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: Injured Runner
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
April 21, 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 – Injured Runner - Listen
We have a baseball scenario for you today:
Your team is down one in the ninth and you are standing on second base when your teammate hits a mammoth game-winning home run.
You are understandably excited. But – in your excitement of rounding the bases – you trip on third base and tear your Achilles tendon. You are unable to get up and continue to home plate.
The home run hitter stops at second base – unsure of where to go.
Because you are entitled to the next base on a home run, your team is able to bring in a pinch runner for the injured runner, and that person can finish running the bases and cross home plate.
The home run hitter can then continue rounding the bases and score the winning run.
Previous 2025-26 editions
April 14: Officiate Michigan Day - Listen
March 11: Basketball Replay - Listen
March 3: Over the Back - Listen
Feb. 24: Wrestling Out-of-Bounds - Listen
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 Bath and Laingsburg players get in position to collect the rebound off a missed shot during their District Final on Friday. (Photo by John Johnson/MHSAA.)