NFL Referee Signals: What Each Hand Gesture Means

Last updated: November 6, 2026 · By Jake Turner

NFL referee signals are standardized hand gestures that officials use to tell players, coaches, fans, and broadcast viewers what just happened. A touchdown is shown with both arms extended straight overhead, a timeout with a T shape made by the hands, and holding by the referee grasping one wrist. Each penalty signal is paired with a set yardage, so the gesture tells you both the infraction and the consequence.

Key Takeaways

• A touchdown is signaled with both arms extended straight overhead and is worth six points.
• A timeout is shown with the hands forming a T shape, which stops the play clock.
• Offensive holding is signaled by grasping one wrist and results in a 10-yard penalty.
• Personal fouls and unnecessary roughness both carry a 15-yard penalty.
• The NFL signal chart is part of the official rulebook, and high school football uses a different standardized chart.

What Are NFL Referee Signals and Who Uses Them?

NFL referee signals are the visual gestures that officials use to communicate scoring, game-management decisions, and penalties. Each signal is defined in the NFL Official Playing Rules, so the same gesture means the same thing in every stadium. The signals are used by the referee and the other members of the seven-official crew, who coordinate with one another on every stoppage.

The NFL signals are published as the Official Signals chart. A guide built on the 2026 NFL Official Playing Rules reproduces that chart on printed pages 73 to 78 and explains how the officiating crew works under Rule 19. You can review the full chart in the sportrules.org guide to American football officials and referee signals.

Why Do Referees Use Signals Instead of Only Speaking?

Signals let the entire stadium and broadcast audience follow a decision without relying on a public address announcement. A visual gesture is also easier to read from the far end of the field than a spoken call. Referees still announce penalties and their yardage, but the signal confirms what occurred and which team is affected.

Scoring Signals: Touchdowns, Field Goals, and Safeties

The touchdown signal is both arms extended straight overhead, and it means six points for the scoring team. Scoring signals are among the easiest to recognize because they are large, deliberate, and held until the crew confirms the play. Other scores, such as field goals and safeties, are also confirmed by the crew before the next kickoff or free kick.

Scoring play	Points	What to watch for
Touchdown	6	Both arms extended straight overhead
Field goal	3	Crew confirms the kick is good before the ball is kicked off
Safety	2 (to the defense)	Ball carrier downed in own end zone; crew confirms before the free kick
Extra point or two-point conversion	1 or 2	Crew confirms the attempt was successful

Scoring signals matter for more than the scoreboard. When the crew confirms a touchdown, the next step is the extra-point or two-point try, and the referee’s signal tells the offense and defense which situation they are in. If you miss a scoring signal, check the replay or the scoreboard to confirm the result.

Game Management Signals: Timeouts, Clock Stops, and Ready for Play

Game-management signals tell the crew and the timekeeper when the clock should stop, start, or stay still. The most recognizable of these is the timeout, which the referee shows by forming a T with the hands. Other signals tell the crew when the ball is ready for play.

How Is a Timeout Signaled?

A timeout is shown by the referee forming a T shape with the hands, which stops the game clock. The signal is held until the timeout is complete, so you can use it to track how many stoppages a team has left. Timeouts called by a team are different from discretionary or injury stoppages, and the signal alone does not tell you which one occurred.

What Does the Ready-for-Play Signal Look Like?

The ready-for-play signal is a referee swinging one arm downward while blowing the whistle. It tells the offense and defense that the ball is set and the play can begin. Watching for this signal helps you understand why the play clock starts when it does.

How Do Referees Signal the Clock Start?

The clock restart is shown with a circular motion of one hand, which signals the timekeeper to start the game clock. The restart usually follows a completed play or a ready-for-play signal, so the two gestures often appear one after another. Pay attention to the order because it explains whether a stoppage was on the clock or off it.

Penalty Signals: What Holding, False Start, and Pass Interference Mean

Penalty signals tell you what infraction occurred, and the referee’s announced yardage tells you the consequence. A penalty is first marked with a flag, and the crew then confirms the foul with a signal. Holding is one of the most common penalties, and it is signaled by grasping one wrist with the opposite hand.

What Is the Holding Penalty Signal?

Holding is signaled by the referee grasping one wrist with the opposite hand in front of the body. The penalty is 10 yards when the offense commits it. When the defense commits holding, the penalty is 5 yards and the offense receives an automatic first down.

How Is a False Start Signaled?

