How to Interpret NFL Officials' Signals

Everyone, even non-sports fans, knows that a referee throwing two hands straight into the air means touchdown. However, the NFL official has several signals for every event that happens on the field. Years ago, before officials were given microphones, hand signals were the only way to communicate the call on the field. This tradition remains today and causes some confusion for new and old fans alike.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Watch for a referee to face the direction the offense is moving and chop his hand down from above his head to his waist. This signals first down. A first down occurs traditionally when a team reaches it's ten yard goal in under four downs. This gets complicated with penalties, but this is the basic idea.
2. Keep an eye out for the official to hold her right forearm with her left hand. This means there is a holding penalty, and the offensive will move back five yards. A hold happens whenever an offensive player uses his hands illegally, usually by grabbing another player with his hands and holding on.
3. Know that when an official makes a fist in front of his face and pulls it downward he is signaling a facemask penalty. This occurs when either an offensive or defensive player intentionally or accidentally grabs another player's facemask. The penalty for this is either 5 or 15 yards depending on the severity of the foul.
4. Look for a safety call from the referees when the offense is falling back into its own end zone. The official signals this call by placing both hands above her head and pressing her palms together. This means the offense was marked down in it's own end zone, and the defense is awarded two points.
5. Observe the referee rotate an arm in a circle. This is a signal to start the play clock. The clock only stops when a player drops a pass or goes out of bounds.