Trick play A trick play , also known as a gadget play or a gimmick play , is a play in American football that uses deception and unorthodox strategies to fool the opposing team . A trick play is often risky , offering the potential for a large gain or a touchdown if it is successful , but with the chance of a significant loss of yards or a turnover if not . Trick plays are rarely used not only because of the riskiness , but to also maintain the element of surprise for when they are used . Trick plays take advantage of the fact that nearly all American football plays are either a pass from the quarterback or a run by the halfback . As a result , defenses will think " pass " when the quarterback has the ball and " run " when the running back has it . They respond by quickly changing position in an attempt to block further motion of the offense ' s players . Trick plays depart from these expectations , attempting to have the defence move into position to block the wrong play . They tend only to work if they are unanticipated . Background . In an idealized form of American football , the quarterback is the basic unit of the offense , receiving the ball during the snap and then either throwing it or handing it off to another player . That player , the " receiver " , attempts to move the ball forward past the line of scrimmage . If they are successful , the line moves forward to that point and the process continues through a series of " plays " , eventually ( ideally ) to a touchdown . Due to a variety of interacting rules , offensive plays generally fall into two distinct groups . Plays where the ( planned ) source of gains are through the quarterback throwing the ball forward are known as " passing plays " , while those where the gains are due to the player running with the ball are " rushing plays " . Rules governing which players are eligible to receive a pass results in the offensive team being split into groups ; the guards protect the quarterback , wide receivers and ends are positioned at the line to run forward to receive passes , and the backs are positioned behind the line to receive the ball in a hand - off and then continue running forward for a rush . The defensive team is not privy to which type of play will develop . To protect against common plays , their line ends up divided up much the same way as the offence , with the defensive tackle at the front both holding the line as well as attempting to threaten the quarterback , the defensive back s positioned behind the line to protect against pass plays , and the linebacker s positioned to counter a rush . Once the play starts , the defensive players tend to collapse towards the action , preventing forward motion of the rush , or blocking a pass . This commitment to a course of action is typically safe ; there is only one forward pass allowed per play , so once the ball is passed the rushers are out of the action and all the defenders can attempt to block the receiver , and while anyone can throw the ball forward , doing so is so specialized that once the quarterback hands off the ball or tosses to a runner , the possibility of a forward pass is generally eliminated . Trick plays attempt to cause the defence to commit to a play in order to leave them badly out of position for the play that actually develops . A simple example is the end - around play , where one of the eligible receivers runs parallel to the line of scrimmage ( see man - in - motion ) , takes the ball from the quarterback in a handoff or lateral toss , and then starts a rush . As the receiver would normally be expected to run down the field in order to catch a forward pass , the defensive back assigned to cover that motion starts opposite him some distance behind the line . If the back does not move laterally to match the motion of the receiver , the receiver may find themselves unopposed on the opposite side of the line once the play develops . More dangerous trick plays normally combine multiple passes or hand - offs a single play . In the Flea Flicker , the ball is handed - off or laterally passed to a player in what appears to be a rush play . The player then passes the ball back to the quarterback , who throws it to the receivers . Properly timed , the defensive team will have started responding to the rush by moving forward , leaving the receivers wide open . However , timing the play is difficult , and with two lateral passes and a forward throw , the chances for error are great . A failure leaves the ball behind the line of scrimmage in what will almost certainly be a loss of yards . Common trick plays . Common trick plays attempt to place the defence out of position by starting action in one direction , then completing it in another . There is no real " trick " being played in terms of deception , the defence simply reacts without considering the possibility of the ball carrier changing mid - play . End arounds . In an " end - around play " , a wide receiver or split end runs laterally behind the line of scrimmage , takes a handoff from the quarterback , and continues around the opposite end of the line . Because the defense normally expects the wide receivers to run a downfield pass pattern , an end - around that catches the defenders by surprise can result in a big gain . The chance of this working , however , is relatively low against an alert defense . Reverse