basketball referee hand signals (copy)

traveling

• When a player illegally moves one or both of their feet.

• The referee will put both arms in front of their face and move them in a circle to signal a traveling.

• a double dribble occurs when a player dribbles the ball, picks it up, and then dribbles again.

• The referee puts both of their hands in front of them with their palms down, then alternates moving them up and down to signal a double dribble has occurred.

• A carrying violation is called when a player is dribbling the basketball and puts their hand under it, then continues dribbling.

• To signal a carry, the official will use one of their hands and flip it over from palm up to palm down several times.

• Players are only allowed 3 seconds in the paint -- a 12x16 feet area closest to the basket.

• If a player is in the paint for more than 3 seconds, the referee will call a 3-second violation.

• The referee will take three fingers, point them down at their side, and then swipe their hand back and forth to signal this violation.

• A team has five seconds to throw the ball inbounds when they are taking it out.

• If they take longer than five seconds, the referee will call a 5-second violation.

• This is a simple signal, as the referee will use one of their hands and put five fingers in the air.

• When a team has the ball in the backcourt, they have 8 seconds to get the ball across the half-court line.

• If they take longer than the allotted 8 seconds, the referee calls a 8-second violation.

(many younger leagues use 10 seconds instead of 8)

• The referee signals this violation by putting eight fingers in the air.

• If playing in a league that uses a shot clock, teams will have 24 seconds to take a shot on each possession (some leagues use longer shot clocks).

• If a team fails to shoot within this time, the referee will call a 24-second violation.

• The referee will use one handed to tap the top of their shoulder on the same arm.

• When a team possesses the basketball in the front court, then a player with the ball goes into the backcourt without the defense touching it, an over-and-back violation occurs.

• The referee will place their hand out with their palm down and move it back and forth from side view to side like their hand is going over a line.

• This is to signal that a player went over the half court line and an over-and-back occurred.

kicking

• In basketball, a player may not intentionally kick the basketball.

• If they do, the official will blow their whistle.

• To signal a kick occurred, the referee will point at their foot.

• The ball is out of bounds when it touches a line that outlines the

court or anywhere outside of those lines.

• It is also out of bounds if it touches a player who is standing outside or on a line.

• When the ball goes out of bounds, a referee will signal whose ball it is by pointing toward the basket of the team that will take possession.

• When players from both teams possess the basketball, a jump ball is called

• The referee will give two thumbs up above their head to signal that a jump ball has been called.

• When a defensive player does not have a legal guarding position and impedes the dribbler's progress, a blocking foul occurs.

• The referee's signal for blocking is placing both hands on their hips.

• If the defensive player is in a legal guarding position and the offensive player knocks them off of their spot, a charging foul is called.

• This is also called a player-control foul.

• When the referee signals a charging foul, they make a fist with one hand and "punch" the open palm of their other hand.

• Defensive players are not allowed to limit a ball-handler's ability to move with their hands.

• If the defender does limit the movement with their hands, a hand-checking foul is called.

• For this signal, the referee will chop one hand across the opposite wrist.

• In basketball, you are not allowed to grab another player by the jersey or any of their body parts.

• If this happens, a holding foul is called.

• The ref's signal for a holding foul is making a fist point with one hand, holding that arm out, and then "grabbing" the wrist with their other hand.

pushing foul

• Players are not able to push their opponents in basketball.

• If a ref sees a push, they will call a foul.

• These fouls happen a lot when two players are going after the same rebound.

• In fact, when an 'over the back' foul occurs, you will typically see the referee call it a push.

• The signal for pushing is putting two arms out and making a pushing motion with the hands.

elbow foul

• If a player gets aggressive with their elbows and connects with an opponent, a foul will be called.

• Sometimes these fouls can be deemed flagrant and can result in two shots and the ball for the team that got hit by the elbow.

• The official will signal this type of foul by swinging their elbow.

• Over the course of the game, fouls happen unintentionally numerous times.

• However, if the referee thinks a foul was done purposely or with malicious intent, they can call an intentional foul.

• An intentional foul results in two shots for the offensive team and the ball.

• The signal for an intentional foul is putting both arms in the air and making an 'X' with them.

• If referees feel like a coach or a player is not conducting themselves properly or having unsportsmanlike behavior, they can call a technical foul.

• This foul also results in two shots, plus the basketball.

• The signal for a technical foul is taking both hands and making the letter 'T' with them.

• When teams wants to exchange an on-court player with someone on the bench, the coach asks for a substitution.

• At the next dead ball, the referee signals the substitution by making an "X" with their arms.

start the clock

• In basketball, there are a lot of dead balls where the clock is stopped.

• The clock doesn't start again until a player on the floor touches it.

• Instead of the timekeeper making a judgment of when to stop the clock, they look for a referee signal to start. The ref will have their hand in the air until it's time to start the clock.

• Once that time has come, the referee will drop their arm down and the time will start.

Three-Point Attempt

• When a player attempts a three-pointer, the referee has a signal to show that.

• They will put one arm straight up in the air to signal a three-point shot is being attempted.

three-point make

• If the three-point attempt is made, the official has another signal for that.

• They will take both of their arms and place them straight into the air.

No Basket

• Sometimes shots are taken that are immediately after a foul is called or the time has expired.

• The official will signal the shot does not count by waving and crossing their arms out in front of them.

timeout

• The other type of timeout is a full timeout.

• The signal for this is to stick both arms straight out to the side with fists being made.