Signals (The Language of the Game, One Language a Must) &

Signaling

Peter Palermino, Bd. 6 Rules Interpreter

Thanks to Layne Drexel &Kelly Callahan,

Bd.# 11 Delaware

Importance of Signals• Enable us to share one language• Provide means of communication with

partners, players, coaches, table personnel & fans

• Demonstrate consistency• Reflect a desired level of

professionalism

What bad signals say about you• Indecisive – may not be sure, trying to convince

yourself • Trying to sell a bad call• Trying to take the emphasis off the players• Trying to be the show• Don’t know the rules or have a lack of

understanding• Inexperienced official • Lazy, weak• Careless – in a rush to take your money and go

What good signals say about you

• Professional• Confident• Well-trained• Experienced (even if you’re not)• Decisive• Understand the rules of the game• Good communicator• Leader

What bad signals do to the game

• Lead to confusion• Cause delays in the contest

(players/team unsure of what is next)• Set a poor tone for the game and set the

stage for problems to occur• Increase opportunity to have rulings

questioned

What good signals do for the game

• Help create a flow for the game – let players know what is next

• Set a tone of professionalism and a level of expectation for behavior by the game participants

• Decrease opportunity to have rulings questioned

• Raise level of communication

Weaknesses/Areas Needing Improvement

A number of areas were identified by IAABO staff throughout the country, including:• Lack of signals• Improper signals• Informal signals• Made-up signals• Signals that aren’t clear, crisp, sharp, strong and

are not at proper anglesLet’s look at some specific weaknesses or areas needing improvement, by signal…

Stop Clock/Start ClockWeaknesses/Areas Needing Improvement:• Failing to stop the clock

at all, on violations or fouls

• Using the same arm/hand to administer the throw-in count and start the clock

Preliminary at spot of foulWeaknesses/Areas Needing Improvement:• Arm up for foul while

doing one handed push or block

• Failing to indicate a preliminary signal at all

• Preliminary signal does not match signal given in reporting area

Foul SignalsWeaknesses/Areas Needing Improvement:• Banging fists on hips• Using hit to the head,

trip or other unapproved signals

• Making up one’s own “hit” signal

Foul Signals/ReportingWeaknesses/Areas Needing Improvement:

• The dramatic technical foul

• Failing to give proper player control signal

• Indicating team control signal incorrectly

• Reporting well outside of the designated foul reporting area

Indicating Number of Free Throws Properly

Weaknesses/Areas Needing Improvement:• “Rabbit ears” to indicate

bonus• Giving informal

signal used to communicate with partner(s) as formalsignal

• Failing to indicate number of free throws at all

Successful Goals/No ScoreWeaknesses/Areas Needing Improvement:• Counting goal with a fist

looking like team control foul instead

• Jumping around and whistling as some fancy score-goal signal is given

• Waving arms up high for no goal

• Waving one arm with fist up indicating no goal

Counts

Weaknesses/Areas Needing Improvement:• Failure to show visible

count• One finger or two finger

counts• Timing off • Location of count signal

all over the place

Designated Spot Indication

Weaknesses/Areas Needing Improvement:• Failure to indicate

designated spot at all• Pointing to incorrect spot

or picking spot most convenient for official rather than proper spot

• Designating the spot only to the thrower-in

Time-OutsWeaknesses/Areas Needing Improvement:• Announcing “full” for 60-

second time-out• Use of thumbs on

shoulders to indicate 30• 60-sec time-out signal

that looks like double foul• Failure to count 10

players at conclusion

3-Point Attempt/SuccessfulWeaknesses/Areas Needing Improvement:• Angle of 3-point attempt

not proper• Successful goal signal given

at improper angle• Failure to use arm closest

to division line to signal attempt

• Two officials indicating attempt

Beckoning SubstitutesWeaknesses/Areas Needing Improvement:• More than one official

beckoning• One finger wave-in signal

or no signal at all• Repeated “come here”

motion• Failing to ensure that the

number that came on the court equals number that went off the court

How We Can Help Officials Improve

• Use the mirror

• Reward and recognizethose with great signals. –

• Practice – practice – practice!

ConclusionWhen individuals speak different languages,

great communication is difficult and one word or pronunciation for something is “technically”

impossible.

techniquementفنياTECHNISCH

técnicamenteтехнически

technically 技術的に

技術上 TEGNIES

Conclusion…but to officials, no matter where we live, speaking the single language of signals, the key to great communication is

precision.

Questions?