:: NTRA Referee Signals

Referee signals are an important communication tool. Only those few players close to you will hear clearly the decisions made by most referee's. The use of signals allows players, coaches and spectators to understand the rulings made by the referee.

Signals have been grouped into signals for general play and penalty signals. These are noted as follows:

Signals for General Play

• Start of play
• Five touches completed
• Six touches completed
• Half-time and full-time
• Touch count restarts, Six to go
• Lost control of ball
• Incorrect rollball
• Try
• Dummy half caught in possession

Signals for Penalties

• The penalty sequence
• Forward pass
• Over the mark
• Touch pass
• No-freeze rule
• No touch, voluntary rollball
• Defender in the ruck or obstruction

Most signals are designed to be made at chest height or above to be within an area of eye contact that will catch the attention of everyone. Each signal is depicted in photographs in the following pages. Signals should also be made at a deliberate pace, not too fast as to be missed and should also appear fluent.

The signals depicted are the main signals used during the game, however it is not an exhaustive list, there are many others. Senior referees should be only too willing to demonstrate any of these signals.