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Ed Hochuli is one of the NFL's most well-known officials. Rick Scuteri/AP/Press Association Images
Handy guide

Here's what those hand signals made by NFL referees mean

Impress your friends by knowing what has happened before the commentators tell you.

THE NEW NFL season is nearly upon us and, once more, the American football audience is set to grow on this side of the Atlantic.

With that in mind, we’re putting together a number of guides designed to improve the viewing experience of rookies and casual fans alike.

If you already know the difference between a facemask and hands to the face, this may not be the guide for you. However, you can also check out our Coaches Film series – which explores the sport in greater detail – here.

In this edition, we’ll focus on 12 hand signals you’re likely to see in nearly every game this season.

1. Touchdown or Successful Field Goal

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2. Safety

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3. First Down

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4. Personal Foul

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5. Facemask

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6. Illegal contact

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7. Unsportsmanlike Conduct

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8. Holding

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9. Delay of Game

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10. False Start

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11. Time Out

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12. Incomplete Pass/Missed Field Goal/Missed Extra Point

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Read more of our introduction to the NFL here.

10 terms you’ll hear in every NFL game this season

Everything you wanted to know about American football but were afraid to ask

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