How to Identify Referee Signals in Football

Touchdown, Field Goal Good, or Extra Point Good: Arms raised straight above head. A touchdown results in 6 points, a field goal three. After a touchdown, the team gets the opportunity to kick an extra point worth 1 point.

Safety: Arms raised above head, palms together. A safety is when a team gets tackled in their own endzone, runs out of their endzone or gets called for a penalty while in their own endzone. The result is two points for the tackling team and possession of the ball.

Incomplete Pass, Missed Field Goal, Penalty Refused: Arms crossed and uncrossed at waist.

First down: Arm bent at elbow and then extended in the offensive direction. A first down results when a team gets at least 10 yards. They have 4 downs to do so. If they do not get a first down with 4 downs, possession goes to the other team on the spot. Most of the time, if a team does not get a first down in the first three downs, they will punt the ball to the other team to keep from turning the ball over.

Time Out: Arms crossed and uncrossed above head to indicate to the timer to stop the clock. Each team gets three time outs per half.

Start clock: One arm swung in a circular motion to indicate to the timer to start the clock.

Touchback: Arm extended out to the side and moved up and down. A touchback occurs when a team punts or kick the ball into the end zone of the receiving team. The ball is then spotted at the twenty-yard line.

Loss of down: Hands placed together behind the head. The loss of a down occurs after some offensive penalties, such as grounding.

Clipping: Back of knee chopped with an open hand. Clipping occurs when a player tackles another player from behind below waist level.

Delay of Game: Arms folded and extended in front of chest. The offensive team has 25 seconds from the time the ball is spotted to snap the ball. If they do not, it results in a delay of game, and a five yard penalty.

Offsides or Encroachment: Both hands placed on hips. Players cannot cross the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. If they do so, they will be called for offsides. Encroachment refers specifically to the defense and occurs when contact is made with an offensive player. This can also occur if a player lines up in the neutral zone (which is the space between the offensive and defensive line of scrimmage). The result is a 5 yard penalty for the offending team.

False start: Arms circled around each other in front of chest. Lineman are required to take a set stance before the ball is snapped. A false start occurs when a player (besides the center) moves before the ball is snapped. Defensive players are allowed to move as long as they are back on the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped. The result is a 5 yard penalty.

Holding: One hand holding the wrist of the other hand, fist closed. Holding occurs when a player holds onto the jersey of another player. This rule can be difficult to grasp because holding occurs on almost every play, but is not always called. The result is a 5 yard penalty.

Illegal Cut (Chop Block): Hand strikes above knee. An illegal cut, also called a chop block or cut block, occurs when a lineman tackles another player below the knee. This kind of tackle is allowed in the open field, but not on the line. The result is a 15 yard penalty.

Illegal Motion: Arm swung from in front of the chest to the side. Only one offensive player is allowed to be moving at a time. This refers to receivers, not lineman. Illegal motion occurs when more than one player is in motion at one time. The result is a 5 yard penalty.

Illegal Hands To The Face: Wrist of one hand grabbed by the other hand, palm out. Illegal use of the hands occurs when a player intentionally blocks with their hands to the opposing players face or neck. This results in a 5 yard penalty.

Ineligible Receiver Downfield: Hand placed on top of head. Eligible receivers are the players lined up outside the lineman (tightends or split ends), players lined up at least one yard behind the line of scrimmage, and the player in position to receive the direct snap from the center (usually the quarterback). Linemen are never eligible receivers. If a player who is not eligible is in position to receive the ball, the result will be a 5 yard penalty.

Grounding: Slanted chop with both hands towards the ground. Grounding occurs when the quarterback throws the ball behind the line of scrimmage while in the tackle box (the area between the two offensive tackles) or when they throw the ball where there is not an eligible receiver nearby. The quarterback will do this when the defense is pressuring them to avoid the sack. The penalty is 15 yards and the loss of the down.

Roughing the kicker: Kicking motion with one foot. Right after the kicker has kicked and his leg is still extended in the air, he is in a very vulnerable position. If a defensive player runs into him after the ball has left his foot, it is considered roughing the kicker and results in a 15 yard penalty. If the contact is deemed unintentional, a running into the kicker penalty can be called and results in a 5 yard penalty.

Unsportsmanlike conduct: Arms extended out to both sides. This is a judgement call by the referees and can be the result of a variety of things. Excessive celebrating and other "showboating" type acts are the most common cause for unsportsmanlike conduct. The penalty is 15 yards.

Facemask Penalty: One hand with fist clinched placed in front of face moved in a downward position. Players are not allowed to tackle other players by grabbing the facemask on the helmet. There are two variets of facemask penalties. One is the incidental facemask where the offending player grabs the facemask and immediately lets go. This is a 5 yard penalty. Then there is an intentional facemask where the offending player grabs the facemask and does not let go. If the offending player twists or pulls on the facemask of the other player, it will always be an intentional facemask. This is a 15 yard penalty.