Be the Referee: Tournament Selection
November 6, 2014
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains how officials are selected to work MHSAA football playoff games.
"Be the Referee" is designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating and to recruit officials. The segment can be heard on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the school year on The Drive With Jack Ebling on WVFN-AM, East Lansing.
Below is this week's segment - Tournament Selection - Listen
Today we are going to talk about how officials are selected for the MHSAA Football Playoffs.
Just as the best teams advance in the tournament week after week, the best officiating crews advance in the tournament in much the same way.
For a crew to be eligible for assignment, many requirements have to be met prior to the season. Verification that the crew has worked a full schedule, making sure that the crew has completed the annual rules meeting, as well as a football rules test. Much weight is given to ratings -- each crew is rated by schools on a 1-5 scale following each game -- as well as observation reports where officiating experts go out and either watch crews work live or on video to make sure that the best crews advance throughout the tournament.
Past editions
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
Be the Referee: Field Hockey Substitutions
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Director of Brand Management
October 27, 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 – Field Hockey Substitutions - Listen
We’re on the pitch today for a field hockey “You Make the Call.”
The white team is awarded a penalty corner. During the penalty corner, a red team substitute enters the field but does not participate in or affect play.
Should the official stop play immediately or allow play to continue?
If you said allow play to continue, you are correct. Since the illegal substitute has not participated in or affected play, stopping play immediately would give the defending team an unfair advantage by interrupting the attacking team's scoring opportunity.
Under NFHS Rule 4-4-3, substitutions are not permitted during a penalty corner, except to replace an ill, injured, suspended or disqualified goalkeeper. Officials must recognize the violation and know when to hold the whistle to allow for advantage.
Previous 2026-27 editions
Oct. 20: Foot Save in Volleyball - Listen
Oct. 13: Soccer Advantage - Listen
Oct. 6: Defensive Holding - Listen
Sept. 29: Minimum Number of Volleyball Players - Listen
Sept 22: Soccer Changes - Listen
Sept: 15: Dead Ball Penalty - Listen
Sept. 8: Libero Ejected - Listen
Sept. 1: Soccer Foul After Shot on Goal - Listen
Aug. 25: Fumble Out of Bounds - Listen
(Photo by KMS Photography.)