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Be the Referee: Concussions

September 24, 2015

This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains the role of officials in helping keep student-athletes safe after possible concussions. 

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 - Concussions - Listen



In all contact sports, the biggest issue of the day continues to be concussions. Game officials play a vital role in keeping athletes safe on the field, court, ice and mat. 


While officials are never placed in the position to diagnose a possible concussion, the officials can often see when a player first becomes injured. When that possible injury is noticed by an official, all game rules require the contest be stopped and the student is evaluated by the school’s health care team. 

It then becomes the call of the school to determine if the player has suffered a possible concussion. If yes, the player is out for at least the rest of that day. If no, the player can return to the contest.

Past editions:
Sept. 17: Automatic First Downs - Listen
Sept. 10: Correcting a Down - Listen
Sept 3: Spearing - Listen
Aug. 27: Missed Field Goal - Listen

A goalkeeper punts the ball from the front of his box.

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