Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Signals from the referee in the field
• Method 2 of 2: Side Arbiters Signals
• Tips

Football is one of the most popular sports in the world. More than 200 million participants are involved in various competitions, which speaks of a global scale. The basic rules of the game of football are quite clear, so you can quickly get used to the game. It is important to understand the meaning of the match referee's signals so that participants and spectators can follow what is happening on the field.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Signals from the referee in the field

1. 1 The referee's arms are directed forward after the violation of the rules, when he does not call an attack foul. The referee puts his hands in front of him in parallel and points in the direction of the gate, which is developing the attack of the team against which the rules were violated. It is important to note that the referee does not blow his whistle.
   • The attacking side gains an advantage if it keeps the ball after a foul on one of its players and continues the offensive. Instead of a whistle, the referee allows play to continue and uses such a signal.
   • For example, if a defender knocks down an attacker, but the attacking team managed to keep the ball, the referee shows the signal to continue the attack.
   • In the event of a gross violation, the referee immediately stops play and awards a free kick in favor of the team against which the foul was committed.
2. 2 The referee blows his whistle and points forward when the penalty kick is awarded. The referee blows his whistle, and with his free hand points (the angle is not important) to the goal in the direction of which a free kick is awarded. Players should only stop after the whistle.
   • For example, the referee may award a free kick to one of the teams if a player from the other team (other than the goalkeeper) touches the ball with his hand.
   • This is the most frequent signal from the referee during a match. The referee assigns free kicks after minor and not gross violations of the rules, if the attacking side does not have an advantage (interpreted at the discretion of the referee).
3. 3 The referee points up when calling a free kick. At this signal, the referee blows his whistle and points up with his free hand. The referee then explains to the team players who gets the free kick and for what violation. During the explanation, he continues to point upward for several seconds.
   • Free kicks differ from free kicks in that the attacking team is not allowed to kick directly at goal. If, after a free kick, the ball ends up in the net and does not touch any of the outfield players, the goal will not be awarded.
   • Free kicks are awarded much less frequently than free kicks. For example, the attacking side may be entitled to a free kick if a player of the defending team passes to his goalkeeper and he touches the ball with his hands.
4. 4 The referee points to the penalty spot in the event of a penalty kick. To signal the penalty, the referee must blow his whistle and point to the spot in the penalty area of ​​the team receiving the penalty. In this case, the whistle sounds long and decisively, and not briefly and abruptly.
   • Penalties are not often awarded. The referee "gives" a penalty for a violation of the rules against the attacking team in the opponent's penalty area.
   • In this case, the attacking side is entitled to kick from the penalty spot on goal without interference from the outfield players.
   • For example, a penalty is awarded if a defending player deliberately touches the ball with his hand in his own penalty area.
5. 5 Violations of the rules of the medium level of danger are punishable by a yellow card. If a player receives a yellow card, then this is considered a warning. The second yellow card for the same player turns into a red card during the match and is sent off the field.
   • The arbiter takes a card out of his pocket, directs it towards the offending player and lifts it into the air. After that, the referee records the details of the violation and the player's number in a notebook.
   • For example, a yellow card is awarded for a rough tackle attempt in which a player does not play the ball.
6. 6 Gross violations of the rules are punished with a red card. The referee shows a red card for gross violations and after a second yellow card. If the referee shows a red card for two yellow cards, then he must first show the player a yellow card, and then remove from the field with a red card.
   • As with the yellow card, the referee points the card towards the offending player and lifts it into the air.
   • For example, a red card is given for hitting an opponent in the face. The player who received the red card must leave the field and not take part in further play.

Method 2 of 2: Side Arbiters Signals

1. 1 The side referee indicates the corner of the field for a corner kick. The side referee runs to the corner flag on his side of the field and points to the corner with his own flag in his hands. In this case, the side referees do not blow their whistle.
   • For example, an attacker shoots at goal, and the ball hits the defender, changes trajectory and crosses the endline of the field.
   • The side referee always has a small flag in his hands, which allows him to show various signals, including corner kicks.
   • The side referees move along the line of the field. There is one side referee on each half of the field. When the ball moves to the other half of the field, the side referee remains on the center line until the ball returns to its half.
2. 2 The side referee indicates the direction in which to throw-in. When the ball crosses the sideline, the side referee runs to the place where the ball went out of bounds. After that, he indicates the direction of the throw-in of the ball with a flag. In this direction, the attack of the team, which received the right to put the ball into play, will develop.
   • If the ball goes over the sideline on the other half of the field, the referee only shows the direction of the ball in unambiguous situations. If the situation is not so obvious, the head referee in the field decides which team gets the right to put the ball into play.
   • The ball “went out” of the field only if it crossed the sideline with its entire area. If only half of the ball is behind the line, play continues.
3. 3 The side referee stops and points with a flag to the field in case of an offside position. In an offside situation, the side referee stands motionless in line with the offside player and points the flag towards the field. The hand is perpendicular to the body. The side referee does not blow his whistle in case of an offside position.
   • The offside rule is a bit confusing for many at first. An offside position is recorded when a player of the attacking team makes a pass to a partner who is closer to the opponent's goal. If the recipient of the pass is in front of the last opposing player who remains between him and the goal line at the time of the pass, then he is out of play.
   • For example, a side referee raises the flag if the attacking player passes to a partner who, at the time of the pass, is closer to the goal than all the defenders of the defending team.
   • Such a rule prevents the attackers from simply digging in the wrong half of the field in anticipation of a long pass from partners.
4. 4 The side arbiter shows a rectangle in case of substitution. For this signal, the side judge needs to run up to the center line of the field and draw a rectangle over his head using his hands and a flag. Usually the signal lasts 5-10 seconds for everyone to notice it.
   • Also at this time, the reserve referee raises the plate with numbers. The number of the player who leaves the field glows red, and the number of the player who enters the game glows green.
   • Usually both side referees signal a substitution.

Tips

• Always respect the decisions of the arbiter, do not try to threaten or aggressively defend a different point of view. If you disagree, continue the game in silence or ask your team captain to ask the referee for clarification.