Football may seem complicated with all of the complex rules. Yellow flags are consistently thrown throughout the game, which may overwhelm the average football viewer.
We’ve created a referee signal guide that can help you better understand why referees throw the yellow flags and how your team can avoid penalties.
Football Referee Signals
Before we start breaking down football referee signals, we must learn why referees throw a yellow flag.
The yellow flag in football is a cloth that typically has rocks or counterweight at the other end, is thrown by referees when they identify a penalty.
There are 3 types of penalties in football:
- Pre-Snap Penalty
- During The Play
- After The Play
To understand why the referee throws a flag, you must understand the 3 phases of a football play. Let’s learn more about these three phases.
Pre-Snap Penalty
A pre-snap penalty is any illegal action or movement before the ball is snapped from the center to the quarterback.
These penalties are often movement penalties, as only one offensive player may be moving in motion once the offense is set. Defensively, pre-snap penalties often occur when a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped.
To avoid pre-snap penalties on offense, it’s important to learn the cadence of the offense and move when the ball is snapped. On defense, it’s important to watch the football and make sure it’s snapped to the quarterback before coming across the line of scrimmage.
Mid-Play Penalty
After the ball is snapped, there are multiple rules that are now in play.
Each referee has a location on the field for which they are responsible. If any penalties occur during the play, it’s their job to throw the flag.
For example, the line judge is responsible for any pre-snap penalty on the line of scrimmage. If a penalty is identified, they will blow the whistle and stop the ball from being snapped.
To learn more about each referee on the field and their duties, we recommend you read here.
After The Play Penalty
After the ball carrier is tackled and the play is officially over, there are still penalties that can occur.
These penalties are often related to unnecessary roughness.
Referees will throw a flag and mark it as a “dead ball” penalty. A dead ball penalty means that the play is over, and the ball is dead. These penalties will often result in a 15-yard penalty for the guilty team.
Now that you understand the 3 phases of throwing a flag let’s learn why referees throw flags throughout the football game.
Pre-Snap Offensive Penalties
The first type of penalty is the pre-snap penalty. These penalties will happen before the center snaps the ball.
When a referee identifies a pre-snap penalty, they will blow the whistle, throw the flag and immediately stop the ball from being snapped.
Delay Of Game
Reason: It occurs when the offense doesn’t snap the football before the play clock expires.
Result: 5 Yard Penalty
False Start
Reason: Called when an offensive player moves after establishing their set position.
Result: 5 Yard Penalty
Illegal Shift
Reason: Called when two players go in motion simultaneously after establishing their set position.
Result: 5 Yard Penalty
Illegal Substitution
Reason: Having 12 players on the field or illegally breaking the huddle with 12 players.
Penalty: 5 Yard Penalty
Pre-Snap Defensive Penalties
Encroachment
Reason: Called when a player jumps offsides and touches another player.
Result: 5 Yard Penalty
Neutral Zone Infraction
Reason: Called when another player passes the neutral zone.
Result: 5 Yard Penalty
Offsides
Reason: Called when a player lines up with a part of their body past the line of scrimmage. Learn the difference between offsides, neutral zone infractions, and encroachment in this article here.
Result: 5 Yard Penalty
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Post-Snap Offensive Penalties
Post-snap penalties can be called as soon as the ball is snapped from the center to the quarterback. Referees each have a certain area of the field they are watching.
If any penalty occurs, they will throw a flag in the vicinity of where the foul occurred.
Here are the post-snap penalties that are called in football.
Illegal Block In The Back
Reason: Blocking a player in the back to gain an advantage while running a play.
Result: 10 Yard Penalty
Chop Block
Reason: Blocking a player from the waist up, then a second player blocking from the waist down.
Result: 15 Yard Penalty
Clipping
Reason: Blocking a player from behind and below the waist, causing the player to fall.
Result: 15 Yard Penalty
Illegal Block Below The Waist
Reason: Illegally blocking a player below the waist in certain areas of the field.
Result: 15 Yard Penalty
Illegal Forward Pass
Reason: Throwing a forward pass, passed the line of scrimmage.
Result: 5 Yard Penalty & Loss Of Down
Illegal Hands To The Face
Reason: When a player illegally puts their hands on the face mask without grabbing the face mask ultimately.
Result: 10 Yard Penalty & Automatic First Down
Ineligible Receiver
Reason: If a receiver steps out of bounds, they are ineligible to be the first receiver to touch the football in bounds.
