Be the Referee: Soccer Scoring Area Penalty
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
April 22, 2025
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 Scoring Area Penalty - Listen
Let’s head out to the soccer field today for a “You Make the Call.”
Team A has possession of the ball inside Team B’s penalty area. Team A’s No. 9 makes a move to free herself and has some open space to get closer before attempting a shot.
As she dribbles forward, a defender for Team B rushes in and grabs her by the shoulder in an attempt to slow her down and ruin the goal-scoring opportunity.
What’s the call?
Because the defender made no attempt to play the ball, it’s a penalty kick for Team A and a yellow card for the Team B defender.
Had she made a play at the ball, it would have been just a penalty kick with no yellow card.
Previous 2024-25 Editions
April 15: Fair or Foul? - Listen
April 8: Girls Lacrosse New Stoppage Rule - Listen
April 1: Base Runner Interference - Listen
March 25: Pine Tar Usage - Listen
March 11: Basketball Replay - Listen
March 4: Gymnastics Deduction - Listen
Feb. 25: Competitive Cheer Inversion - Listen
Feb. 18: Ice Hockey Delay of Game - Listen
Feb. 11: Ski Helmets - Listen
Feb. 4: Wrestling In Bounds or Out? - Listen
Jan. 21: Block or Charge? - Listen
Jan. 14: Out of Bounds, In Play - Listen
Jan. 7: Wrestling Scoring - Listen
Dec. 17: Bowling Ball Rules - Listen
Dec. 10: Neck Laceration Protector - Listen
Dec. 3: Basketball Goaltending - Listen
Nov. 26: 11-Player Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 19: 8-Player vs. 11-Player Football - Listen
Nov. 12: Back Row Setter - Listen
Nov. 5: Football OT - Listen
Oct. 29: Officials Registration - Listen
Oct. 22: Volleyball Serve - Listen
Oct. 15: "You Make the Call" - Soccer Offside - Listen
Oct. 8: Roughing the Passer - Listen
Oct. 1: Abnormal Course Condition - Listen
Sept. 25: Tennis Nets - Listen
Sept. 18: Libero - Listen
Sept. 10: Cross Country Uniforms - Listen
Sept. 3: Soccer Handling - Listen
Aug. 24: Football Holding - Listen
(Photo by Chris Mudd/National Photo Scout.)
What's My Why: Official Jason Nickleby
July 22, 2026
Jason Nickleby, Lake Elmo, Minnesota
Jason Nickleby serves an MSHSL assistant director and Big Ten football referee who worked the College Football Playoff in 2024. He is a former high school and small-college basketball, baseball, volleyball, and softball official.
My why as an official goes back to when my dad was a coach. He coached high school football, basketball, baseball, softball, track, many things over 35 years as a teacher and coach. And I was always fascinated with the officials. They were the best people. They had the most integrity. They were so professional, and I wanted to be part of that.
And as I grew up in my dads coaching career, I used to stand in the corner of the gym and mimic the calls of the officials, typically beating them to the punch. And I wanted to continue that and stayed a part of the officiating industry.
And now I'm so fortunate to be in the positions that I am. Being a part of officiating everyday.
But my why goes back to high school athletics, high school activities, the most important level out there. Your service as a high school official so critical. And my why is watching what all of you do each and every day as high school officials and giving back to the games that have given so much to us, as athletes, as community members.
“What’s My Why” is a weekly feature telling the stories of MHSAA-registered officials in their own words. If you’re an MHSAA official and would like to share your reason why, please submit a 15 to 45-second video, taken horizontally, to director of officials Sam Davis at [email protected].
Don't miss Officiate Michigan Day 2026, July 25 in Grand Rapids! Check out MHSAA.com/OMD to register and learn more.
What's My Why
July 15: Sam Davis, Lansing - Watch
July 9: Candace Cox, Quincy - Watch
July 1: Robert Williams, Redford - Watch
June 24: Will Godfrey, Jackson - Watch
June 19: Jarrett Skorup, Midland - Watch
June 12: Brady Driver, Sturgis - Watch
June 8: Cindy Tyzo, West Bloomfield - Watch
June 3: Jeff Spedoske, DeWitt - Watch
June 1: Mike Carrier, Commerce Township - Watch
May 27: Stan Wright, Warren - Watch
May 26: Murray Rose, Zeeland - Watch
May 22: Mike VanLaan, Alto - Watch
May 18: Clint Abbott, Newaygo - Watch