Basketball Referee Signals

Basketball Referee Signals
The Referee (Official)

Youth Basketball Referee Signals include Fouls and Violations. The referee is the “official” judge of
the game. All calls are usually final! Referees make good calls and some not so good calls, but it’s
very important to remember that being a referee is extremely difficult (they only have a “split second”
to make the call). Referees are attempting to look at 10 players on the floor while having to listen to
irate coaches and parents off the court. Coaches must not allow their players to lose focus because
they are mad at the referees (this can take a player out of the game). Allow the Referees to do their
job, and focus on your job as a coach. You will never see a Referee walk up to a coach and say “I
made a bad call” and then stop the game to change the call. This will never happen! When a call is
made, it is usually final (good or bad). Coaches must understand the different Youth Basketball
Referee Signals in order to understand the game.
There are “Fouls” and there are “Violations”

Fouls are caused by physical contact (holding, pushing), or actions (acting out like you are going to hit
another player but you don’t) or even extreme abusive yelling or cussing (technical foul).
Violations are actions by players that break a basketball rule – such as traveling, stepping on the line, and back court.
Prior to each “Foul” call the referee will first perform this signal…
Prior to each “Violation” the Ref will first perform this signal…

“Fouls”
Fouls are the act of making “illegal” physical contact with a player while the ball is in play. Fouls can occur from a
defender bumping into a player dribbling the ball, reaching in and/or slapping the offensive player dribbling the ball,
moving their body (bumping) into an offensive player, bumping or hitting a player taking a shot, elbowing a player. Players
cannot elbow, grab / hold, punch, push, scratch at, or trip a player on the other team – these are all fouls. Offensive fouls
can occur when the player dribbling the ball runs into a defender who has established position. Technical fouls can be
called on players or coaches who are using unsportsmanlike conduct, too many players on the court, etc.
Incidental Contact
Incidental contact occurs when a defender makes contact with an offensive player and the contact is deemed insignificant
(the referees do not call a foul). Incidental contact can also occur when two players are going for the ball at the same time,
and they run into each other (it’s very hard to determine which player ran into who first?). This type of contact is
appropriate at times, but when allowed to continue for longer than it should, it can cause problems in the game (especially
if left unchecked for too long).
Types of Personal Fouls:

Holding Foul – A “Holding Foul” occurs when a defender holds, grabs, or pulls an offensive player (it doesn’t matter if the
offensive player has possession of the ball or not).
Pushing Foul – A “Pushing Foul” occurs when a defender pushes an offensive player or bumps into the body of an
offensive player.
Illegal Use of Hands Foul – This is a foul called when a defender slaps, hacks, or smacks an offensive player with the
ball.
Blocking Foul – A “Blocking Foul” occurs when a defender uses their body and makes contact with an offensive player
with the ball (could be in the form of running into the player, or setting an illegal screen, etc).
Charging Foul (Charge) / Player Control Foul – A “Charging Foul” occurs when an offensive player runs into (or over) a
defensive player who already has position (the defender must first establish position). Other types of player control fouls
are when a dribbler uses an elbow and hits a defender, or excessive physical contact by an offensive post player trying to
gain position. See “team fouls” below for more information on how an offensive foul does (or does not) affect team foul
totals when in a “1 in 1” situation (when a team reaches 7 fouls).
Flagrant Foul – A foul that is made with “extreme” contact (violent in nature), and appears to be in an “intentional”
manner to hurt or injure a player (bumping, elbowing, kicking, pushing, etc). Ex: An offensive player is in the air
(attempting a lay-up) and the defender pulls the players’ shirt (putting the offensive player in harms way).
Note: At present time there is no specified signal for the Flagrant Foul (the ref uses the intentional foul call signal, then
just verbally indicates that the foul was flagrant).
Intentional Foul – A type of foul that is designed to “stop the clock.” Used mainly at the end of the game with the coach
instructing players to “foul” in order to stop the clock – for a chance to gain possession of the ball. Remember, a coach
should not yell out the word “foul” or the referee’s can call this as an “intentional foul” (think about it – if you yell out “foul”
and a player fouls, it is intentional, you verbally requested your players to intentionally foul). It’s best to have some sort of
signal or special word for this, I hold up my fist to signal the players to foul whenever the situation calls for it. Intentional
fouls can also be called if there is “excessive” contact during a foul.
Technical Foul – Fouls of unsportsmanlike conduct and / or non-game violations that referees feel are affecting the
game. Misconduct of coaches, players, and spectators can also draw a technical foul if a referee feels it is necessary to
keep the game under control. The penalty for a technical foul is usually one free throw and possession of the ball after the
free throw is taken (made or missed). If a player or coach receives two technical fouls in a game it is an automatic
disqualification for remainder of the game, and most high school leagues will suspend the coach or player for a game or
two.
Technical Foul Signal

Personal Foul Penalties:

