When the game starts it’s easy to lose yourself in it. All the surrounding sounds, people, and situations blur into a background noise. You’re hardly aware of some situations that take place when you focus on your defense or passing the disc to another player. Communication is an essential part of Ultimate Frisbee and in many cases, the verbal communication isn’t always enough. Sometimes it’s hard to pierce the noise when you need to make the call. Luckily, there’s non-verbal communication!
Sports officiating and hand signals
The non-verbal communication is important in daily life. Body language tells what isn’t said and helps to emphasize the words. It’s like reading between the lines and uncovering what remains unsaid. Gestures make it easier to remember and understand certain things.
It’s no wonder that they’re also important in sports. The chaotic environment makes it impossible to rely only on words. It’s beneficial not only for the players or referees but also for the spectators. A sports referee needs to know the rules and understands how to apply them to certain situations. In addition, they need to be confident about the use of clear and confident hand signals to communicate. The players need to know and understand those signals. They’re used in many sports, like football, volleyball or basketball. The hand signals help the players to better understand how to proceed. The spectators also don’t need to wonder what’s going on.
In Ultimate Frisbee it’s a bit different. You’re the referee. You’re responsible for understanding the rules and applying them correctly. That’s why you also need to know the hand signals! There are 21 of them and they will help you in transcending the language barrier and make situations clear. Let’s face it. Most of the time people don’t hear you make the call even though you might scream at the top of your lungs.
Hand signals in Ultimate Frisbee
Just think about all those times when you were on the sidelines wondering what just happened. The hand signals make it clear straight away. If you know them. You may know most of these if you regularly attend or play the matches. You may use it yourself. Rookie players – watch this one. You’ll need them!
Check out the updated version – WFDF Hand Signals for Ultimate 2017.
Foul | Violation| Goal| Contest | Uncontested| Retracted | In/Out-Of-Bounds | Disc Down | Disc Up | Pick | Travel | Marking Infraction | Turnover | Timing Violation | Offside | Time-Out | Spirit Of The Game Stoppage | Stoppage |4 Men, 3 Women | 3 Men, 4 Women | Play has stopped | Match Point | Who Made The Call
Foul
Whenever there’s a foul, the players should indicate it by holding one arm straight out and “chop” the other forearm across the straight arm. (Luckily, not literally, right?)
Violation
To make a call for “Violation”, raise both hands above your head with your fists closed forming a “V”.
Goal
Raise both arms, fully extended, straight up with your palms facing inward.
Contest
Bump two fists together in front of your chest with the back of your hands facing outwards.
Uncontested
Extend your forearms in front of your body, elbows tight against the torso and palms facing upwards.
Retracted/Play On
Extend both arms down in front of your body and make a sweeping crossover motion.
In/Out-of-bounds – Out of end zone
Point with one arm extended, flat palm, thumb parallel to fingers. Towards playing field means “in” and away from playing field means “out”.
Disc down
Point down at 45 degrees with your arm and index finger straight.
Disc up
Put your elbow down, forearm in a vertical position and point your index finger upward.
Pick
Raise your arms with bent elbows and fists facing your head.
Travel
Rotate your wrists around in a vertical circle with your fists closed.
Marking Infraction
Extend your arms to the side, palms facing front.
Marking infractions count as fast count, straddle, disc space, wrapping, double team, and vision.
Turnover
Extend your right arm in front of your body with your palm facing up and then rotate to palm facing down.
Timing Violation
Tap the top of your head with an open hand to indicate timing violation.
Off side
Cross your arms overhead in an “X” and your hands closed in a fist.
Time-out
Form a “T” with your hands, or a hand and the disc.
Spirit of the Game Stoppage
Form an upside down “T” with your hands.
Stoppage
Cup your hands cupped behind your head with your elbows out to the side. The stoppage may be technical or for an injury.
4 men, 3 women
Raise your arms straight above your head with your palms together.
3 men, 4 women
Clasp your hands and raise them above your head with your arms bent.
Play has stopped
Extend both arms crosswise overhead and wave them both.
Match Point
Point both arms straight up to the left with your palms facing down.
Who made the call
Called by Offence/Defence
Point with two arms straight out, towards the end zone being defended by the team.
That’s all 23 hand signals for Ultimate. Did you know them all? Anything surprising?
