Be the Referee: Soccer Changes
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Director of Brand Management
September 22, 2026
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 Changes - Listen
New this year in high school soccer, goalkeepers will have more time available to them before having to release the ball.
Now – once a keeper establishes possession of the ball – they will have eight seconds before having to play the ball. Previously, keepers had six seconds before having to release it.
The penalty for failing to release the ball in time is also changing.
A goalkeeper who is whistled for hanging on to the ball for longer than eight seconds will now see the opponent awarded a corner kick. The old rule awarded an indirect free kick.
So remember – starting this year – keepers get up to eight seconds before having to release the ball, and failure to do so will result in a corner kick for the opposing team.
Previous 2026-27 editions
Sept: 15: Dead Ball Penalty - Listen
Sept. 8: Libero Ejected - Listen
Sept. 1: Soccer Foul After Shot on Goal - Listen
Aug. 25: Fumble Out of Bounds - Listen
Be the Referee: Bowling Ball Bounces Out of Gutter
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Director of Brand Management
January 6, 2026
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 – Bowling Ball Bounces Out of Gutter - Listen
We’ve got a bowling ball in our hands today – and we’re ready to deliver our first ball of the third frame.
It’s not a great roll, but it’s a powerful one. The ball goes into the gutter but bounces out and then knocks over seven pins.
Lucky break, right?
Not exactly. Once the ball is in the gutter, it’s a dead ball. Any pins knocked down by the ball’s return don’t count. If it happens on the first delivery, the pins knocked down by the rebound are reset for the second delivery.
Now if a pin bounces completely out of the pit area and returns to knock down any standing pins, that counts.
But if your ball goes into the gutter, that’s it – you can’t count any pins knocked down if the ball bounces out.
Previous 2025-26 editions
Dec. 9: Puck on Goal Netting - Listen
Dec. 2: Goaltending vs. Basket Interference - Listen
Nov. 25: Football Finals Instant Replay - Listen
Nov. 18: Volleyball Libero Uniforms - Listen
Nov. 11: Illegal Substitution/Participation - Listen
Nov. 4: Losing a Shoe - Listen
Oct. 28: Unusual Soccer Goals - Listen
Oct. 21: Field Hockey Penalty Stroke - Listen
Oct. 14: Tennis Double Hit - Listen
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