Result: 5 Yard Penalty
Intentional Grounding
Reason: Called when the forward pass doesn’t reach the line of scrimmage or when a player isn’t in the area to catch the football.
Result: 10 Yard Penalty & Loss Of Down
Offensive Holding
Reason: Called when a player holds the jersey, shoulder pads, or body parts of a defensive player, restricting their movement.
Result: 10 Yard Penalty
Offensive Pass Interference
Reason: When an offensive player makes contact unfairly with a defensive player to play on a forward pass.
Result: 10 Yard Penalty
Tripping (Offense)
Reason: When an offensive player deliberately sticks their legs out and trips a defensive player to gain an advantage.
Result: 10 Yard Penalty & Automatic First Down
Post-Snap Defensive Penalties
Facemask
Reason: Called when a player grasps another player’s face mask in any way.
Result: 15 Yard Penalty
Horse Collar
Reason: Called when a player tackles an offensive player by the back of their shoulder pads.
Result: 15 Yard Penalty
Defensive Pass Interference
Reason: Called when a player unfairly makes contact with an offensive player to catch the football.
Result: 5 Yard Penalty (High School), Spot Foul Under 15 Yards (College), Spot Foul Anywhere On The field (NFL)
Roughing The Passer
Reason: Called when the quarterback is hit after the ball is thrown.
Result: 15 Yard Penalty
Roughing The Kicker
Reason: Called when the kicker’s leg or plant leg is hit after the ball is kicked.
Result: 15 Yard Penalty
Running Into The Kicker
Reason: Called when the kicker is hit after the ball is kicked.
Result: 5 Yard Penalty
Targeting
Reason: Called when a player goes helmet to helmet with another player in a violent manner.
Result: 15 Yard Penalty
Tripping (Defense)
Reason: Called when a defensive player trips an offensive player to gain an advantage
Result: 10 Yard Penalty
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Reason: Called when a player does something unsportsmanlike to football.
Result: 15 Yard Penalty
Other Penalties & Signals
Ball Ready
This is the referee signal for the ball is in play and ready for the offense to snap it.
Dead Ball
Signaled when a dead ball, also known as a penalty, occurs after the play.
Ejection
Called when a player or a coach is ejected from the game.
End Game
This referee signals the game is over. The referee will take off his hat or raise the ball in the air.
First Down
This referee signal indicates that the offense has gained enough yards for a first down.
Incomplete Pass
This referee signal indicates the offense did not complete a forward pass.
Injury Timeout
Signaled when the referee needs to stop the clock for an injury or a coach’s timeout.
No Good
Called by the referee standing under the field goal post, this signal indicates no good kick.
Personal Foul
It is called when a player commits a penalty to hurt another player purposely.
Reset The Play Clock
Signaled to the game clock operator, this tells them to reset the play clock.
Safety
This is signaled when the defense forces the offense to either down the ball or fumble out of their end zone. Learn More about the safety in football here.
Sideline Warning
Signaled when a referee warns the sideline or coach about their conduct.
Stop The Clock
It is signaled by the referee when he wants the game clock operator to stop the clock.
Touchback
It is signaled by the referee that a touchback has occurred from the kicking team.
Touchdown
Signaled when a player crossed the goal line successfully for 6 points.
The Ball Is Not Catchable
Signaled when the ball that is thrown is uncatchable after a defensive player makes contact
Waiving Off The Flag
Signaled when the referee makes a mistake and needs to waive off the flag.
Wind The Clock
Signaled to the game clock operator to start the clock.
Keep Learning
The hand signals are done by the referee to help everyone understand what penalty it may be if the crowd is too loud. The officials will meet before every penalty is called to ensure the outcome is correct.
If you enjoyed learning about referee signals, don’t stop here! We’ve created an Ultimate Football Guide to help you greatly improve your football IQ.
Below are articles to help you learn more about the rules of football.
Rules Of American Football – Beginner’s Guide
Difference Between Legal & Illegal Blocks In Football
Illegal Contact With Wide Receivers Explained
What Is A Flag In Football? Penalty Flags Explained
Can A Football Game End On A Penalty?
Football Overtime Rules: NFL Vs. College/High School
Understanding the 5 Yard Contact Rule In The NFL
Learn Offsides, Neutral Zone Infraction, and Encroachment
What Is A Safety In Football? Explained
Penalties in football are subjective to each referee. Referees will throw the flag if they believe they witnessed an offensive or defensive player commit a penalty.
Referees may miss a call from time to time due to poor positioning or not seeing a player committing a penalty. With 22 players on the field, it’s common for referees to miss 1-2 calls a game.
