The quick answer
The referee decides and the assistants advise. Arm, flag and card signals help identify the restart or sanction. A flag alone is not a whistle. Play can also stop because the ball crosses a boundary; a whistle is not required for every stoppage.
See what changes
Choose a play. Use Play or Freeze decision, then read the example.
One arm held out level, pointing the way the kick will go.
- Blue team
- Green team
- Goalkeeper
- Referee or assistant
Direct free kick
One arm held out level, pointing the way the kick will go.
Paused
Direct free kick
One arm held out level, pointing the way the kick will go.
Direct free kick signal
A goal can be scored straight from this kick.
Indirect free kick
One arm is raised for an indirect free kick. It remains raised until the ball touches another player, goes out, or it is clear no direct goal can result.
Indirect free kick signal
The ball must touch another player before a goal can count.
Advantage
One or both arms swept forward, with no whistle.
Advantage signal
The referee saw a foul but is letting play go on, because the fouled team is better off.
Penalty kick
The referee points straight at the penalty mark.
Penalty kick signal
A defender committed a direct free kick foul inside their own penalty area.
Yellow and red cards
The card is held up high toward the player.
Yellow and red cards signal
Yellow is a caution; two yellows for the same player lead to red. A player sent off after kick-off cannot be replaced. A substitute or team official being sent off does not remove an on-field player.
Throw-in
The flag is raised at an angle, pointing along the sideline.
Throw-in signal
It points the way the team taking the throw is attacking.
Offside
The flag goes straight up. After the whistle it points across the field.
Offside signal
The second position shows where the offside was: up for the far side, level for the middle, down for the near side.
Goal kick
The flag is held level, pointing at the goal area.
Goal kick signal
The attacking team touched the ball last before it crossed the goal line.
Corner kick
The flag points down toward the corner.
Corner kick signal
The defending team touched the ball last before it crossed the goal line.
Common misunderstandings
- A raised flag advises the referee; it does not itself stop play. The ball going out of play is a separate way play stops, even without a whistle.
- “The assistant referee makes the call.” No. The assistant advises. The referee decides.
- “No whistle means the referee saw nothing.” Not always. Look for the arms-forward advantage signal.
What happens next?
Follow the indicated restart and the referee’s decision. The referee can overrule an assistant. A whistle is not required when a ball clearly leaves the field.
What signal might you see?
Nine signals are shown. Substitution and other signals also exist; this guide is not exhaustive.
Check your competition
Check your competition’s written rules and edition. Adapted youth formats may differ. The selected website city does not change the match rules.
Make the call
One question. No score or account needed.
The referee holds an arm straight up for a free kick. What does it mean?
Sources and review
Rules edition: 2026/27 · Sources checked:
Prepared with AI assistance; checked against the linked rules. Simplified illustrations are teaching examples. AI transparency
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