Question Number: 26598

Mechanics 8/4/2012

RE: rec Adult

Mayea of bogota, Colombia asks...

On a dual referee match the other day and just before the start of the second half, the other ref signaled to me by placing his hand on top of his head. I'm sorry but I don't know what this means, do you know?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
This would not be a recognised signal in either FIFA or NFHS games .
I suspect that it might be a fabricated signal based on an American Football signal. It might have been to inform you that one of the players was incorrectly in the opponents' half before the kick was taken.
In American Football the referee places his right hand on top of his head to show that a receiver on a pass play was downfield early or that a member of the kicking team was downfield too early.
What it does show that signals do not migrate well from one sport to another and that sports should stick to their own approved signals.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Perhaps you should have asked the other referee after the game what was intended by that signal? It certainly is not one normally used by referees who run the regular diagonal 3-person crew, and I am not aware of that being used anywhere else for that matter.