A.1
The hand signals illustrated in these rules are the only valid referees’ signals.
A.2
While reporting to the scorer’s table it is strongly recommended to verbally support the communication (in international games in the English language).
A.3
It is important that the table officials are familiar with these signals.
Game clock signals
STOP THE CLOCK
STOP THE CLOCK FOR FOUL START THE CLOCK
Open palm One clenched fist Chop with hand
Scoring
1 POINT 2 POINTS 3 POINTS
1 finger, 'flag' from 2 fingers, 'flag' from 3 fingers extended
wrist wrist One arm: Attempt
Both arms: Successful
Substitution and Time-out
SUBSTITUTION BECKONING-IN CHARGED TIME-OUT MEDIA TIME-OUT
Cross forearms Open palm, wave Form T, Open arms with
towards the body show index finger clenched fists
Informative
CANCEL SCORE, CANCEL PLAY VISIBLE COUNT
Scissor-like action with arms, Counting while moving the palm
once across chest
DIRECTION OF PLAY
AND/OR HELD BALL/JUMP BALL
COMMUNICATION SHOT CLOCK RESET OUT-OF-BOUNDS SITUATION
Thumb up Rotate hand, Point in direction of Thumbs up, then point
extend index finger play, arm parallel to in direction of play
sidelines using the alternating
possession arrow
Violations
ILLEGAL DRIBBLE: ILLEGAL DRIBBLE:
TRAVELLING DOUBLE DRIBBLING CARRYING THE BALL
Rotate fists Patting motion with Half rotation with palm
palm
3 SECONDS 5 SECONDS 8 SECONDS SHOT CLOCK
Wave arm, Show 5 fingers Show 8 fingers Fingers touch shoulder
show 3 fingers
DELIBERATE KICK OR GOALTENDING/
BALL RETURNED TO BACKCOURT BLOCK OF THE BALL BASKET INTERFERENCE
Wave arm front of body Point to the foot Rotate finger, extend
index finger over the
other hand with a circle
Number of Players
No. 00 and 0
Both hands show Right hand shows
number 0 number 0
No. 1 - 5 No. 6 - 10 No. 11 - 15
Right hand shows Right hand shows Right hand shows
number 1 to 5 number 5, clenched fist,
left hand shows left hand shows
number 1 to 5 number 1 to 5
No. 16 No. 24
First reverse hand shows number 1 for the First reverse hand shows number 2 for the
decade digit ‒ then open hands show number 6 decade digit ‒ then open hand shows number 4
for the units’ digit for the units’ digit
First reverse hand shows number 4 for the First reverse hands show number 6 for the
‒ ‒
decade digit then open hand shows 0 for the decade digit then open hand shows 2 for the
units’ digit units’ digit
No. 78 No. 99
First reverse hands show number 7 for the First reverse hands show number 9 for the
‒ ‒
decade digit then open hands show number 8 decade digit then open hands show number 9
for the units’ digit for the units’ digit
Type of Fouls
BLOCKING (DEFENSE), PUSHING OR
ILLEGAL SCREEN CHARGING WITHOUT
HOLDING (OFFENSE) THE BALL HANDCHECKING
Grasp wrist downward Both hands on hips Imitate push Grab palm and
forward motion
ILLEGAL USE OF CHARGING ILLEGAL CONTACT
HOOKING
HANDS WITH THE BALL TO THE HAND
Strike wrist Clenched fist Strike the palm towards Move lower arm
strike open palm the other forearm backwards
EXCESSIVE SWINGING FOUL BY TEAM IN
ILLEGAL CYLINDER HIT TO THE HEAD
OF ELBOW CONTROL OF THE BALL
Move both arms with Swing elbow Imitate the contact Point clenched fist
open palm vertically backwards to the head towards basket of
down and up offending team
FOUL ON THE ACT OF FOUL NOT ON THE ACT
PASS-OFF AFTER FOUL
SHOOTING OF SHOOTING
One arm with One arm with Move both arms with
clenched fist, followed clenched fist, open palm to the side
by indication of the followed by pointing
number of free throws to the court
Special Fouls / Warnings
DOUBLE FOUL TECHNICAL FOUL DISRUPTIVE FOUL FLAGRANT FOUL
Wave clenched fists Form T, showing palms One arm with clenched Grasp wrist upward
on both hands fist, followed by
showing 2 at face level
ILLEGAL BOUNDARY
LINE CROSSING
ON A THROW-IN
DISQUALIFYING FOUL FAKE A FOUL DELAY OF GAME
Clenched fists Lower the forearm Wave forearm Wave arm parallel to
on both hands twice horizontally twice boundary line (in last 2
minutes of the fourth
quarter and overtime)
Instant replay system
HEAD COACH’S
IRS REVIEW CHALLENGE
Rotate hand with Referee confirms head
horizontal extended coach’s challenge
index finger request
Foul Penalty Administration – Reporting to Table
AFTER FOUL BY
AFTER FOUL TEAM IN
WITHOUT FREE CONTROL 1 FREE
THROW(S) OF THE BALL THROW 2 FREE THROWS 3 FREE THROWS
Point in Clenched fist in Hold up Hold up Hold up
direction of play, direction of play, 1 finger 2 fingers 3 fingers
arm parallel to arm parallel to
sidelines sidelines
Administrating Free Throws – Active Referee (Lead)
1 FREE THROW 2 FREE THROWS 3 FREE THROWS
1 finger horizontal 2 fingers horizontal 3 fingers horizontal
Administrating Free Throws – Passive Referee (Trail in 2PO & Centre in 3PO)
1 FREE THROW 2 FREE THROWS 3 FREE THROWS
Index finger Fingers together 3 fingers extended
on both hands on both hands