov. 5 - Tournament Selection - Listen
Oct. 29 - Uncatchable Pass - Listen
Oct. 22 - Preparation for Officials - Listen
Oct. 15 - Automatic First Downs - Listen
Oct. 8 - Officials & Injuries - Listen
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 Brady Driver
June 12, 2026
Brady Driver, Sturgis
Driver just completed his 20th year as an MHSAA-registered official. He has worked football, wrestling and boys lacrosse all 20 years, and also officiated basketball for six seasons and volleyball and girls lacrosse for one apiece.
One, the opportunity to continue interacting with athletics, and school districts, and sports, and being part of educational athletics.
Two, the thousands of student-athletes that I get to see grow up in and through sports and then go on to great things in their lives.
And then three, for me, to also be able to have the joy of building lifelong friendships with multiple officials across these three sports, and the opportunities to have been able to travel, in some cases across the United States to officiate, and also meeting some pretty incredible people through the circles of football, wrestling and lacrosse.
I would highly encourage, if you have a desire to stay involved and get the best seat in the house every time, every game, every night, to be an official. It’s one of the best things you’ll ever do.
“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].
Don't miss Officiate Michigan Day 2026, July 25 in Grand Rapids! Check out MHSAA.com/OMD to register and learn more.
What's My Why
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