Hands to the face

[slasc]

I feel that the NFL "Hands to the face" signal is more and more used by NCAA Referees'. I do not find any reference nor in the rules book, neither in the mechanics book.
Is this a "Conference specificity"?

[Diablo]

I feel that the NFL "Hands to the face" signal is more and more used by NCAA Referees'. I do not find any reference nor in the rules book, neither in the mechanics book.
Is this a "Conference specificity"?

How about passage 9-1-8-a:
No player shall continuously contact an opponent’s helmet (including the face mask) or neck with hand(s) or arm(s )(Exception: By or against the runner).

[slasc]

I totally agree. I am talking about the signal that the referee do when he is doing the announcement, with the palm toward the face. I do not find any illustration in the books.
So I am wondering if this signal is approved by any Conferences or just a kind of "sunday" habit.

[SanDiegoStryker]

I agree with you that this is not in the rule book and should not be used. I have had this conversation with other officials before. It also bothers me on RPS when they use S38 and S34. Seems to me people are just mimicking what they see rather than studying what the rulebook says to signal. However, it's probably not a big deal, nothing to lose sleep over. Whenever I see it I comment on it to the official and quickly move on.

[mishatx]

It also bothers me on RPS when they use S38 and S34. Seems to me people are just mimicking what they see rather than studying what the rulebook says to signal.

I swear there was a season a while back where "they" said to only use S34 for RPS, as there is no "running into the passer" foul.  It might have even been a point on a preseason video.  Then, later, "they" (maybe a different "they") said to use S38 since RPS can be enforced as a personal foul when a touchdown is scored, so we should signal it.

[ref6983]

Check page 156 of the mechanics manual for S38. It precedes any other prescribed personal foul signal: CLP, BBW, RPS, etc.

[bossman72]

Check page 156 of the mechanics manual for S38. It precedes any other prescribed personal foul signal: CLP, BBW, RPS, etc.

Exactly

[SanDiegoStryker]

I believe at my level I do not use the same mechanics manual you are referring to, but it's interesting to know that the higher levels are directed to use the signal, thanks.

My opinion is based on the NCAA Rule Book, page FR-113. For example on Face Mask it shows S38 and S45, for Horse Collar it shows S38 and S25, and for Roughing the Kicker is shows S38 and S30. However, for Roughing the Passer only S34 is listed.