This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains the increased focus on making sure knee padding is worn correctly in football.

Everything in the game of football, from a rules-making perspective, starts and ends with an increased focus on player safety.

One big point of emphasis for the 2016 season centers on equipment being worn properly by all players. Too often we see college and pro players, especially those at the skill positions, wearing football pants that come nowhere close to covering the knee area.

With a continued focus on all high school players to lower the target zone when hitting an opponent to keep the head out of football, kids must wear pants with knee pads that completely cover the knee area to avoid those types of injuries.

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.