Signals for Referees

[PVancouver]

Remind me again why we think having the referee signal the reason for each call, a la high school soccer, is a bad idea? If the direction of play is always indicated first, there should be no delay in play.

[Jeff from Michigan]

It invites questions, and suggests that the referee must justify each call. In addition, it seems to assume that events on a soccer field can be "pigeon-holed" into one specific category...and, in my humble opinion, would serve no particular purpose, except to provide justification for whiners on the sidelines:

REFEREE: (seeing hopeless tangle of bodies, with two players pushing, grasping, and wrestling with each other in the vicinity of the ball): TWEEEEET!!!!!! (signals outgoing kick for Blue, gives foul signal indicating "push")

Red Spectators: I didn't see any pushing. Did you see any pushing?

Red Coach: Hey ref....didn't you see the OTHER GUY HOLDING OUR PLAYER????

Red Spectators: Yeah...what about the holding???? The holding game first...gee, Ref --- gotta call it both ways....etc...etc....

Substitute the "holding" signal for the "pushing" signal....and the dialogue will be the same, with only the details changed.


There is, of course, nothing in the rules to prohibit an official from explaining a call...and smart officials will often do that on their own, to preempt any grumbles stemming from something that might look a bit odd.

[whipple]

There is, of course, nothing in the rules to prohibit an official from explaining a call...and smart officials will often do that on their own, to preempt any grumbles stemming from something that might look a bit odd.

... further, this is done for the benefit of the players, only, often quietly, just to those involved in the play.

I have found that the NF signals, re-implemented two years ago, in many cases, create exactly the type of nit-picking, contentious problems Jeff suggests. Further, many coaches have no clue as to what the signals mean and they draw unnecessary attention to the referee.

Sherman

[jc508]

NF not only wants the ref to dance the signals, but they put the two teams on opposite sides of the pitch. Seemingly, the signal would need to be shown to each team. Now while the ref is going through his/her gyrations of NFL derived signals, the flow of the game is further disrupted and the referee's concentration is not helped. A quick restart may be called back by some refs so that they can finish their signals before the game restarts. Some enjoy that moment in the spotlight.

It seems that here again, common sense has been abandoned. Previously, if there were a question about the nature of the call, most refs would give some indication to suggest what had been the problem. I would guess that a few refused to give any indication and this upset a few on the NF rules committee prompting them to make the ref do the hokey-pokey no matter what. The players don't gain that much, but the power people do.

I've got a signal for those who wanted signals so much.

[nsa]

I've got a signal for those who wanted signals so much.Are you referring to the "Massachusetts turn signal" gesture? :)

[tmaker]

I'm pretty sure why there is only one distinct signal called for by the Laws. Jeff analyzed it well enough. My experience is like so:

Player #8 Red shoves into Player #10 Blue, in very ugly fashion, grabbing the jersey of the other player while uprooting that player from the earth. Me blows the whistle and signals a direction with his arm at 45 degrees up. Coach blows a gasket.

Coach: What did you whistle for ref?
Me: It's a foul.
Coach: What kind of foul?
Me: It's a foul. We have a game to play. Please go sit down.

The obvious ploy here is that Coach wants me to say "It was tripping," or "It was holding." At which point Coach will argue, "it was only a legit shoulder charge," or it was "incidental contact." Or whatever. You choose.

Rugby has 39 signals because each foul has a different consequence. In soccer there are only two consequences of a foul, direct or indirect free kick. Why muddle it further?

[Gary V]

In USSF, the referee's signals always are to indicate what will happen next, not what has already happened. If players don't know that they've committed a foul, the ref can tell them.

AR signals are mixed between indicating past and future events, because some of them are to alert the ref.

[stillgreyhound]

It invites questions, and suggests that the referee must justify each call. In addition, it seems to assume that events on a soccer field can be "pigeon-holed" into one specific category...and, in my humble opinion, would serve no particular purpose, except to provide justification for whiners on the sidelines:

REFEREE: (seeing hopeless tangle of bodies, with two players pushing, grasping, and wrestling with each other in the vicinity of the ball): TWEEEEET!!!!!! (signals outgoing kick for Blue, gives foul signal indicating "push")

Red Spectators: I didn't see any pushing. Did you see any pushing?

Red Coach: Hey ref....didn't you see the OTHER GUY HOLDING OUR PLAYER????

Red Spectators: Yeah...what about the holding???? The holding game first...gee, Ref --- gotta call it both ways....etc...etc....

Substitute the "holding" signal for the "pushing" signal....and the dialogue will be the same, with only the details changed.


There is, of course, nothing in the rules to prohibit an official from explaining a call...and smart officials will often do that on their own, to preempt any grumbles stemming from something that might look a bit odd.
Interesting that I have had the OPPOSITE experience with the locals here in northern michigan. They NEVER ask what the call was when I use a signal(probably because they dont know what the signals are) and I have found it pacifies them. My experience is that talking to the players(which I also do) is equally likely to invite dissent but equally necessary to communicate effectively with YOUTH players who are learning the game. Heck, I cant tell you how many times I have been an assistant and unable to determine what the center called. It happens. Regrdless, you use whatever tools the rules give you, your presence, your whistle, your voice and YES the signals to manage the game. The signals arent mandatory and the rules state that you use them when practical. I think many of them are easier to use then running with your hand in the air for IFKs......