Be the Referee: Field Hockey Substitutions
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Director of Brand Management
October 27, 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 – Field Hockey Substitutions - Listen
We’re on the pitch today for a field hockey “You Make the Call.”
The white team is awarded a penalty corner. During the penalty corner, a red team substitute enters the field but does not participate in or affect play.
Should the official stop play immediately or allow play to continue?
If you said allow play to continue, you are correct. Since the illegal substitute has not participated in or affected play, stopping play immediately would give the defending team an unfair advantage by interrupting the attacking team's scoring opportunity.
Under NFHS Rule 4-4-3, substitutions are not permitted during a penalty corner, except to replace an ill, injured, suspended or disqualified goalkeeper. Officials must recognize the violation and know when to hold the whistle to allow for advantage.
Previous 2026-27 editions
Oct. 20: Foot Save in Volleyball - Listen
Oct. 13: Soccer Advantage - Listen
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
(Photo by KMS Photography.)
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