Moment: Novi's Fenchel Finds Way

May 8, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Through the first six games and 76 more minutes of the 2018 Division 1 Girls Soccer Tournament, Grand Blanc hadn’t given up a goal.

But with the championship game rolling toward the end of regulation, Avery Fenchel capitalized on a rare opportunity.

Fenchel, then a sophomore, took advantage of a defensive miscommunication in front of the Bobcats’ net and fired the winning shot with 3:29 to play to give Novi a 1-0 advantage on the way to its sixth Division 1 championship. (That total stands at seven now after the Wildcats’ repeat in 2019).

“I was just running after it, and it just went into the back of the goal,” Fenchel said that day. “I just turned around and ran towards my team. I was so excited.”

Click for coverage from Second Half and watch the game winner below from the NFHS Network.

Be the Referee: Feet Rule on Soccer Throw-In

By Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

September 13, 2023

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 – Feet Rule on Soccer Throw-In - Listen

In basketball, when a player is inbounding the ball, his or her feet have to be behind the line when passing the ball. Their feet can’t be touching the line.

But in soccer, a player just has to be on the line to complete a throw-in – even if their heels are both barely touching the line and the majority of their body is in the field of play.

It is considered a legal soccer throw-in if any part of both feet is either touching the line or behind the line, including if the player does a somersault or front-flip style throw-in. As long as they flip and land with both feet on or behind the line and throw the ball – it’s a legal throw-in.

Previous Editions

Sept. 6: Volleyball Jewelry - Listen
Aug. 30: Football Rules Similarities - Listen
Aug. 23: Football Rules Differences - Listen