NFHS Football Official Signals
Ball ready for play
Untimed down
Start clock
Time out- Discretionary or injury time-out
(followed by tapping hands on chest)
TV/radio time-out
Touchdown, Field goal, Point(s) after touchdown
Safety
Referee gives this signal
Dead ball foul
Touchback
(move side to side)- Referee gives this signal on free kicks; Deep wings or Back judge on
scrimmage kicks; any official on scrimmage plays.
First down
Loss of down
Loss of the right to replay a down
Incomplete forward pass, Penalty declined, No play, no score, Toss option deferred
, Legal touching of forward pass or scrimmage kick
Inadvertent whistle
Disregard flag
End of period
Referee raises ball
Sideline warning
no yardage penalty
First touching
not a penalty
Illegal touching
5 yards and loss of down
Reset play clock to 25 seconds
(Use one hand)
Reset play clock to 40 seconds
(Use both hands to have play clock reset to 40 seconds)
Encroachment
Dead ball foul- 5 yards
False start
Dead ball foul- 5 yards
Illegal formation
Live ball foul- 5 yards
Ball ready for play
Untimed down
Start clock
Time out- Discretionary or injury time-out
(followed by tapping hands on chest)
TV/radio time-out
Touchdown, Field goal, Point(s) after touchdown
Safety
Referee gives this signal
Dead ball foul
Touchback
(move side to side)- Referee gives this signal on free kicks; Deep wings or Back judge on
scrimmage kicks; any official on scrimmage plays.
First down
Loss of down
Loss of the right to replay a down
Incomplete forward pass, Penalty declined, No play, no score, Toss option deferred
, Legal touching of forward pass or scrimmage kick
Inadvertent whistle
Disregard flag
End of period
Referee raises ball
Sideline warning
no yardage penalty
First touching
not a penalty
Illegal touching
5 yards and loss of down
Reset play clock to 25 seconds
(Use one hand)
Reset play clock to 40 seconds
(Use both hands to have play clock reset to 40 seconds)
Encroachment
Dead ball foul- 5 yards
False start
Dead ball foul- 5 yards
Illegal formation
Live ball foul- 5 yards