Be the Referee: Soccer Foul After Shot on Goal
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Director of Brand Management
September 2, 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 Foul After Shot on Goal - Listen
We’re on the soccer field today, and the home team has the ball and is on the attack.
The ball makes it around to a forward from the home team, who is on-side and within the penalty area. His shot just misses – going wide for a goal kick.
However, just after the ball crossed the goalline, a player from the away team tackles the home team forward with excessive force.
What’s the call?
Because excessive force was used, it’s a red card for the away team player, which is an automatic ejection. But because it happened after the ball crossed the goalline and not at the time of the shot, it’s still a goal kick for the away team, not a penalty kick for the home team.
Previous 2026-27 editions
Aug. 25: Fumble Out of Bounds - Listen
Be the Referee: Football Rules Changes
September 5, 2019
This week, MHSAA Assistant Director Brent Rice discusses a pair of football rules changes made the enhance safety.
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 - Football Safety Rules Changes - Listen
Among our football rules changes for this year are two which involve player safety.
The foul for tripping has been expanded to include a trip on the ball carrier. Intentionally tripping any player on the field – using the lower leg or foot to obstruct an opponent below the knees – will result in a 15-yard penalty.
And the definition of a horse-collar tackle has been expanded to include bringing down a runner backwards or sideways by grabbing the nameplate area on the back of the jersey – or inside the neck area of the jersey or shoulder plate. The penalty for a horse-collar tackle is 15 yards.
Past editions
Aug. 29: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen