From the President: State of Soccer
September 21, 2012
Petoskey boys and girls soccer coach Zach Jonker, the first-year president of the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association, talked with us Friday about all things MHSAA soccer – past, present and future.
Among topics discussed: Changes in the game since Jonkerd's high school playing days of the 1990s, the boost that comes when the U.S. national team is successful, and the effect the U.S. Soccer Development Academy is having on boys soccer this fall.
Click to see more from this week's MHSA(Q&)A.
PHOTO: Petoskey senior Matt Dankert (20) moves the ball between defenders during a game earlier this season. (Photo courtesy of Dean Viles.)
Be the Referee: Soccer Advantage
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Director of Brand Management
October 13, 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 Advantage - Listen
We’re on the soccer field today, where Team A has possession. A player from Team A is carelessly tackled by a Team B player in the middle of the field. The referee applies advantage because the fouled player quickly gets up and retains possession. However, a Team B defender intercepts the ball and kicks it out of bounds. What’s the call?
- Is it a throw-in for Team A since Team B kicked it out?
- Is it a free kick for Team A at the point of the foul?
- Or is it a free kick for Team A and a caution to Team B for kicking the ball away?
If you said a free kick for Team A at the point of the foul, you are correct. Advantage allows officials to keep play moving when the fouled team benefits from continuing. Here, that advantage never materialized, so the referee goes back to the original foul.
Previous 2026-27 editions
Oct. 6: Defensive Holding - Listen
Sept. 29: Minimum Number of Volleyball Players - Listen
Sept 22: Soccer Changes - Listen
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