20+ Referee Signals In Football With Pictures

The touchdown is the pirouette, a ballet of athleticism and strategy culminating in six glorious points. When a field goal is scored or a successful conversion is made, be it a one or two-point conversion, the same signal is used by the referees on the field.

Signal: The referee extends both his arms with open palms facing each other making a “Y” shape.

Each team gets three timeouts per half. Timeouts cannot be used consecutively on the same play. Unused timeouts from the first half do not carry over to the second half.

Signal: The referee extends both arms horizontally crossing each other over the head with palms facing forward.

Signal: Referees extend both hands over the head in an “X” shape. One hand forms a fist while another is open-palmed and is facing downward.

Rule: Personal fouls are unscripted pirouettes, often penalized for unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike conduct. From helmet-to-helmet hits to taunting, these flags halt the action and drain yardage. 

Penalty: Most personal fouls like Clipping, “Peelback” blocks, illegal cut blocks, Chop blocks, Crackback blocks, Blindside blocks, and Unnecessary roughness result in a loss of fifteen yards. Additionally, loss of first down is also added in Roughing the passer/kicker, Impermissible use of helmet, and Horse-collar tackle. 

To achieve a first down, the offense must move the ball at least 10 yards downfield before the next set of downs begins. This can be done through rushing plays, passing completions, or even penalties against the defense.

Signal: The referee extends one arm horizontally towards the defensive team end zone.

A dead ball means the play is over, and the clock stops. It can happen for various reasons, including:

• Incomplete Pass
• Out of Bounds
• Fumble
• Penalty

Signal: The referee extends one hand over the head with an open palm.

Impacts: Loss of downs, change of possession, and penalty yardage.

Signal: The ref extends one arm with a closed fist, the other bicep flexed at a 90-degree angle, and holds the wrist mimicking the act of holding.

Rule: Linemen grabbing defenders to block, receivers using hands to push off cornerbacks, and running backs clinging to tacklers are all examples of offensive holding. Likewise, when defenders grab receivers to impede routes, tackle ball carriers excessively, or hold linemen to disrupt blocking schemes, it’s defensive holding.

Penalty:

• Offensive Holding: 10-yard penalty, except near the end zone when it becomes half the distance to the goal line. Holding in the end zone is a safety.
• Defensive Holding: 5-yard penalty and an automatic first down for the offense.

Signal: The iconic “safety signal” sees both arms raised above the head with palms forward, resembling a double peace sign. This simple gesture informs everyone that the defense has earned a rare two-point swing.

Rule: Safety can be signaled in the following incidents:

• If the runner with the ball gets brought down behind the goal line.
• Fumbling the ball and it going out of bounds in the end zone, not recovered by the defense, awards the other team a safety.
• Offensive fouls in the end zone, like holding or illegal formation.

Signal: Arms extended laterally, palms up, then brought down together in a firm, chopping motion.

Rule: Any act by a defensive player beyond one yard downfield that significantly hinders a receiver’s attempt to catch a pass is Pass Interference. Pushing, grabbing, holding, or even extending an arm beyond five yards from the line of scrimmage can trigger the flag. Accidental contact is usually not penalized.

Penalty: An automatic first down is awarded to the offense at the spot of the foul.

Signal: The referee extends both arms with fingers crossed, forming an “X.”

Scenarios: The pass is incomplete if:

• The ball hits the ground before any player touches it.
• The receiver catches the ball but steps out of bounds before establishing possession.
• The pass is thrown out of bounds.
• The receiver is interfered with by a defender, preventing them from making the catch.

Impact: The down is advanced by one, but the offensive team doesn’t gain any yardage. The play clock resets. The offensive team retains possession unless it’s the fourth down.

Signal: The referee puts his hands on the waist.

Rule: An offside is called when a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage (the white line between offense and defense) before the ball is snapped. If the defense makes contact with an offensive player before the snap, it is called encroachment. Similarly, if someone gets into the neutral zone (the space between the offensive and defensive line) before the snap, it is called a neutral zone infraction. All three are prohibited.

Penalty: 5 yards loss and the play is dead. The play after the snap does not count.

Signal: Referee opens both his palms out, then swings them down toward the ground.

Rule: A QB, facing pressure, throws a pass with no chance of completion to avoid a sack is called intentional grounding. It prevents QBs from turning sacks into harmless incompletions, keeping the game exciting and rewarding defensive hustle.

Penalty: 10 yards, loss of down, or even a safety if thrown from the end zone.

Signal: The referee puts his arms with open palms in front of his body and rotates them in a circular motion. The arms go over each other during the rotation.

