Be the Referee: Penalty Kick Change
October 6, 2016
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains how soccer penalty kick rules have been changed this year to dissuade players from hesitating before taking the kick.
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 Penalty Kick Change - Listen
In the game of soccer, goals are tough to come by. That’s why in some of the most important games, we see those contests head into overtime and ultimately get decided by penalty kicks – or P-Ks.
The rules dealing with penalty kicks have changed for this year. In years past, whenever a player would hear the referee’s whistle and start to move toward the ball to make a penalty kick, any hesitation, delay or stutter-step would make that kick illegal. In past years, that player always got an opportunity to take a re-kick.
But this year, there is no opportunity for that player to take an additional re-kick.
Past editions
Sept. 29: Preparation for Officials - Listen
Sept 22: You Make the Call: Returning Kickoffs - Listen
Sept. 15: Concussions - Listen
Sept 8: Equipment Covering the Knees - Listen
Sept. 1: Play Clock Experiment - Listen
Aug. 25: Clipping in the Free Blocking Zone - Listen
What's My Why: Official Jason Nickleby
July 22, 2026
Jason Nickleby, Lake Elmo, Minnesota
Jason Nickleby serves as an Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) assistant director and Big Ten football referee and officiated the College Football Playoff in 2024. He also is a past 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