Referee Hand Signals

Chapter 6
REFEREES’ SIGNALS
Referees should use only the official signals defined in the FIBA Basketball Rules. It is a
professional sign and attitude to use only the official signals.
When communicating decisions with signals it is good to remember that the use of
signals creates a strong perception among the people who are watching the referees. It is one
piece in the overall package of providing a trusted and accepted refereeing image. Often, we
think that there is no need to practice the official signals at all, but it is highly necessary.
The hand signals illustrated in these rules are the only valid referees’ signals. While
reporting to the scorer’s table it is strongly recommended to verbally support the
communication (in international games in the English language). It is important that the table
officials are familiar with these signals.
A checklist for successful use of the signals:

1. Use official and authorized FIBA signals.
2. Rhythm
a. Each signal has a start and a stop.
b. When finishing the signal, freeze it and count “one-two” in your mind.
3. Strong, Sharp, Visible and Decisive signals (practice this in front of the mirror)
4. Use both hands for direction, depending which shoulder is in the front.
5. Treat each team, player and play with the same standard (no histrionics)
6. Remember less is more (no repetition, one clear and strong signal)
7. Verbally support the signal at all times.
Game clock signals

STOP THE CLOCK STOP THE CLOCK START THE CLOCK
FOR FOUL
Open palm One clenched fist Chop with hand

Scoring
1 POINT 2 POINTS 3 POINTS
1 finger, 'flag' from 2 fingers, 'flag' from 3 fingers extended One arm: Attempt
wrist wrist Both arms: Successful
Substitution and Time-out
SUBSTITUTION BECKONING-IN CHARGED TIME-OUT MEDIA TIME-OUT
Cross forearms Open palm, wave Form T, Open arms with

towards the body show index finger clenched fists
Informative
CANCEL SCORE, CANCEL PLAY VISIBLE COUNT
Scissor-like action with arms, Counting while moving the palm

once across chest
DIRECTION OF PLAY
AND/OR HELD BALL/JUMP BALL
COMMUNICATION SHOT CLOCK RESET OUT-OF-BOUNDS SITUATION
Thumb up Rotate hand, Point in direction of Thumbs up, then point
extend index finger play, arm parallel to in direction of play
sidelines using the alternating
possession arrow
Violations
ILLEGAL DRIBBLE: ILLEGAL DRIBBLE:
TRAVELLING DOUBLE DRIBBLING CARRYING THE BALL
Rotate fists Patting motion with palm Half rotation with palm
3 SECONDS 5 SECONDS 8 SECONDS
Arm extended, show 3 fingers Show 5 fingers Show 8 fingers
DELIBERATE KICK OR
24 SECONDS BALL RETURNED TO BACKCOURT BLOCK OF THE BALL
Fingers touch shoulder Wave arm front of body Point to the foot
Number of Players
No. 00 and 0
Both hands show Right hand shows

number 0 number 0
No. 1 – 5 No. 6 - 10 No. 11 – 15
Right hand shows Right hand shows Right hand shows

number 1 to 5 number 5 clenched fist,
left hand shows left hand shows
number 1 to 5 number 1 to 5
No. 16 No. 24
First reverse hand shows number 1 for the First reverse hand shows number 2 for the
decade digit - then open hands show number 6 decade digit - then open hand shows number 4
for the units digit for the units digit
No. 40 No. 62
First reverse hand shows number 4 for the First reverse hands show number 6 for the
decade digit - then open hand shows 0 for the decade digit - then open hand shows 2 for the
units digit units digit
No. 78 No. 99
First reverse hands show number 7 for the First reverse hands show number 9 for the
decade digit - then open hands show number 8 decade digit - then open hands show number 9
for the units digit for the units digit
Type of Fouls
BLOCKING (DEFENSE), PUSHING OR
ILLEGAL SCREEN CHARGING WITHOUT
HOLDING (OFFENSE) Imitate push HANDCHECKING
Grasp wrist downward Both hands on hips Imitate push Grab palm and forward
Motion
CHARGING ILLEGAL CONTACT
ILLEGAL USE OF HANDS WITH THE BALL TO THE HAND HOOKING
Strike wrist Clenched fist Strike the palm Move lower arm
strike open palm towards the other backwards
forearm
EXCESSIVE SWINGING FOUL BY TEAM IN
OF ELBOW HIT TO THE HEAD CONTROL OF THE BALL
Swing elbow Imitate the contact Point clenched fist

Backwards to the head towards basket of offending team
FOUL ON THE ACT OF SHOOTING FOUL NOT ON THE ACT OF SHOOTING
One arm with clenched fist, followed by One arm with clenched fist, followed by
indication of the number of free throw pointing to the floor
Special Fouls
DOUBLE FOUL TECHNICAL FOUL UNSPORTSMANLIKE FOUL DISQUALIFYING FOUL
Wave clenched fists Form T, showing palms Grasp wrist upward Clenched fists
on both hands on both hands
ILLEGAL BOUNDARY
LINE CROSSING
FAKE A FOUL ON A THROW-IN IRS REVIEW
Raise the lower arm Wave arm parallel to boundary Rotate hand with
twice line (in last 2 minutes of the horizontal extended
fourth quarter and overtime) index finger
Foul Penalty Administration – Reporting to Table
AFTER FOUL WITHOUT FREE THROW(S) AFTER FOUL BY TEAM IN CONTROL OF THE BALL
Point in direction of play, Clenched fist in direction of play,

arm parallel to sidelines arm parallel to sidelines
1 FREE THROW 2 FREE THROWS 3 FREE THROWS
Hold up 1 finger Hold up 2 fingers Hold up 3 fingers
Administrating Free Throws – Active Referee (Lead)

1 finger horizontal 2 fingers horizontal 3 fingers horizontal

Administrating Free Throws – Passive Referee (Trail in 2PO & Centre in 3PO)
Index finger Fingers together 3 fingers extended

on both hands on both hands

Referee Hand Signals

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Chapter 6

A checklist for successful use of the signals:

Game clock signals

Open palm One clenched fist Chop with hand

Cross forearms Open palm, wave Form T, Open arms with

Scissor-like action with arms, Counting while moving the palm

3 SECONDS 5 SECONDS 8 SECONDS

Arm extended, show 3 fingers Show 5 fingers Show 8 fingers

Both hands show Right hand shows

No. 1 – 5 No. 6 - 10 No. 11 – 15

Right hand shows Right hand shows Right hand shows

Swing elbow Imitate the contact Point clenched fist

DOUBLE FOUL TECHNICAL FOUL UNSPORTSMANLIKE FOUL DISQUALIFYING FOUL

Point in direction of play, Clenched fist in direction of play,

1 FREE THROW 2 FREE THROWS 3 FREE THROWS

Hold up 1 finger Hold up 2 fingers Hold up 3 fingers

Administrating Free Throws – Active Referee (Lead)

1 finger horizontal 2 fingers horizontal 3 fingers horizontal

1 FREE THROW 2 FREE THROWS 3 FREE THROWS

Index finger Fingers together 3 fingers extended

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