Be the Referee: What Officials Don't Do
October 11, 2018
This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis discusses some of the things that do not fall under officials' many game-day responsibilities.
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 – What Officials Don't Do - Listen
Game officials at all levels have a lot of responsibilities. But there are some critical things that take place at local high school games where officials don’t have the authority that some folks think they do.
Let’s start with injuries – specifically concussions. Concussion management starts and ends with the local school. If an official suspects a concussion – or any injury – all he or she can do is notify the coach of the team. The school makes the decision about whether or not a player stays in the game.
We often get calls about whether or not an official is responsible for enforcing MHSAA Handbook rules. Again, it’s up to the school, which agrees to follow and enforce the rules when joining the Association. Even if the official suspects an ineligible player is in the game, it’s not his or her role to enforce that rule. It’s all on the school.
Past editions
October 4: Always 1st-and-Goal - Listen
September 27: Unique Kickoff Option - Listen
September 20: Uncatchable Pass - Listen
September 13: Soccer Rules Change - Listen
September 6: You Make the Call: Face Guarding - Listen
August 30: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen
August 23: Football Rules Changes - Listen
Be the Referee: Deciding the Game
March 26, 2015
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains how an official's approach DOES NOT change during the final seconds of a game.
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 - Deciding the Game - Listen
Every American sports fan knows when the calendar turns to March, it’s time to start thinking about basketball tournament games.
With all of the pundits out there talking about the matchups and who may advance on the brackets, the comment gets made every single year that we simply hope the players decide the outcome of every game, and not a referee’s call.
The fact of the matter is that in the last 10 seconds of a tied game, when a player drives down the lane and gets hit and get knocked to the floor, an official has to make that foul call because the players did decide the outcome of that game.
For the officials to simply swallow their whistles and let one team break the rules for a clear advantage is not letting those players decide the outcome.
Past editions
March 16 - Block/Charge Call - Listen
March 9 - Dive on the Floor - Listen
March 2 - Primary Areas - Listen
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