Ref Signals on the Run

A light jogging warm-up where the class learns and copies official basketball referee signals. It gets bodies moving and prepares students to officiate.

How to play

1. Jog around the court while the teacher shows five signals: traveling (rolling fists), double dribble (patting motion), personal foul (clenched fist raised), three seconds (arm out showing three fingers) and backcourt (index finger waving in front of the body) (3 min).
2. Free jogging; the teacher names a violation and everyone stops and shows the signal (3 min).
3. Reverse it: the teacher shows the signal, everyone shouts the violation and changes how they move (2 min).
4. Jogging in pairs: one acts out a violation in slow motion and the other signals it (2 min).

Rules

• Jog in the marked direction, no diagonal cuts across the court.
• Make the signal while stopped, with your arm clearly visible.
• Nobody is out for a mistake: copy someone who got it right and keep going.
• Act out violations with no contact with your partner.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: the teacher shows the violation on a written card.
• Wheelchair users: give signals from the chair and move around the perimeter.
• Students with visual impairments: a partner describes the signal and helps place their arms.

Learning goals

• Recognize basic basketball referee signals.
• Link each violation to its rule.
• Warm up the body gradually.

Teacher tip

Bring a sheet with pictures of the signals to review afterward. The usual mix-up is traveling versus double dribble, so repeat those two at the end.

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