Rule: Any offensive player (except the center) moving after setting their stance is a false start. Likewise, improper alignment of offensive players before the snap. Five ineligible receivers (linemen or tight ends) lining up on the line of scrimmage is a common culprit.

Penalty: Five yards back and a replay of the down.

Signal: Both arms are stretched out horizontally on the shoulder level with the palms facing down.

Rule: Any act that’s deemed disrespectful, harmful, or goes against the spirit of fair play falls under this category. It includes taunting, verbal abuse, excessive celebrations, faking injuries, and other conduct like pushing, shoving, and throwing punches.

Penalty: Unsportsmanlike conduct results in a 15-yard penalty and, in severe cases, ejection from the game. Repeat offenses can lead to even harsher penalties, including fines and suspensions.

Signal: The referee makes a fist with his thumb extended upward and moves his arm up and down like a hitchhiking gesture.

Rule: Each penalty serves as a warning for the player. If a player repeatedly makes mistakes and is penalized time and again, he is ejected from the field. Likewise, a serious foul deemed flagrant or unnecessary by the officials can lead to direct ejection.

Penalty: Ejected players sit the rest of the game and face potential fines.

Signal: The referee extends one of his hands and opens the palm in the forward direction.

Rule: Defenders can’t make significant contact with receivers beyond 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. Incidental contact is permitted, but prolonged holding or grabbing is a penalty. The contact must be away from the play on the ball – interfering with the catch itself is a different penalty (pass interference).

Penalty: 10 yards and a first down for the offense.

Signal: The referee will extend one of his hands and open his palm as if he is making a stop signal. His other hand will be placed on the wrist.

Rule: When an offensive lineman uses their hands or arms to push, shove, or grab a defender in a way that hinders their ability to rush the passer or defend the run. Likewise, when a defender makes illegal contact with a receiver beyond five yards of the line of scrimmage, impeding their route and preventing them from catching the ball.

Penalty: Loss of ten yards.

Signal: One hand near the face gesturing the fist for a grasping motion.

Rule: Grasping, twisting, or pulling an opponent’s facemask is illegal. Incidental contact might be tolerated, but blatant fouls draw penalties.

Penalty: 15 yards and an automatic first down if committed by the defense. 15 yards if committed by the offense.

Signal: The referee repeatedly takes his right foot on the back of the left heel.

Rule: Tripping occurs when a player intentionally uses their leg or foot to make an opponent lose their balance, hindering their movement on the field. This can happen during active play or even after the whistle has blown.

Penalty: A 15-yard loss for the offending team and an automatic first down for the opposing team. Flagrant or repeated tripping can lead to player ejection.

A Loss of Down penalty occurs when the offense commits a specific infraction that hinders their progress or unfairly advantages them. This penalty consumes the current down without allowing the offense to replay it.

Signal: The referee puts both his hands behind his head.

Rule: The current down is consumed, regardless of its number. It is penalized on offensive penalties like intentional grounding, illegal forward pass, or ineligible receiver downfield.

Signal: Referees signal the delay of the game by extending both arms horizontally with palms facing down.

Rules: Any action that unnecessarily slows down the game can be considered a delay of the game. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Taking too long to huddle after a play is called.
• Players not being ready to receive the snap on time.
• Coaches challenge plays after the allotted time has expired.

Penalty: A five-yard penalty is assessed for the first offense and ten yards for subsequent offenses. In some cases, a team may also lose a down.

Signal: Referee extends both arms horizontally, palms down, then pumps them quickly in unison.

Rules: A player illegally touches, kicks, or bats the ball before it reaches a legal receiver during a forward pass or scrimmage kick. This includes:

• Offensive players: Touching the ball before it crosses the line of scrimmage during a scrimmage kick.
• Defensive players: Touching the ball before it reaches the receiver during a forward pass.

Penalty: 10 yards from the spot of the foul, first down.

Signal: Referee extends one arm straight back, palm facing the press box, then swings it forward in a chopping motion.

Rule: A forward pass is illegal if the passer’s feet are beyond the line of scrimmage when the ball leaves their hands. This prevents the QBs from gaining an unfair advantage by throwing from behind the protection of their offensive line.

Penalty: Five yards from the spot of the foul and a loss of down.

Signal: Referee extends one arm horizontally, palm down, then raises it vertically.

Rule: A player ineligible to catch a pass (usually linemen or tight ends) lines up within 20 yards of the line of scrimmage and doesn’t report as eligible before the snap.

Common ineligible receivers: Offensive lineman downfield, tight ends not aligned properly, running back lined up behind the tackle box.

Penalty: 5 yards from the spot of the snap, first down (unless within two minutes of the half or the end of the game, then it’s a loss of down).