A false start is signaled with the generic illegal-procedure signal, a 5-yard penalty against the offense. The same generic signal is used for several other illegal-procedure infractions, such as illegal formation. Illegal shift and illegal motion have their own distinct signals, so the gesture alone does not always reveal the exact infraction.

What Does a Pass Interference Signal Mean?

Pass interference is signaled with arms extended in front of the body, and the result depends on which team committed it. Defensive pass interference is a spot foul that gives the offense an automatic first down. Offensive pass interference is a 10-yard penalty against the offense.

Penalty	Yardage	Key consequence
Offensive holding	10 yards	Loss of yardage only
Defensive holding	5 yards	Automatic first down
False start	5 yards	Loss of yardage only
Delay of game	5 yards	Loss of yardage only
Offensive pass interference	10 yards	Loss of yardage only
Defensive pass interference	Spot of foul	Automatic first down
Personal foul	15 yards	Loss of yardage only
Unnecessary roughness	15 yards	Loss of yardage only
Roughing the passer	15 yards	Automatic first down

Less Common Referee Signals: Targeting, Clipping, and Illegal Blocks

Less common signals cover fouls that threaten player safety or block legal contact, and they carry some of the strongest penalties. Targeting, clipping, and blocks in the back all draw significant yardage. Knowing these signals helps you follow penalties that are often reviewed after the play.

• Targeting: a 15-yard penalty, and the player is ejected from the game.
• Clipping: a 15-yard penalty for a block below the waist from behind.
• Illegal block in the back: a 10-yard penalty for a block from behind an opponent.

Some infractions share a signal even when the rule differs. The generic illegal-procedure signal covers several penalties, including false start and illegal formation, as explained in Wikipedia’s article on illegal procedure, which cites an archived NFL.com official signals page. This is why the yardage announced by the referee is important.

How Do NFL Signals Differ From High School Signals?

NFL signals are defined by the NFL rulebook, while high school football uses its own standardized chart. The NFHS publishes an official football signals chart that includes a time-out signal followed by tapping the hands on the chest for discretionary or injury time-outs. Some signals look similar across levels, but you should not assume that the NFL and high school versions match in every case.

For the high school version, see the 2025 NFHS official football signals chart. Use it to compare rules across levels rather than as a guide to NFL games.

Tips for Reading Referee Signals During a Game

You can follow most NFL signals by watching the referee’s sequence rather than a single gesture. The crew usually signals after the flag is thrown and before the play is resumed. Use the steps below to read a stoppage in order.

1. Watch for the flag first, then wait for the referee to signal the infraction.
2. Check the yardage the referee announces to confirm the penalty’s size.
3. Look for the timeout T or the clock-stop signal to understand the game clock.
4. Note the ready-for-play swing or the clock-restart circle before the next snap.

A penalty flag is only one part of the signal sequence. Knowing the history of the flag and jersey can add context to what you see on the field, and you can read more in the story behind the NFL referee jersey and penalty flag.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does both arms up mean in the NFL?

Both arms extended straight overhead is the touchdown signal, and it means six points for the scoring team. The crew holds the signal until the play is confirmed. The extra point or two-point try follows afterward.

How many yards is holding in the NFL?

Offensive holding is a 10-yard penalty, while defensive holding is 5 yards with an automatic first down for the offense. The referee signals holding by grasping one wrist with the opposite hand. The yardage depends on which team committed the foul.

What is the difference between a timeout and a clock stop?

A timeout is a stoppage called by a team or a discretionary stoppage, and the referee signals it with a T shape. A clock stop can occur for other reasons, such as an incomplete pass or a penalty. The signal sequence and the game-clock display help you tell them apart.

Are NFL referee signals the same as high school signals?

Not always. The NFL uses the Official Signals chart in its rulebook, while the NFHS publishes its own standardized chart for high school football. Some gestures overlap, but penalty yardage and rules can differ between the two levels.

Why do some penalties share the same signal?

Some penalties use a generic illegal-procedure signal, such as false start and illegal formation. The referee’s announced penalty and yardage clarify which infraction occurred. Other penalties, such as illegal shift and illegal motion, have their own signals.

What should I watch for on a targeting call?

Targeting is a 15-yard penalty, and the player is ejected from the game. The crew may review the play before confirming the call. Watch for the signal and the announcement to see the full result.

Conclusion

NFL referee signals give you a clear, standardized way to follow scoring, game management, and penalties. Learn the touchdown, timeout, holding, and personal foul signals first, then add the less common gestures as you watch more games. With the signal and the announced yardage together, you can follow each stoppage without guessing.