Be the Referee: Respect for Referees
January 1, 2016
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl discusses the importance of respecting the referees who are learning as well while working with our youngest athletes.
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 - Respect for Referees - Listen
Over the past three years, I’ve gotten to attend my share of middle school athletic events with my oldest two children being involved in a variety of sports at this level.
In just about every game, there have been times where I have shaken my head in watching how the some of the adults involved conduct themselves, especially those adults sitting in the stands.
Middle school sports should have the focus of kids participating, learning the game and having fun. In these games, you have the most inexperienced players, newer coaches and often times officials just starting out. Everyone is learning at this level, and a critical eye could identify numerous things done by each of these groups that could be improved upon.
Adult spectators at subvarsity games need to be positive people … cheer for your team and child, and avoid the second-guessing and criticism of officials. We need to give these officials a chance to gain experience and become a good referee.
Past editions:
Dec. 24: Basketball Instant Replay - Listen
Dec. 17: Basketball Communication - Listen
Dec. 10: Basketball Excessive Contact - Listen
Nov. 26: Pregame Communication - Listen
Nov. 19: Trick Plays - Listen
Nov. 12: 7-Person Football Mechanics - Listen
Nov. 5: Make the Call: Personal Fouls - Listen
Oct. 29: Officials Demographics - Listen
Oct. 15: Make the Call: Intentional Grounding - Listen
Oct. 8: Playoff Selection - Listen
Oct. 1: Kick Returns - Listen
Sept. 24: Concussions - Listen
Sept. 17: Automatic First Downs - Listen
Sept. 10: Correcting a Down - Listen
Sept 3: Spearing - Listen
Aug. 27: Missed Field Goal - Listen
What's My Why: Official Jenna Schroeder
September 9, 2026
Jenna Schroeder, Berkley
Jenna Schroeder has been an NBA referee since 2020 and previously worked in the NBA-G League. Prior to officiating, she played basketball at Oakland University and Saginaw Valley State University.
She was an MHSAA-registered basketball official in 2003-04, 2005-06, and then from 2010-18, and also officiated girls lacrosse for four seasons. She's Clio's all-time leading girls basketball scorer and participated in the MHSAA Officials Legacy Program.
I got into it because I played basketball my entire life. I graduated college in 2009, during the housing crisis and no job prospects, so I tried refereeing and got bit by the bug and I’ve been obsessed with it ever since then.
“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
Sept. 2: Joey Crawford, Newton Square, Pa. - Watch
Aug. 26: Ron Torbert, Hanover, Md. - Watch
Aug. 19: Kari Seitz, Mill Valley, Calif. - Watch
Aug. 13: Mike Pereira, Sacramento, Calif. - Watch
Aug. 5: Dino Paganelli, Wyoming - Watch
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