NCAA Football Penalties and Official Signals

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering NCAA football penalty categories, yardage losses, enforcement rules, and official referee hand signals.

Official Signal 1

Signals 'Ready for play' or 'Untimed down'.

Official Signal 6

Signals 'Touchdown' or 'Field Goal'.

Official Signal 9

Signals 'Loss of down'.

Official Signal 10

Signals 'Incomplete pass/unsuccessful try or field goal/penalty declined/coin toss option deferred'.

Official Signal 19

Signals 'False start' or 'Encroachment A'.

Official Signal 20

Signals 'Illegal formation', 'Illegal motion (1 hand)', or 'Illegal shift (2 hands)'.

Official Signal 21

Signals 'Delay of game'.

Official Signal 25

Signals 'Targeting'.

Official Signal 27

Signals 'Unsportsmanlike conduct'.

Official Signal 31

Signals 'Illegal batting/kicking' (for illegal kicking, follow with a point toward foot).

Official Signal 33

Signals 'Pass interference' or 'Kick-catching interference'.

Official Signal 34

Signals 'Roughing the passer'.

Official Signal 36

Signals 'Intentional grounding'.

Official Signal 38

Signals 'Personal foul' (precedes any other prescribed personal foul signal) or 'Hands to the face'.

Official Signal 40

Signals 'Block below the waist'.

Official Signal 41

Signals 'Chop block'.

Official Signal 42

Signals 'Holding', 'Obstructing', or 'Illegal use of the hands or arms'.

Official Signal 43

Signals 'Illegal block in the back'.

Official Signal 44

Signals 'Helping the runner' or 'Interlocked interference'.

Official Signal 47

Signals 'Disqualification/Ejection'.

Loss of Five Yards

Penalty category that includes false start, encroachment, delay of game, illegal formation, illegal shift, and offside.

Loss of 10 Yards

Penalty category that includes offensive pass interference, holding or obstruction, illegal use of hands or arms, illegal block in the back, and interlocked interference.

Loss of 15 Yards

Penalty category for major infractions including targeting, clipping, blocking below the waist, roughing the passer, horse-collar tackle, and unsportsmanlike conduct.

Loss of a Down

Penalty enforcement resulting in loss of the down count, applicable to infractions like intentional grounding, illegal forward pass, and planned loose ball play.

Targeting/Initiating Contact w/Crown of Helmet

A 15-yard penalty carrying an automatic first down and potential disqualification/ejection.