Question Number: 21618

Mechanics 7/3/2009

RE: Select Under 18

Walt Heatherly of Hendersonville, TN USA asks...

I have encountered this in a few games normally on the higher age groups with refs that do bother to tuck in there shirts. In the pregame multiple refs have instructed me as the AR to tap the non-badge pocket if I feel a yellow card should be administered for a foul/misconduct or to tap the right side of my shorts to indicate that I feel that a foul/misconduct deserves a red card. Although I think that this is an excellent idea, I cannot find anything in the LOTG about it. In reading the LOTG I also get the sense that USSF discourages hand signals/gestures that are not 'approved.' I would greatly appreciate some opinions and guidance on this matter.
Thanks guys (and ladies)

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This is from the official USSF publication Guide to Procedures for Referees, Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials which can be downloaded for free at www.ussoccer.com:

If misconduct is observed associated
with the foul, makes eye contact with
the referee and advises either a yellow
card by placing the free hand over the
badge on the left jersey pocket or a red
card by placing the free hand on a back
pocket on the shorts

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

As Ref Contarino notes, USSF gives us specific guidance in this instance.

In other situations, referee crews can agree upon what signals will be used during the game for situations not already covered in the GTP or the LOTG. As long as everybody in the crew knows what signal is expected, and the signal does NOT conflict with an established form (to prevent confusion), and there are not very many of these 'non-standard' signals (to prevent confusion again with too many new ones to remember at game speed), then the use of other signals is okay.

A common 'unapproved' signal is the one used by the AR - a sweep of the non-flag hand forward toward the goal line as the AR races down the touchline - to indicate the AR feels there was no offside to worry about.

Again, it is all well and good to use unapproved signals, but be very careful that they are necessary, easy to remember, familiar to the full crew, not distracting or confusing, and aid in speed of communication of important facts. If they are not all of these things, don't bother. I can guarantee you a quality assessor will always ask about non-standard signals to see if they were agreed upon, understood by the full crew and used effectively as a result.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The quote from Ref Contarino was added in the latest edition of the USSF Guide To Procedures, so its official approval is relatively new. It had been a common unapproved signal for some time.

Note: some referees were taught that hand over patch meant 'come talk to me', so it is still a good idea to go over these signals during the pregame.