OFFICIAL REFEREE HAND SIGNALS FOR SCORING A HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING MATCH

High school wrestling officials use 28 standardized hand signals to communicate calls to the scorer's table, coaches and spectators. Each signal below matches the NFHS Wrestling Rules Book.

NFHS wrestling referee signal 1: Starting the Match
1 Starting the Match
NFHS wrestling referee signal 2: Stopping the Match
2 Stopping the Match
NFHS wrestling referee signal 3: Time-Out
3 Time-Out
NFHS wrestling referee signal 4: Start Injury Time
4 Start Injury Time
NFHS wrestling referee signal 5: Start Blood Time Out
5 Start Blood Time Out
NFHS wrestling referee signal 6: Start Recovery Time
6 Start Recovery Time
NFHS wrestling referee signal 7: Stop Blood, Injury or Recovery Time
7 Stop Blood, Injury or Recovery Time
NFHS wrestling referee signal 8: Neutral Position
8 Neutral Position
NFHS wrestling referee signal 9: Indicates No Control
9 Indicates No Control
NFHS wrestling referee signal 10: Out-of-Bounds
10 Out-of-Bounds
NFHS wrestling referee signal 11: Indicates Wrestler in Control (left or right hand)
11 Indicates Wrestler in Control (left or right hand)
NFHS wrestling referee signal 12: Defer Choice
12 Defer Choice
NFHS wrestling referee signal 13: Potentially Dangerous (left or right hand)
13 Potentially Dangerous (left or right hand)
NFHS wrestling referee signal 14: Stalemate
14 Stalemate
NFHS wrestling referee signal 15: Caution: False Start or Incorrect Starting Procedure
15 Caution: False Start or Incorrect Starting Procedure
NFHS wrestling referee signal 16: Stalling (left or right hand)
16 Stalling (left or right hand)
NFHS wrestling referee signal 17: Interlocking Hands or Grasping Clothing
17 Interlocking Hands or Grasping Clothing
NFHS wrestling referee signal 18: Reversal
18 Reversal
NFHS wrestling referee signal 19: Technical Violation
19 Technical Violation
NFHS wrestling referee signal 20: Illegal Hold
20 Illegal Hold
NFHS wrestling referee signal 21: Near-Fall
21 Near-Fall
NFHS wrestling referee signal 22: Awarding Points (left or right hand)
22 Awarding Points (left or right hand)
NFHS wrestling referee signal 23: Unsportsmanlike Conduct (left or right hand)
23 Unsportsmanlike Conduct (left or right hand)
NFHS wrestling referee signal 24: Flagrant Misconduct (left or right hand)
24 Flagrant Misconduct (left or right hand)
NFHS wrestling referee signal 25: Coach Misconduct (left or right hand)
25 Coach Misconduct (left or right hand)
NFHS wrestling referee signal 26: Unnecessary Roughness (left or right hand)
26 Unnecessary Roughness (left or right hand)
NFHS wrestling referee signal 27: Default Technical Fall Disqualification
27 Default Technical Fall Disqualification
NFHS wrestling referee signal 28: Start Head, Neck, Cervical Injury Evaluation Time
28 Start Head, Neck, Cervical Injury Evaluation Time

For coaches

Takedown Scoring and Stats records every call with the correct notation, so the scorebook matches what the official signalled. Schedule a demo or see pricing.

For parents and fans

Follow live match scores and results with Takedown LIVE. Free, in your browser, no account needed.

Signals reproduced from the NFHS Wrestling Rules Book. Signals and their numbering can change between seasons — confirm against the current rules book.