Do teams tell the refs their trick plays?

[Coogiguy03]

It was mentioned that NFL teams whenever they have a trick play called up in their game plan for the week, they show it to the refs to ensure that they know it's legal etc. Has anyone else heard this? It may be more than just trick plays, but anything of deception, fake punts etc?? Please give your thoughts

 

[Mcsports]

It was mentioned that NFL teams whenever they have a trick play called up in their game plan for the week, they show it to the refs to ensure that they know it's legal etc. Has anyone else heard this? It may be more than just trick plays, but anything of deception, fake punts etc?? Please give your thoughts

Yes. They do tell the refs .
It’s a good idea so the refs are not taken off guard and can expect something unusual.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

I guess but it's stupid to depend on it.

Like imagine telling a ref "Hey we're not going to line up offsides today!" and then expecting not getting called for it. Same logic with this.

 

[Coogiguy03]

Yes. They do tell the refs .
It’s a good idea so the refs are not taken off guard and can expect something unusual.

right

 

[speedkilz88]

I can understand so the refs are aware and recognize what is happening, but the refs should not be a participant in the deception. Which is what Campbell was trying to do with the reporting eligible situation.

 

[glimmerman]

I think they know the rules but some like lions play maybe told or discussed with them to make sure it’s inside the rules. I doubt they tell them they may run a flea flicker or punt block..

 

[Cowboys22]

I can understand so the refs are aware and recognize what is happening, but the refs should not be a participant in the deception. Which is what Campbell was trying to do with the reporting eligible situation.

Exactly. He wanted them to ignore 70 running in and jesturing like he had done all day but Allen wasn’t in the meeting and didn’t know. He interpreted 70 jesturing as identifying himself as an eligible receiver and made the announcement. This crosses the line into cheating and I’m glad it didn’t work out for them.

 

[Danny White]

I used to coach high school football and even at that level it was a regular part of pre-game for the refs to ask you if you ran any trick plays or unusual formations that they should be aware of. I would always tell them anything that I thought could be remotely confusing to them. I had an enormous TE who was very athletic and bigger than any of my offensive linemen. I'd usually have him on the line of scrimmage but from time to time I'd have him line up off the line and put him in motion and toss him the ball. I'd always warn the refs about that, because even though it wasn't remotely illegal, it looked weird to have the biggest guy on the field motioning through the backfield and getting tossed the ball. Didn't want to take any chances on them accidentally throwing a flag.

 

[csirl]

I did some officiating (at lower levels of football than the NFL) many years ago and it was part of the pregame routine to ask the coaches if they had any unusual plays.

 

[Risen Star]

Yes. That's why the Steelers almost got a delay of game penalty on the immaculate reception.

 

[Starstruck22]

It was mentioned that NFL teams whenever they have a trick play called up in their game plan for the week, they show it to the refs to ensure that they know it's legal etc. Has anyone else heard this? It may be more than just trick plays, but anything of deception, fake punts etc?? Please give your thoughts

There seems to be rampant confusion as to what constitutes a legal trick play or a deceptive play. All plays that do not attempt to subvert NFL rules, are legal regardless the nature of the deception (fake punt, fake insides kick, motion, mis direction, cadence changes in qb, etc). Any play by chicanery, trickery, or gimmickry that attempts to subvert an NFL rule (devised to level the playing field) is by definition cheating, unethical, and scurrilous. It is clear Detroit devised the latter against the Cowboys.

 

[Jake]

Aikman said after the game that two officials meet with one coach and two others meet with the other coach about 90 minutes before the game. If there are things the coach wants them look out for, or if they've got an odd play they may run that game, they'll give the refs a heads up.