Be the Referee: Video Review - Part 2

January 15, 2015

This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains further the use of video replay during MHSAA tournament events and why it is difficult to expand use at the high school level.  

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 - Video Review Part 2 - Listen

In last week’s segment, we talked about the expanded use of instant replay for officials at both the collegiate and professional levels. The question is often asked of the MHSAA, “When are you going to use more instant replay at the high school level?”

Currently, there are a number of obstacles that prevent this, the first dealing with volume. With over 700 member schools in the MHSAA, hundreds of games and contests are played on virtually every night of the week. The second deals with cost and camera angles. At the high school level, most games are typically filmed or videoed using only a single camera from a set location, which precludes the use of various angles that would assist in getting the call correct.

Past editions
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

Be the Referee: Fair or Foul?

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

May 6, 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 – Fair or Foul? - Listen

In baseball or softball, what makes a batted ball fair or foul? Seems pretty easy, right?

Let’s go through some scenarios.

The white chalk line is considered fair territory. So are any foul poles. If a ball hits the foul pole – it’s a fair ball.

If a ball hits a base – it’s a fair ball.

If a ball that hits the ground in the infield, crosses over a base in fair territory before slicing into foul ground, it’s a fair ball because it crossed the base in fair territory.

A ball in the infield that is hit into foul territory that spins back into fair ground is fair. It doesn’t matter that it hit in foul territory first.

And a ball that rolls to a stop before getting to a base, that is sitting in foul territory but is hanging over the white chalk line, is fair.

Previous 2025-26 editions

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