Soccer Referee and Assistant Referee Signals

SOCCER REFEREE AND ASSISTANT REFEREE SIGNALS

© CoachingAmericanSoccer.com^®

Soccer Referees and Assistant Referees give visual signals to communicate with players, coaches, and spectators about their decisions.  Combined with oral communication, visual signals teach multiple aspects of the game and educate everyone to the functions of the referees.

The presentation below is a COMPILATION of international, national, collegiate, high school, and youth (including local rules) soccer signals as used by Referees and Assistant Referees in the United States.  (They are presented this way since any or all of them may appear in the United States because they have been promulgated by multiple organizations in American soccer, including the IFAB, FIFA, US Soccer, NCAA, NFHS, and local grassroots organizations.)

REFEREE SIGNALS

GOAL SCORED – [international style] turn and point with one arm toward the center mark and start moving briskly to the center circle

[GOAL SCORED (Option) – both arms briefly raised overhead, then point to the center mark (Recognized by youth parents just learning soccer in the United States)]

 

OFFSIDE – both hands to respective hips

(Alternative signal for OFFSIDE – “drawing a horizontal line” in the air by holding the hands close together in front of the chest and then spreading the arms out.)

 

TRIPPING – move one leg forward and out slightly into the air

 

STRIKING – move elbow from side toward rear and back

 

JUMPING – move arm overhead then down (like a train engineer pulling their whistle cord)

 

HANDLING – right hand moved slightly forward and back while touching left forearm

 

HOLDING – right hand grasps left wrist

 

PUSHING – open palms moved from chest out

 

CHARGING – right hand to left-upper-arm, then elbow moved toward rear

 

GOALKEEPER POSSESSION 8-SECOND COUNT – Upon a goalkeeper obtaining full possession of the ball, the referee counts down the first 3-seconds mentally and then, at 5-seconds, raises one hand overhead with five-fingers splayed.  The referee then shows four, three, two, one, and no fingers.  If the goalkeeper has not released the ball at the end of the count, the whistle is blown and a corner kick is awarded to the other team.

 

GOALKEEPER HOLDING BALL TOO LONG – open hands circled around each other.

 

DANGEROUS PLAY – both arms straight raised from sides at 45-degree angle

 

BALL DEAD – arm up, open palm directed like a “stop signal” toward kicker or thrower; keep the arm up the entire time while ball is dead

 

“MY TIME” – both arms overhead and crossed at the wrists (play is stopped due to a substitution or an injury, or due to an “outside event” such as an extra ball or a dog on the field; do not use the term “time-out”)

 

RESUME PLAY – noticeably drop arm from “Ball Dead” position down to side

 

FREE KICK – arm straight out pointing in the direction of the goal the kicking team is attacking

 

INDIRECT FREE KICK – one arm held straight up until kick is taken

 

SUBSTITUTION OR PLAY STOPPED (Referee Time) – hands crossed over head two times (then wave in subs or hold until stoppage ends)

 

SUBSTITUTE(S) MAY ENTER – right hand, open palm, waved in front of shoulder then toward shoulder, twice

 

STOP-WAIT – palm toward player in a traditional “stop” sign directs the player to wait to put the ball back into play.

 

COMBINATION STOP-WAIT and SUB-COME-ON – With one hand in the Stop-Wait position, the soccer referee directs a player not to put the ball play, while the other hand is used to motion that a substitute may enter the field.

 

WAIT FOR THE WHISTLE – by pointing to the whistle, the referee shows a player that they must wait for the whistle to be blown before putting the ball back into play.

 

CORNER KICK – point to the correct corner arc with arm 45-degree angle down

 

GOAL KICK – simultaneously point with one hand to goal area and with the other hand out into the field

 

IMPEDING – Clasp both palms to chest

 

PLAY-ON – Two arms immediately raised to shoulder level and spread, with palms open (no foul or infringement is being called); updated to make the signal more visible to players.

 

ADVANTAGE (is being applied) – The soccer referee signal for “Advantage” has been updated to immediately raise the arms in parallel up to the shoulders to make the signal more visible to players.

 

UNSPORTING CONDUCT – hand placed behind head

 

FOUL THROW-IN (Unequal Hands) – imitate throwing ball with the force of only one hand (with an incorrect motion, one arm moved dramatically forward while the other is held back)

 

FOUL THROW-IN (Feet) – imitate throwing ball while lifting one leg backward

 

PENALTY KICK – point to the Penalty Mark

 

CALM DOWN – from waist level, motion the palms of both hands down toward the ground

 

COOLING OFF PERIOD – referee stops play and directs players to go to their respective benches by pointing to each bench.

 

CAUTION (Yellow Card) – hold the yellow card with the arm fully extended directly overhead (book the offender)

 

EJECTION (Red Card) – hold the red card with the arm fully extended directly overhead (book the offender)

 

TEMPORARY DISMISSAL – (Blue Card) – hold the blue card with the arm fully extended directly overhead (book the offender)

 

BOOKING – write down team (color), jersey number, caution or ejection, time, reason

 

LOCATION OF DEFENSIVE WALL – hold arm straight out, with palm facing the defenders, directly above 10-yard line (ensure defenders move back; return to a proper position; and then, when ready, drop the arm as in “Resume Play”)

 

DROPPED BALL – hold ball below waist and then pull hand out from underneath

 

UNDERAGE HEADING (Deliberate Heading) – palm of hand is briefly held to the forehead

 

CONCUSSION-SUBSTITUTION – Fingertips splayed and placed on the side of the head, this signal shows that a possible concussion has been declared by the soccer referee. The player is to be escorted from the field and a specific concussion-related substitution may be authorized.

 

ONLY THE CAPTAIN zone is being implemented. – After giving the “My Time” signal, arms straight out in parallel at shoulder level with both palms showing “Stop / Stay Away” for the 5-yard exclusion area.

 

VAR (Video Assistant Referee) REVIEW is being undertaken – the referee makes the rectangular outline of a television monitor.

 

DISALLOWED GOAL – wrists are crossed in front of the waist.

ASSISTANT REFEREE SIGNALS

While running along the sideline, the flag is to be kept at the side, pointed down toward the ground.

 

Goal Kick – standing in line with the “six,” point the flag into the field

 

Corner Kick – point to the base of the corner flag while standing near the end line

 

Foul, Misconduct, or Infringement – twirl the flag directly overhead; after the whistle is blown, point the flag to the spot on the field where the foul occurred (if the whistle is not blown, take the flag down)

 

Throw-in (ball out of play) – point the flag straight up and then point the flag up the sideline, with the arm at a 45-degree angle, in the attacking direction of the throwing team

 

Substitution – with both arms overhead, hold the flag with one hand at each end until the substitution has been properly completed

 

Offside – while standing in line where the infraction occurred, hold the flag straight up overhead (if the whistle is not blown, take the flag down);

After the whistle has been blown by the Referee for offside, point the flag into the field according to the following locations:

• • • Offside Location Near – 45-degree angle down
  • 
    • Offside Location Middle – 90-degrees (straight out)
  • 
    • Offside Location Far – 45-degree angle up
  • 

See the CoachingAmericanSoccer.com presentation:  Club Soccer Referee Program

© Copyright, John C. Harves