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: Wrestling Out-of-Bounds
By
Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials
February 25, 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 – Wrestling Out-of-Bounds - Listen
Two wrestlers are near the out-of-bounds line. The offensive wrestler is completely out of bounds, while holding the defensive wrestler on his back. Only the defensive wrestler’s shoulder is on the out-of-bounds line, and nothing else is touching in-bounds. What’s the call?
The official should continue to let them wrestle. Wrestlers are considered in bounds if a total of two supporting points of either wrestler are inside or on the boundary line. They are also inbounds if a shoulder of the defensive wrestler or hip of the offensive wrestler is inside or on the line – as both these situations count as two points of contact. With the shoulder, it’s also the scapula making contact – and with the hip, it’s also the thigh.
But if there are two contact points inside or on the line – wrestling can continue. And that includes the possibility of a pinfall.
Previous 2025-26 editions
Feb. 17: Backwards Skiing - Listen
Feb. 10: Faking Being Fouled - Listen
Feb. 3: Bowling Pins - Listen
Jan. 27: Ski Gates - Listen
Jan. 20: Cheer Judges - Listen
Jan. 13: Basketball Over the Back - Listen
Jan. 6: Bowling Ball Bounces Out of Gutter - Listen
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
(Photo by Douglas Bargerstock.)