Shooting Foul (2 Point Shot) – If a player gets “fouled” while in the act of shooting (and the referee calls it), the player
gets to shoot free throw(s). If the shot is made – the player gets to shoot 1 free throw, you will hear this called “And 1.” If
the shot is not made and a foul is called – the player gets to shoot 2 free throws.
Shooting Foul (3 Point Shot) – If a player gets “fouled” while in the act of shooting a 3-point shot (and the referee calls
it), the player gets to shoot free throw(s). If the shot is made – the player gets to shoot 1 free throw (which could turn out
to be a 4-point play). If the shot is not made, and a foul is called – the player gets to shoot 3 free throws.
Non-Shooting Fouls / Team Fouls:

Non-Shooting Fouls: If an offensive player is fouled while not in the act of shooting the ball, the ball stays in possession
with the team that the foul was committed on (they will get to inbound the ball out of bounds at the nearest sideline or
baseline). When inbounding the ball the team with possession will have 5 seconds to pass the ball in to another teammate
on the court. All fouls – including shooting fouls and non-shooting fouls add up and are counted as team fouls. Offensive
fouls (player control fouls) do not count as a team foul.
Team Fouls: Team fouls are the combined number of fouls that all the players on a team commit during one half of play.
The fouls are totaled up and logged in by the scorekeeper in the official score book. When a team reaches 7 fouls, their
opponent will get to shoot free throws – this is called a “one and one.” The player shooting the free throws gets to shoot 1
free throw, if they make it, they get to shoot another (one and one), if they miss the first free throw, they don’t get to shoot
the second free throw. When a team reaches 7+ team fouls, their opponent is said to be in the “bonus” (and will start
shooting free throws after getting fouled).
When a team reaches 10 (or more) fouls, their opponent will automatically get to shoot 2 free throws. At half time the team
fouls from the first half of the game are “zeroed” out, and team fouls are totaled all over again during the second half of
the game.
Important Note: Offensive fouls do not count towards team fouls (so when an offensive player happens to commit an
offensive foul, the defense will not get to shoot free throws). I have seen many coaches complain during a game that
when an offensive player commits a foul – why isn’t his / her team shooting free throws (even if there are 7+ fouls, there
are no free throws taken after an offensive foul).

Types of Violations:
Traveling (also called Walking or Walk) – If a ball handler takes too many steps while dribbling the referee can call a
violation (considered a turnover by the player and the possession of the ball goes to the other team). Also if a player has
stopped dribbling and moves their pivot foot – this is also considered a traveling (or walking) violation.
Violation / Traveling, Walking

Double Dribble (Illegal Dribble) – A
dribbling violation occurs when a player stops dribbling and then
attempts to dribble again or if a player attempts to dribble the ball with 2 hands.
Violation / Double Dribble

Carry (also called Palming) – Acarry occurs when a player dribbles the ball with their hand too far under
the ball (the dribble will look more like a carry than a dribble).
Violation / Carrying the Ball
Backcourt (Backcourt violation) – Once the Offensive team has passed the half court line, they cannot: a) dribble
and/or b) pass back over the half court line. If this occurs, a “Backcourt” violation will be called by the referee and
possession of the ball will go to the other team.
Backcourt Violation Signal
Inbound Pass Violation (5-Second Violation) – There are time restrictions that a player has when the ref hands them
the ball to pass the ball into play. The player passing in the ball has five seconds to pass the ball in to another player. If
the player fails to pass the ball in within 5 seconds, the ref will blow the whistle (5-second violation), and the ball is
awarded to the other team.
5-Second Violation Signal

10 Second Violation – When your opponent makes a basket, your team has 10 seconds to get the ball in play and past
the half court line – if your team fails to do this within 10 seconds, the ball is awarded to the other team.
Three Second Violation – An offensive player cannot remain in the “paint” area for more than 3-seconds, if the Ref
happens to spot an offensive player in the paint area for more than 3 seconds, the whistle will blow, and the other team
will get possession of the ball.
Closely Guarded Violation – An offensive player cannot have possession of the ball for more than five seconds while
being closely guarded by a defender. For example if an offensive player is dribbling the ball and is guarded closely by a
defender for 5 seconds, the ref will blow the whistle, and the ball will be awarded to the other team.
Jump Ball (also called Tie Up or Held Ball) – When an offensive player and a defensive player gain possession of the
ball at the same time – the referee will blow the whistle. The referee will then look at the possession arrow (at the scorers
table) and award possession to the team that the direction is pointing (possession is on a rotating basis).
Out of Bounds Designation – When the ball goes out of bounds (for any reason), or a player with possession of the ball
steps out of bounds – the referee will designate the spot where the ball went out of bounds.

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Basketball Referee Signals

The Referee (Official)

There are “Fouls” and there are “Violations”

Types of Personal Fouls:

Personal Foul Penalties:

Non-Shooting Fouls / Team Fouls:

Violation / Traveling, Walking

Violation / Double Dribble

5-Second Violation Signal

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