Be the Referee: Soccer Rule Change
September 13, 2018
In this week's edition, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains a significant change in soccer regarding fouls in the penalty area.
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 – Soccer Rules Change - Listen
There’s a big change in soccer rules this year on plays where a defender denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity within his or her own penalty area.
The penalty has been amended depending on whether or not the referee determines that the defensive player was attempting to play the ball when committing the foul. If so, the defender will receive a yellow card rather than a red card – and a penalty kick will be awarded. This eliminates the previous double jeopardy on the play – a P-K and a red card.
Of course, in those circumstances where there was no attempt to play the ball, the defender is still disqualified. This brings the high school rule in line with college and international rules.
Past editions
September 3: You Make the Call: Face Guarding - Listen
August 30: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen
August 23: Football Rules Changes - Listen
Be the Referee: Tennis Nets
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
September 24, 2024
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 Nets - Listen
Let’s talk tennis… specifically, the rules around the net.
First – tennis nets are 42 inches high at the posts and 36 inches high in the center. And nets measure 42 feet wide.
Players and their equipment CANNOT touch the net during a point. However, a player’s follow-through can cross over the net if the ball was hit to the correct side of the court. But no part of the follow-through can touch the net.
Also, the ball must completely cross the net before it can be hit. If your opponent hits a high lob and you are standing at the net ready to smash a return – you must wait until the ball is completely over the net before hitting it.
Making contact with the net during play or hitting the ball before it’s over the net results in a loss of point.
Previous 2024-25 Editions
Sept. 18: Libero - Listen
Sept. 10: Cross Country Uniforms - Listen
Sept. 3: Soccer Handling - Listen
Aug. 24: Football Holding - Listen
(Photo by Douglas Bargerstock.)