Officials Honored for Service Milestones
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 25, 2020
The MHSAA annually honors high school game officials with 20, 30, 40, 45 and 50 years of service at its Officials’ Awards & Alumni Banquet.
However, this spring’s banquet was canceled due to COVID-19. Instead, we present this virtual recognition for 322 officials who celebrated a milestone school year.
Twenty-three officials with 50 years of service are honored below, along with 55 officials with 45 years. A 40-year award has been presented to 55 officials. In addition, 108 officials with 30 years and 181 officials with 20 years of experience are honored.
Be the Referee: Tennis Double Hit
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
October 14, 2025
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 – Tennis Double Hit - Listen
We’re on the tennis court today, returning a ball that our opponent has hit.
We swing, hitting the ball with the strings and then again with the frame of the racket as our swing continues.
The double-hit ball goes over the net and bounces past our opponent for a point. Or is it our point? Can you hit the ball twice?
You can, if it’s all part of one continuous swing. You can hit the ball more than twice even – as long as it’s the same swing.
You can’t intentionally hit the ball twice or hit the ball and then re-hit it. It’s illegal if you deliberately catch or carry the ball and then hit it again.
But if your double-hit is part of one smooth swing, the stroke counts and play continues.
Previous 2025-26 editions
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