referee signals

8/3/2019 Referee Signals

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THE LAWS OF THE GAMEOF RUGBY UNION

REFEREE SIGNALS

REFEREE SIGNALS

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The use of referee signals is recommended in order to help the refereecommunicate with players and spectators.

148

REFEREE SIGNALS

1. Penalty KickShoulders parallel with touch-line. Armangled up, pointing towards non-offendingteam.

2. Free KickShoulders parallel with touch-line. Armbent square at elbow, upper arm pointingtowards non-offending team.

3. Try and Penalty TryReferee s back to dead ball line. Armraised vertically.

4. AdvantageArm outstretched, waist high, towardsnon-offending team, for a period ofapproximately five seconds.


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149

REFEREE SIGNALS

5. Scrum awardedShoulders parallel with touch-line. Armhorizontal pointing towards team tothrow in the ball.

6. Forming a scrumElbows bent, hands above head fingerstouching.

7. Throw-forward/forward passHands gesture as if passing an imaginaryball forward.

8. Knock-onArm out-stretched with open handabove head, and moves backwards

and forwards.


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150

REFEREE SIGNALS

9. Not releasing ball immediately inthe tackleBoth hands are close to the chest, as ifholding an imaginary ball.

10. Tackler not releasing tackledplayerArms brought together as if grasping aplayer and then opening as if releasinga player.

11. Tackler or tackled player notrolling awayA circular movement with the finger andarm moving away from the body.

12. Entering tackle from wrongdirectionArm held horizontal then sweep of thearm in a semi-circle.


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151

REFEREE SIGNALS

13. Intentionally falling over on aplayerCurved arm makes gesture to imitateaction of falling player. Signal is made indirection in which offending player fell.

14. Diving to ground near tackle.Straight arm gesture, pointing downwardsto imitate diving action.

16. Unplayable ball in maulArm out to award scrummage to side notin possession at maul commencement.Other arm out as if signalling advantageand then swing it across body with hand

ending on opposite shoulder.

15. Unplayable ball at ruck or tackleAward of scrum to team moving forwardat time of stoppage. Shoulders parallelwith the touch-line, arm horizontalpointing towards the team to throw in

the ball, then pointing the arm and handtowards the other team s goal-line whilstmoving it backwards and forwards.


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152

REFEREE SIGNALS

17. Joining a ruck or a maul in front ofthe back foot and from the sideThe hand and arm are held horizontallymoving sideways.

18. Intentionally collapsing ruck ormaulBoth arms at shoulder height as if boundaround opponent. Upper body is loweredand twisted as if pulling down opponentwho is on top.

19. Prop pulling down opponentClenched fist, and arm bent. Gestureimitates pulling opponent down.

20. Prop pulling opponent onClenched fist, and arm straight, at shoulderheight. Gesture imitates pulling opponenton.


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153

REFEREE SIGNALS

21. Wheeling scrum more than 90 degreesRotating index finger, above the head.

22. Foot-up by front-row player.Foot raised, foot touched.

23. Throw-in at scrum not straightHands at knee level imitating action of

throw-in not straight.

24. Failure to bind fullyOne arm out-stretched as if binding. Other

hand moves up and down arm to indicatethe extent of a full bind.


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154

REFEREE SIGNALS

25. Handling ball in ruck or scrumHand at ground level, making sweepingaction, as if handling the ball.

26. Throw-in at line-out not straightShoulders parallel with touch-line. Handabove head indicates the path of the ball,not straight.

27. Closing gaps in line-outBoth hands at eye level, pointing up,

palms inward. Hands meet in squeezingaction.

28. Barging in line-outArm horizontal, elbow pointing out. Arm

and shoulder move outwards as ifbarging opponent.


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155

REFEREE SIGNALS

29. Leaning on player in line-outArm horizontal, bent at elbow, palmdown. Downward gesture.

30. Pushing opponent in line-outBoth hands at shoulder level, with palmsoutward, making pushing gesture.

31. Early lifting and lifting in line-outBoth fists clenched in front, at waist level,

making lifting gesture.

32. Off-side at line-outHand and arm move horizontally across

chest, towards offence.


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REFEREE SIGNALS

33. Obstruction in general playArms crossed in front of chest at rightangles to each other, like open scissors.

34. Off-side at scrum, ruck or maulShoulders parallel with touch-line. Armhanging straight down, swings in arcalong off-side line.

35. Off-side choice: penalty kick or scrumOne arm as for penalty kick. Other arm

points to place where scrum may betaken instead of kick.

36. Off-side under 10-metre Law ornot 10 metres at penalty and free

kicksBoth hands held open above head.


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157

REFEREE SIGNALS

37. High Tackle (foul play)Hand moves horizontally in front of neck.

38. Stamping (foul play: illegal useof boot)Stamping action or similar gesture toindicate the offence.

39. Punching (foul play)Clenched fist punches open palm.

40. Dissent (disputing referee s decision)Outstretched arm with hand opening andclosing to imitate talking.


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REFEREE SIGNALS

45. Bleeding woundArms crossed above head indicates playerhas bleeding injury and may be temporarilyreplaced.

46. Timekeeper to stop and startwatchArm held up in air and whistle blownwhen watch should be stopped orstarted.

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