Physical Education and Health: Team Sports

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Hand Signals used in Basketball

Hand Signals used in Basketball

Official Hand Signals used in Basketball
In the Official Basketball Rules 2014 manual approved by the FIBA Central
Board on October 2014, the following are the official’s hand signals (Images
are screenshots from:
https://www.fiba.com/downloads/rules/2014/official_basketball_rules_201
4_y.pdf retrieved on March 29, 2017):

1. Game Clock Signals

Stop the Clock. The official raises his hand up with an open palm to indicate
that the running time clock must be stopped.

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Stop the Clock for Foul. In case of a foul, the official raises one clenched fist to
stop the time for attending to a foul.

Start the Clock. The beginning of the game is signaled by the chop of a hand of
the official.
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Hand Signals used in Basketball

2. Scoring

1 Point. The official holds up one finger and a “flag motion” of the wrist is
executed to signal that one point has been obtained or attempted.

2 Points. The official holds up two fingers with an added “flag motion” on the
wrist to signal that two points have been obtained or attempted.

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3 points. In this one, the official holds up three fingers on one arm to signal an
attempt at a three-point shot, while holding up three fingers on both arms
means that the shot has been successful.

3. Substitution and Time-out

Substitution. This is characterized by the forearms forming an “X” in front of

the chest of the official. The team may choose to substitute a player provided
that the ball becomes dead and the game clock is stopped or the ball becomes
dead following a successful or only free throw.
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Hand Signals used in Basketball

Beckoning-in. The official beckons the substitute player to enter the court, to
officially let him/her enter the game, with an open palm, waving towards the
body.

Charged time-out. The time-out is charged against the team whose coach
requested for a request first unless it is granted through a field goal scored
by opponents. The official forms a T with his arms, with an open palm
touching the tip of the index finger.

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Media time-out. Media time-out is determined by the organizing body of the
competition who has the reign to choose whether or not to apply this. For
each period, only 1 media time-out is allowed. The first time-out in each
period shall run for 60, 75, 90 or 100 seconds. Teams are allowed two time-
outs in the first half and 3 time-outs for the second half. It is done with open
arms stretched sideways, with clenched fists.

4. Informative

Cancel Score, Cancel Play. Through scissor-like motions using the arms
and once across the chest, the score is not declared counted or the play is
cancelled.
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Hand Signals used in Basketball

Visible count. This signal is executed by the official, while counting and
moving the palm of the hand.

Communication. This signal is characterized by raising one thumb up.

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Shot Clock Reset. The index finger is raised above the head, moving in
circles to indicate that the shot clock has been reset, often because of a
foul or violation or for any valid reason.

Direction of play and/or out of bounds. While pointing in the direction of

the play with two fingers and with an arm parallel to the sidelines, the
official signals where the players must go or if the play is getting out of
bounds.
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Hand Signals used in Basketball

Held ball/Jump ball situation. The official holds up two thumbs and then
point to the direction of play using the alternating possession arrow. A
jump ball decides whose team is in possession of the ball and starts the
first period.

5. Violations

Travelling. By rotating the fists, the official may signal the travelling
violation. Travelling is “the illegal movement of one foot or both feet
beyond the limits outlined while holding a live ball on the court.
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Illegal dribble: Double dribbling. The official makes light patting motions
with his/her palm to indicate double dribbling violation. When the player
starts and ends his dribble and starts to dribble it again, it is considered a
double dribble and considered a violation.

Illegal dribble: Carrying the ball. The official makes a half-rotation motion
of his palm to indicate that the player has not dribbled the ball in his/her
possession.
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Hand Signals used in Basketball

3 seconds. With an extended arm held out and the show of three fingers,
the official signals a violation of the 3 second rule. This states that a
player shall not remain in the opponent’s restricted area for more than 3
seconds while his team is in possession of the ball.

5 seconds. The official holds up five fingers signals the rule for the closely
guarded player in charge of the ball to pass, shoot and dribble within the
given 5 seconds.

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8 seconds. By raising 8 fingers up, the official signals the player in the
backcourt who gets the ball in play to get the ball to the frontcourt within
8 seconds.

24 seconds. The violation of the 24-second rule is signaled by the official’s

fingers touching his shoulder. This rule applies when the player gains
control of the ball in the playing court, their team must consequently
attempt to shoot for a field goal within 24 seconds.
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Hand Signals used in Basketball

Ball returned to backcourt. The official, with two fingers held out, waves
his arm in front of his body. This states that a team in control of the ball in
their frontcourt may not cause the ball to be illegally returned to their
backcourt.

Deliberate foot ball. The official points to the foot he puts out to indicate
the violation of a deliberate foot ball.

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6. Types of fouls

Holding. With a hand grasping the other arm downward, the official is
indicating that the player committed the holding foul. It is the illegal personal
contact of a player with his/her opponent interfering with the freedom to
move.

Blocking (defense), Illegal screen (offense). The official places both of his
hands on his hips if players committed either of the aforementioned fouls.
Screening is illegal if the player did not recognize the time and distance of the
opponent in motion when contact occurred.
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Hand Signals used in Basketball

Pushing or charging without the ball. The official holds both hands out with
palms pointing forward, imitating a push motion. Charging is another illegal
person contact executed by pushing on the opponent’s torso.

Handchecking. Executed by the official by grasping the wrist of the other

hand and holding a palm forward, this is used to signal hand check. It is an
illegal form of defense in basketball wherein the player who is in defense
uses his hands and arms to prevent the opponent from making forward
movements.

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Illegal use of hands. To form this signal, the official holds his crossed clenched
fists downwards. Illegal use of hands is when the hands of the player extend
outside the cylinder principle.

Charging with the ball. With a clenched fist against an open palm, foul of
charging is committed by the player.
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Hand Signals used in Basketball

Illegal contact to the hand. Upon illegal contact to the hand, the official strikes
the palm towards the other forearm sideways.

Excessive swinging of elbow. This rash action may become a cause of injury
and the official signals its excessiveness by swinging his elbow backwards.

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Hit to the head. The official imitates the contact to the head in this hand
signal.

Foul by team in control of the ball. If the team who has the ball committed a
foul, the official holds out a clenched fist and points it towards the basket of
the offending team.
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Hand Signals used in Basketball

Foul on the act of shooting. The official raises an arm with a clenched fist
followed by pointing upwards with an indication of the number of free
throws the foul is equal to.

Foul not on the act of shooting. The official raises an arm with a clenched fist
followed by a point to the floor.

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7. Special fouls

Double foul. The official waves both of his clenched fist above his head. This is
called when two opponents commit personal fouls against each other at
around the same time.

Technical Foul. Any non-compliance with the set of the rules of the game is
considered a technical foul. The official forms a T with his hands, with one
palm hovering above the other hand in a vertical position.
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Hand Signals used in Basketball

Unsportsmanlike foul. The official judges what this player contact foul may be.
This may come in the form of excessive or hard contact of the player in an
effort to get the ball. Free throws will be awarded to the player who was
fouled in this situation (2 for a player not in the act of shooting at the time of
the foul, and an additional 1 for the player in the act of shooting). The official
does this hand signal by grasping the wrist above the head.

Disqualifying foul. The official holds up both of his clenched fists in the event
of a disqualifying foul. This foul is characterized as “any flagrant
unsportsmanlike action by a player or team bench personnel.”

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References
FIBA Central Board (2014), Official Basketball Rules 2014. Retrieved from:
https://www.fiba.com/downloads/rules/2014/official_basketball_rul
es_2014_y.pdf on March 29, 2017.