Be the Referee: Trick Plays
November 19, 2015
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains which trick plays in football are allowed, and not allowed, under high school rules.
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 - Trick Plays - Listen
In some of the biggest football games of the year, often times a trick play can be the difference between winning and losing.
Many types of these trick plays are perfectly legal – the halfback pass, the hook and ladder, or the double pass with the first pass being backward behind the line of scrimmage and the second pass going forward. There are several types of trick plays, however, that are prohibited by rule.
One is the old fumblerooski play, where a team intentionally fumbles near the center and a lineman picks up the ball and advances. A second type that is illegal is whenever you’re using substitutions or pretended substitutions to free up a receiver or player standing out along the sidelines.
Past editions:
Nov. 12: 7-Person Football Mechanics - Listen
Nov. 5: Make the Call: Personal Fouls - Listen
Oct. 29: Officials Demographics - Listen
Oct. 15: Make the Call: Intentional Grounding - Listen
Oct. 8: Playoff Selection - Listen
Oct. 1: Kick Returns - Listen
Sept. 24: Concussions - Listen
Sept. 17: Automatic First Downs - Listen
Sept. 10: Correcting a Down - Listen
Sept 3: Spearing - Listen
Aug. 27: Missed Field Goal - Listen
Be the Referee: No More One-And-Ones
By
Sam Davis
MHSAA Director of Officials
December 12, 2023
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 – No More One-And-Ones - Listen
A rule change in high school basketball means there will no longer be one-and-one free throws, and team fouls now reset after each quarter, not at the half. Here’s how it works:
A team will reach the bonus in each quarter once its opponent has committed five fouls. That means teams will shoot two free throws for all common fouls after the fourth team foul in a quarter.
Previously, teams weren’t in the bonus until the seventh team foul and then shot one-and-one free throws until the 10th team foul of a half, or double bonus, was reached.
A foul on a 3-point attempt will still result in three free throws for the shooter and still counts as a team foul.
Previous Editions
Nov. 21: Football Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 14: Volleyball Unplayable Areas - Listen
Nov. 7: Pass/Kick Off Crossbar - Listen
Oct. 31: Cross Country Interference - Listen
Oct. 24: Soccer Overtime - Listen
Oct. 17: Tennis Spin - Listen
Oct. 10: Blocked Kick - Listen
Oct. 3: Volleyball Double & Lift - Listen
Sept. 26: Registration Process - Listen
Sept. 20: Animal Interference - Listen
Sept. 13: Feet Rule on Soccer Throw-In - Listen
Sept. 6: Volleyball Jewelry - Listen
Aug. 30: Football Rules Similarities - Listen
Aug. 23: Football Rules Differences - Listen