Question Number: 21019

Law 5 - The Referee 3/23/2009

RE: Competive High School

Aime D. Selamo of Noblesville, Indiana USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 12998

Most referees in South America and Africa do a lot of hand gestures and signals to explain a call and indicate which direction the ball is to be thrown or kicked, some exaggerate (Funny but too dramatic) and almost put up a one man show by running all over the place, blurting out their excitement with ceaseless whistling as they run to and keep pointing a corner kick or penalty spot, others simply blow their whistle and point to the opposite direction. Is there a universal standard on appropriate hand gestures and signals by a referee during a game?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

USSF certainly has national standards for all of our referees to use. They are contained in the publication Guide to Procedures for Referees, Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials, which every referee should receive at their entry level clinic. They are also posted online at www.ussoccer.com.

The National Federation of High Schools Rule Book also has a standard set of signals for the soccer referees to use in addition to the USSF standards (they're really a bit much, but they are what they are).

FIFA has some guidance on how & when they want referees to signal in the Interpretations and Guidelines recently published with the Laws of the Game for 2008/2009.

Referees have always been free to use additional signals in games, as long as the full crew is aware of the signals, 'they do not conflict with established procedures, do not intrude on the game, are not distracting, are limited in number and purpose and are carefully discussed prior to the commencement of the match.' (From the USSF Guide to Procedures)

What the rest of the world does is in large part up to their national associations.