Q&A for How to Understand Soccer Referee Signals

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  • Question
    Which hand is used by the referee to indicate different kicks?
    Community Answer
    Most referees just use their dominate hand or whichever hand is closest to the benches.
  • Question
    How does the referee signal offside?
    Community Answer
    The line referees will raise their flag straight up in the air when they call offside. When the center referee notices this, he/she'll blow their whistles and the line ref will lower their flag horizontal to the ground. They will also be standing even with the place where the foul occurred.
  • Question
    What does it mean when they place both hands on their hips?
    Community Answer
    They are signalling offsides. It is used when there are no assistant referees to raise a flag to indicate it. It is not the proper way to signal it; however, it does help the coaches, players and parents in youth soccer understand why a whistle was blown.
  • Question
    What do two yellow cards in two different matches in a tournament to same player result in?
    Community Answer
    It results in the player not playing the match after it in the competition. This is in case the two are in the same competition or tournament.
  • Question
    In the event of a free kick, the ref indicates "wait for the whistle." If the kicker takes the kick before the ref whistles, what happens?
    Republicson
    Community Answer
    When the referee indicates "wait for the whistle," it becomes a "ceremonial" free kick, and the kick may not happen until the whistle is blown. If the kick is taken early, the kick must be retaken, and the kicker may be given a caution (yellow card) for "delaying the restart of play."
  • Question
    What does it mean when a referee holds their hands in an x?
    Community Answer
    It may mean there was no goal scored. Under NFHS rules, this means to stop the clock. It is not used in FIFA play.
  • Question
    If a teammate receives the ball from a goal kick in the 18 yards box, what will be the referee's hand signal?
    Republicson
    Community Answer
    The signal should be stopping play by a whistle and pointing toward the goal for a goal kick. It is a re-take of the original goal kick as the ball is not "in play" until it leaves the penalty area.
  • Question
    Is the referee required to give a hand signal when he blows his whistle allowing a free kick to be taken, as players may not hear the whistle in a noisy stadium?
    Community Answer
    No, the referee in a soccer game is not meant to help the spectators understand, and the players should be able to hear the whistle on the field.
  • Question
    How does a referee signal for a throw in?
    Community Answer
    The AR (assistant referee) moves their flag in the direction of whose ball it is.
  • Question
    Does the ball have to touch the ground before passing the goal line during a penalty?
    Republicson
    Community Answer
    There is no law requiring the ball to touch the ground (other than when it is initially set on the penalty mark) before entering the goal for the goal to count.
  • Question
    What does indirect mean?
    Community Answer
    This means that two people must touch the ball before it is a goal. The second of these people can be on the opposing team.
  • Question
    If the ball goes out of play, what signal does the referee make?
    Starla
    Community Answer
    When the ball rolls past the lines, the referee will probably blow a whistle.
  • Question
    How do they signal an injury that requires a medic's immediate attention?
    Community Answer
    Referees usually signal to the team dugout with hands up and motioning for the staff to get to the player.
  • Question
    What does it mean when the referee makes a circle with his hands?
    Community Answer
    If the referee rolls his hands in a circle, it means that a substitution is taking place.
  • Question
    At what age should a referee stop refereeing?
    Community Answer
    When you can't see what's happening clearly and can't keep up with the game, that's retirement time. For some people that could be in their 60s, for others it could be much, much later. It really is about your level of fitness and acuity, but also check club rules.
  • Question
    What is the signal for a goal?
    Community Answer
    They will raise their arms over their head and make an X when a goal is scored.
  • Question
    What do you do when it’s no goal?
    Community Answer
    You play on.
  • Question
    What should the assistant referee do if there is a handball that the head referee has not noticed?
    Community Answer
    Normally the video assistant referee would alert the head referee.
  • Question
    What does it mean when the referee whistles three times?
    Community Answer
    The referee whistles three times at halftime and at the end of the game.
  • Question
    Why is there no orange card?
    Lina Glaum
    Community Answer
    Very good question! Some people think that there should be an orange card for offenses that aren't yellow card level or red card level.
  • Question
    If two players collide and one breaks his or her leg, who gets cautioned?
    Lina Glaum
    Community Answer
    The person who broke the other's leg might be either red-carded and sent off or banned by the referee association.
  • Question
    Which way does the ref signal when the ball goes out?
    Community Answer
    It depends on where the ball goes out and who touched it last. If the ball goes out over the goal line and the attacking team touched it last, it's a goalie kick. If it goes out over the goal line and the defending team touched it last, it's a corner kick for the attacking team. If the ball goes out over a sideline, the team that didn't touch it last throws it in.
  • Question
    Which sign is used by a center referee to indicate a throw in?
    Lina Glaum
    Community Answer
    Read method 2 of understanding the sideline referees. There's information on that there.
  • Question
    What direction specifically if the defence got the ball out will you point the flag to the defence or the offence side?
    Community Answer
    The referee would point toward the defending goal of the team that last touched the ball before it went out.
  • Question
    What's the meaning of raising index fingers on both sides of a referee in soccer?
    Siddiquedorjoy
    Community Answer
    Raising both hands and crossing them indicates a time out. It signals the players to take a break or lets the other officials know.
  • Question
    What does the referee’s right hand mean?
    Siddiquedorjoy
    Community Answer
    A player on either team has committed a foul and there will be an immediate time out and a penalty will be called out.
  • Question
    What does it take for one to become a referee?
    Siddiquedorjoy
    Community Answer
    To become a referee, you'll need to be familiar with the rules, procedures, and signals used in the sport you want to referee for, and you'll need to get certified by the relevant sports associated. To get certified, you'll likely be required to take a training course, attend a rules clinic, and pass an exam.
  • Question
    What is the signal for a counted goal for players or linesmen asking?
    Siddiquedorjoy
    Community Answer
    If the assistant stands near the goal line and points at the goal, they are signalling for a goal kick.
  • Question
    In an indirect free kick, if a team passes the ball back to their goalkeeper, and the goalkeeper touches it with their hands, where is the ball placed?
    Siddiquedorjoy
    Community Answer
    The penalty for goalkeepers who handle deliberate back passes is an indirect free kick. The referee will award the kick at the same position where the actual handling offence took place.
  • Question
    In a scenario where the referee and the assistant referee is unable to see that a ball has crossed the touch line, is there a technology to detect and make a decision?
    Johnjohnvball17
    Top Answerer
    Currently there is a technology called Hawkeye, which is used in the English Premier League to track if the ball goes over the goal line but the technology is not used to track when the ball has gone into touch.
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