Football Referee Hand Signals

Football Referee Hand Signals: Body Awareness & Balance Activity

Get kids moving and practicing essential motor skills with this football-themed body awareness printable! Featuring clear visual illustrations of classic referee hand signals, this resource transforms sports-themed fun into an engaging physical therapy, occupational therapy, or classroom movement activity.

What’s Included

• 8 Official Football Referee Signals: Touchdown, First Down, Safety, Offside, Pass Interference, Timeout, Holding, and Facemask.

• Visual Sequence Strips: Clean, full-body referee illustrations designed to guide kids through each motion step-by-step.

• Activity & Implementation Guide: Quick-reference suggestions for incorporating dynamic balance and postural challenges.

How to Use

1. Print & Laminate: Prepare the referee signal strips for repeated use in clinic, gym, or classroom settings.

2. Mount Vertically: Tape cards or strips to a wall or vertical surface to promote shoulder stability and upright posture.

3. Add Balance Challenges: Have children mimic the referee’s hand signals while holding different motor positions, such as:

   • Balancing on a wobble or balance board

   • Standing in tandem (heel-to-toe)

   • Balancing on an exercise ball or balance disc

   • Holding tall kneeling or half kneeling positions

   • Completing at tabletop or during warm-ups

Targeted Skills

• Gross Motor Coordination & Motor Planning: Interpreting visual body cues and translating them into physical movements.

• Core Strength & Balance: Sustaining dynamic postures while performing upper-extremity movements.

• Body Awareness & Bilateral Integration: Differentiating left vs. right arm positions and crossing midline.

Perfect For

• Pediatric Physical Therapists & Occupational Therapists

• Physical Education (PE) stations and warm-ups

• Fall sports, football season, and Super Bowl-themed units

• Classroom brain breaks and sensory motor paths

Product Format: Instant Download PDF.