By understanding the meaning of the football referee's hand signals, whether you are a player or a spectator, you can enjoy the most popular sport in the world even more
With more than 200 million fans spread all over the world, football is indeed a global sport. Although the sport itself is played and watched by many people in various languages, the hand signals used by referees have the same meaning in all countries. Learning this gesture is done by recognizing various hand gestures and gestures, as well as the flag system. This system is practical so it is not difficult to learn. After remembering the meaning of all the hand gestures, you are ready to support your favorite team because they understand the match better!
Step
Method 1 of 2: Understanding the Referee on the Field
Step 1. Understand that the referee hints at an advantage by pointing forward after a foul
The referee extends his hands parallel in front of his body, pointing to the goal of the team that has the advantage. Note that the referee does not blow the whistle when making this signal.
- The advantage is played when one team commits a minor foul, but the team that is violated is still considered to have the advantage. Therefore, instead of giving a foul, the referee continues play and makes this signal.
- For example, if a defender fouls his opponent's attacker, but the striker still has the chance to score, the referee signals the advantage.
- For more serious fouls, the referee immediately stops play and awards a free kick to the offended team.
Step 2. Notice that the referee blows the whistle and points forward to award a direct free kick
The referee blows the whistle and points (at no specific angle) to the attacking team who receives the free kick using the hand that is not holding the whistle. Be sure to only stop play if the referee blows the whistle.
- For example, the referee may award a team a direct free kick if a player on the other team, who is not the goalkeeper, touches the ball with their hands.
- These are the cues you will see most often in matches. The referee awards a free kick for a minor/middle foul, and the receiving team has no advantage.
Step 3. Observe that the referee points up to award an indirect free kick
For this signal, the referee blows the whistle and points directly at the sky with his free hand. The referee then explains who received the free kick and for what. The referee will also hold his hand up for a few seconds while explaining who received the free kick.
- An indirect free kick is different from a direct free kick and you are not allowed to shoot at the goal. If you score from an indirect free kick, and the ball doesn't touch anyone on the court, the goal is invalid.
- Indirect free kicks are much less common than direct free kicks. However, one example is if the team passes it back to the goalkeeper, and he touches it with his hand.
Step 4. Know that the referee will designate the penalty spot to award the penalty kick
If the referee blows the whistle and points directly to the penalty spot, it means he is awarding a penalty kick to be taken at that point. Listen for a long, strong whistle instead of a short, sharp sound.
- Penalty kicks are quite rare in football. The referee gives it to the attacking team that is fouled in the opponent's penalty box.
- In a penalty kick situation, the attacking team gets a one-on-one shot with the opposing goalkeeper from the penalty spot.
- An example of an offensive penalty is if someone touches the ball with their hands in the goal net.
Step 5. Understand that an intermediate foul is marked with a yellow card, which is considered a warning
If a player receives a second yellow card, it means he gets a red card and the player is sent off.
- The referee takes a card out of his pocket, points to a player, and holds the card in the air. After this, he wrote down the details of the offense in his notebook.
- An example of a yellow card violation is a hard foul, which is when the tackler doesn't touch the ball at all.
Step 6. Know that a serious foul is awarded a red card
The referee gives a red card for a serious violation or a second yellow card. If the referee gives a red card for a second yellow card, he will show a yellow card first, then a red card.
- The referee will show a red card to the player who received it, then hold it high in the air, just like a yellow card.
- One example of a serious offense is a player hitting another player. The player who receives a red card is removed from the field and is not allowed to continue the game.
Method 2 of 2: Understanding the Signals of the Line Judge
Step 1. Notice that the linesman designates the corner of the court to award the corner
The linesman runs to the corner flag on the side of the field and raises his flag pointing down to the corner point of the field. The referee does not blow the whistle when doing so.
- For example, you can see it when a striker shoots at goal, and a defender parries it so the ball goes over the width of the field.
- The linesman carries the flag he always holds on the field. Referees use this flag for a variety of cues, including corner kicks.
- The linesman ran back and forth along the side of the court. There is one linesman for each long side of the court. If the game is out of half of the linesman's field, he will stand in the middle of the side line until the game returns to his assigned area.
Step 2. Notice that the linesman points in one direction as a throw-in signal
After the ball has crossed the long side of the court, the linesman runs to the point where the ball came out. When it arrives, he will show his flag in the direction of the throw-in. This is the attacking direction of the team that gets the throw-in.
- If the ball goes out and is not on the linesman's half of the court, he only points to the direction of the throw if it is clearly visible. If it is not clear, the referee on the field decides the direction of the throw-in.
- The ball is considered 'out' after the entire ball crosses the court line. If the ball is only half out, the game continues.
Step 3. Note that the referee will stop and raise his flag for offside
Offside violations are indicated by the linesman standing still and level with the offside player while showing the flag directly to the field of play. The referee's arm is perpendicular to his body. The linesman does not blow the whistle when offside occurs.
- The offside rule can be a bit tricky to understand. Offside occurs when the attacking team passes the ball to the team in front. If the player receiving the pass is in front of his opponent's last defender when the pass is made, that player is committing an offside foul.
- For example, the linesman raises his flag when an attacking player passes to his partner, which when the foot touches the ball during a pass, the receiver of the pass is closer to the goal than all of the opposing team's defenders.
- This rule is enforced so that players cannot "guard the rook" in the last half of the opponent's court and receive long passes from their partners.
Step 4. Watch the linesman make a square signal to signal a substitution
For this signal, the linesman runs to the center of the long side of the court, and makes a rectangle over his head with his arms and flag. This gesture is usually held for 5-10 seconds for everyone to have a chance to see.
- There will also be someone holding the substitution board, where the outgoing player number is marked in red and the incoming player number is green.
- The two linesmen usually make this gesture.
