Nearly 1,000 Officials Converge in Grand Rapids for Officiate Michigan Day
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 5, 2026
GRAND RAPIDS – Nearly 1,000 MHSAA-registered officials – and some of the biggest names in officiating nationwide – attended Officiate Michigan Day on July 25 at DeVos Place.
Attendees enjoyed opportunities to hear football rules analyst and longtime official Mike Pereira and World Cup and Olympic soccer official Kari Seitz during the opening and closing addresses, respectively. They also took part in training sessions throughout the day including four that were sport-specific, with clinicians including several of the state’s highest-regarded officials at the high school level and some of the best-known at the collegiate and professional levels nationwide who grew up or reside in our state.
Above are highlights from the event and insights from several accomplished officials. Click for photos from throughout the day, from Adam Sheehan.
PHOTO Football rules analyst Mike Pereira speaks during the opening address at Officiate Michigan Day. (Photo by Adam Sheehan.)
Be the Referee: Ball Hits Soccer Referee
October 1, 2020
This week, MHSAA Assistant Director Brent Rice explains a a change in soccer rules for when a ball makes contact with an official during game play.
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 - Ball Hits Soccer Referee - Listen
We’ve all seen it before in a soccer game. A ball is kicked up the field, but ricochets off an official and leads to a goal scoring opportunity.
In the past, an official would swing his arms to indicate “play on.” A new rule, though, would stop play immediately and restart with a Drop Ball.
New in high school soccer for the 2020-21 school year, when a ball touches the referee which leads to a promising attack, the referee must blow his whistle to stop play and start with a Drop Ball. He should ALSO give a Drop Ball in two other instances: when the ball hits the official and possession changes or when a ball hits the official and goes into the goal.
Past editions
9/24: Clocking the Ball from the Shotgun - Listen