Be the Referee: Spearing
September 3, 2015
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains the expanded definition of spearing added for football this season.
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 - Spearing - Listen
One of the new changes to the high school football rules for this year is an expanded definition of spearing an opponent with the helmet. With all the attention on player safety and reducing the head-to-head collisions between players, this new definition of illegal helmet contact will better help officials, coaches, players and fans with what is illegal and must be penalized by rule.
Simply put, a spearing foul has taken place when any player hits an opponent with the crown, or top portion, of his helmet as the first point of contact. These fouls where contact has been initiated by a player first with the crown of the helmet must be called and enforced consistently throughout the season.
Past editions:
Aug. 27: Missed Field Goal - Listen
Officiate Michigan Day 2026 - Register to Join Us!
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 19, 2026
Officiate Michigan Day 2026 will welcome 2,000 MHSAA-registered game officials to Grand Rapids on July 25 – and registration is available now for this historic gathering expected to draw participants from all over the state.
Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with the first session at 9 a.m. at DeVos Place. The day-long event will feature dynamic speakers and presenters providing knowledge in several sports and all levels including collegiate and professional. We will be highlighting several of those speakers over the next many weeks on MHSAA.com and social media as part of the lead-up to the event.
Cost is $45 if officials register by the end of June, and $50 beginning July 1. More information is on the way; keep posted at MHSAA.com/OMD.
This will be the third Officiate Michigan Day, joining events in 2013 and 2018.
OMD will accompany the annual National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) Summit that will take place July 26-28, also at DeVos Place.