1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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 angles
Let’s look at some specific weaknesses or areas needing improvement, by signal…

8. Stop Clock/Start Clock
Weaknesses/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

9. Preliminary at spot of foul
Weaknesses/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

10. Foul Signals Banging fists on hips
Weaknesses/Areas Needing Improvement:
Banging fists on hips
Using hit to the head, trip or other unapproved signals
Making up one’s own “hit” signal

11. Foul Signals/Reporting
Weaknesses/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

12. 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 formal signal
Failing to indicate number of free throws at all

13. Successful Goals/No Score
Weaknesses/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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Time-Outs Weaknesses/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

17. 3-Point Attempt/Successful
Weaknesses/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

18. Beckoning Substitutes
Weaknesses/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

19. How We Can Help Officials Improve
Use the mirror
Reward and recognize those with great signals. –
Practice – practice – practice!

20. 技術的に technically técnicamente technisch технически techniquement فنيا
Conclusion
When individuals speak different languages, great communication is difficult and one word or pronunciation for something is “technically” impossible.
技術的に
technically
técnicamente
technisch
технически
techniquement
فنيا
技術上
tegnies

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

22. Questions?