What does it mean when a ref points to a spot where it LOOKS (again, from the spectator side) like a foul has been committed, but play is never stopped? My guess is advantage, but sometimes that doesn't make sense (IF there is a foul, the team committing the foul has/keeps the ball). Or is it "I saw what looked like a foul at that spot, but there was nothing there." Just curious. Thank you
Not advantage—advantage signal is one or two upswept arms. Some referees will point to essentially say “I saw it and don’t consider it a foul” or “I saw it and it was a legal play on the ball.” It is not an official signal.
Thanks. I knew it wasn't the "official" advantage signal, and guessed at the answer, but wanted a correct one.
I work with a very well regarded ref. He does it to say he's seen a foul but is letting play to continue until advantage is established or, if not, he will blow the whistle for the foul after that short period. Players are all good with it, but my God, the spectators yelling 'foul!' or 'call it!' Its quite funny.
I don't know if I'm well-regarded or not , but this is an informal signal I've used when I think it will help manage a situation with relatively experienced players - a rough equivalent to "I saw that" or similar. I've also used it when I hear something that I want to make clear needs to shut down and just yelling-while-I'm-running won't make the point.
That’s exactly what I do. Sometimes I even point and say “yup, yup” when possession is retained before giving an advantage call I even carried this over to another sport I do, it has carried over well