A similar trick play is a reverse , which often begins as an end - around . In a reverse , a ball - carrier running parallel to the line of scrimmage in one direction hands off to a teammate coming in the opposite direction . This abruptly reverses the lateral flow of the play ; if the defense is slow to react , the second ball - carrier might make it around the end of the line to a near - open field . Variations of the basic reverse include the " double reverse " ( which involves a second flow - reversing handoff ) , exceedingly rare " triple reverses " involving even more handoffs , the " fake reverse " described below , and the " reverse flea flicker " . Double pass Essentially a reverse conducted with lateral passes instead of hand - offs . This play differs from the following primarily in that the ball remains behind the line of scrimmage during the passes . Halfback pass . ( See also Halfback option play . ) In this play the quarterback pitches the ball to a halfback as if it were an outside run , but instead of running up the field the halfback looks for an open receiver to pass the ball to . Teams that have a player who is both a skilled runner and passer use this play more often . Former San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson is a notable example , having thrown seven touchdown passes off halfback options in his career . Wide receiver pass / Fake reverse . Similar to the halfback pass , the ball is given to a wide receiver on an end around or reverse , but instead of turning upfield he looks for a passing target ( which in some situations might include the quarterback , who has run a pass pattern after the handoff . ) Like the halfback pass , this play often utilizes a multi - skilled player ; Antwaan Randle El is a wide receiver who played quarterback in college and is known for his ability to pass , throwing a 43 - yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward , another wide receiver who also played as a quarterback in college , during Super Bowl XL . Flea Flicker In the Flea Flicker , the ball is passed or thrown to a player to begin what appears to be a typical rush . Like the halfback pass , the receiver stops to throw the ball , but in this case , throws it back to the quarterback . The quarterback can then attempt a conventional pass play . This eliminates the need for the receiver to be a strong thrower , as the distances are normally kept short for these plays . Reverse Flea Flicker . As the name implies , this is a combination of a reverse and a flea flicker . After one or more reverse handoffs , the ball is lateraled back to the quarterback , who looks for an open receiver downfield . As with all flea - flickers , the play is designed to trick the defensive backs into coming upfield prematurely to defend what they believe to be a rushing play . Halfback Direct Snap . These are plays , usually run from shotgun formations ( or " Wildcat Offense " formations ) , where someone other than quarterback ( usually , but not always , a halfback ) takes the snap . From this start , the offense may try a running play , a passing play , or a flea - flicker . Dual Quarterbacks The offense brings two quarterbacks onto the field for a play . This is typically utilized when a team ' s second or third - string quarterback has dual - threat ability , confusing the defense as to how the play will develop , and who will be passing the ball . Teams may keep one of the quarterbacks far wide as a receiver and throw a screen pass to him on a Double Pass play , where he then throws deep downfield or across the field to the scrambling quarterback . Seneca Wallace and Matt Hasselbeck were used in this package by the Seattle Seahawks in 2009 . In Week 8 of the 2008 season , the Baltimore Ravens lined up Troy Smith at halfback next to Joe Flacco in the shotgun . Flacco handed the ball off to Smith , who rolled to the right , and then lobbed the pass back down the sideline to a sprinting Flacco for a gain of 43 yards . Hook and lateral . Also known as a " hook and ladder " , the hook and lateral play involves a lateral pass " after " a completed forward pass . The most common variant of this play involves a receiver who runs a curl pattern , catches a short pass , then immediately laterals the ball to another receiver running a crossing route . Sometimes known as a " circus " . Fakes . Conventional trick plays involve the defence ' s inability to quickly react to changes in direction , based on the basic assumption that such changes rarely occur . Another class of trick plays are deliberately more tricky , involving deception about the position of the ball , the state of the play , or taking advantages of tricks in the rules . Statue of Liberty . The " Statue of Liberty play " starts with a snap to the quarterback , who falls back , preparing for a pass . Normally the snap is caught in two hands , and then the ball is moved to the throwing hand ( typically right ) while the non - throwing arm moves lower . In this trick , the quarterback carries out the same motions , but moves the ball to the non - throwing hand . When he fakes the pass , the non - throwing arm is moved behind his back , hiding the ball . One of the backs , running in the direction opposite the fake pass , takes the ball and starts a rush . Like the reverse , the goal is to catch the defence on the wrong side of the line , and can be a high - value play when executed successfully . However , the movements and timing required are difficult and can easily lead to blown plays . Fumblerooski . In the fumblerooski , the quarterback takes the snap and immediately places the ball , unseen by the defence , on the ground . This is technically a fumble , and thus the name of the play . The quarterback then moves away from the ball , faking a pass or setting up for a fake hand - off to one side of the line . Meanwhile , one of the backs picks up the ball and starts a rush in the opposite direction . In general terms the play is very similar to the Statue of Liberty , although it gives the quarterback more room for motion . Bounce rooski . After taking the snap , the quarterback drops back slightly and pretends to pass to one of the receivers near the line of scrimmage . However , he deliberately passes short , so the ball bounces off the ground near the intended receiver . The receiver then catches the ball nonchalantly as it bounces up again . If the ball had moved forward , hitting the ground would trigger the end of the play as an incomplete pass . However , this is not the case for a lateral pass , where the bounce is technically a fumble , and play continues . Key to the bounce rooski is that everyone on the offensive team has to pretend that its an incomplete pass . This typically happens with the receiver never starting motion , all of the offensive players stopping and leisurely returning to their places on the line , and everyone basically relaxing . If the fake is successful , when the defence does the same , the receiver can run off unopposed , or , as it was a lateral pass , make a forward pass after the receivers have had ample time to move far down the field . The trick only works if the offensive team " plays it " well , and none of the defenders notices exactly where the ball hit the ground . In the event either fails , the defenders can simply grab the ball from the stationary receiver , making this a dangerous ploy . Although the name implies great similarities with the fumblerooski , the two are very different in terms of on - field action . One of the famed examples of the bounce rooski was Nebraska vs Oklahoma in 1982 , seen in this YouTube video . In this example it does not appear that all of the defenders were fooled . Fake punt . This play can take a number of different forms . Usually the punter will simply take the snap and look to throw a pass or run with the ball after the defenders have turned downfield to block for the punt return . In another variation , the ball may be snapped directly to one of the backs ( usually a halfback or fullback ) who then runs downfield or throws . Fake field goal . As with a fake punt , there are a number of different forms for a fake field goal . Usually the holder ( often the punter or backup quarterback on most teams ) will throw or run as with the fake punt . Danny White was both quarterback and punter for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1980s and often executed this play . Less frequently , the placekicker , who virtually never handles the ball in an American football game , will serve as the passer or rusher on a fake field goal . Examples include then - New England kicker Adam Vinatieri receiving a direct snap and throwing a touchdown pass during an NFL game in 2004 , and LSU kicker Colt David rushing for a 15 - yard touchdown in 2007 after receiving the ball on a blind lateral from holder ( and starting QB ) Matt Flynn . Fake procedure . Going by a variety of names , this trick involves the quarterback getting up and walking away from his position behind the center before the snap , apparently in order to hear the call from the coach or to call a timeout . However , as one player is allowed to be in motion before the snap , play is not technically stopped . If the defence relaxes , believing the quarterback is about to walk to the sidelines , the ball can be snapped to one of the other players and played against a defence that is unprepared . If the defence is not fooled , the quarterback can simply complete the fake task , and return to the center to call the snap . The Indianapolis Colts , New Orleans Saints , Pittsburgh Steelers , and St . Louis Rams have used variations of this play in the NFL , and it was also used in the movie " The Longest Yard " ( 2005 ) for a winning two - point conversion . Under some state high school rules , if the quarterback or coaches on the sideline say anything that may lead the defense to believe that a snap is not imminent , then the play is not legal under the Unfair Act section of Rule 9 . Fake spike . When the clock is running low , it is not uncommon for a quarterback to spike the ball to stop the clock , either to set up for the next play or bring on the special teams . Here too , the objective is to trick the defense into believing that no downfield play will be run . A famous example occurred in 1994 with the Clock Play , when Dan Marino ’ s Dolphins were playing the Jets . From the account of Pat Kirwan , former Jets defensive coach and executive , Peyton Manning is also a frequent user of the fake spike , and " sold it " so well in a 2001 game against New Orleans that the referee Jeff Triplette blew the whistle to stop the play , costing the Colts a probable touchdown .