Significance of "hands-up" prior to opening kick-off?

[sirhoagy]

I admit I don't know this one, but, i've seen several pics/videos of the officials who, when huddling at the 50 prior to the initial kick-off, all putting one hand each in the air.
A veteran told me "If you don't know why, ask other veterans why we do that."

I've been doing this a long time, but, I honestly don't know *why* we do that.

Anyone want to chime in on that one?

[JasonTX]

Are you talking about when everyone is lined up waiting for the kickoff?  If so, we are putting our hand up letting the Referee know we are ready and he can make the ball ready for play. 

In games with Replay when the officials are on the field during pregame, they will also raise their hand to indicate their replay buzzer is working when they do that test.

[sirhoagy]

Sorry, should have clarified:

This is during the huddle of us at the 50-yard line prior to going to our IP. 

And, I've seen that going back many years prior to there being instant replay/headsets (pics from the mid-80's to late 1990's)

[JasonTX]

Sorry, should have clarified:

This is during the huddle of us at the 50-yard line prior to going to our IP. 

And, I've seen that going back many years prior to there being instant replay/headsets (pics from the mid-80's to late 1990's)

Oh, we don't huddle.  We are on the our side of the field for national anthem and immediately move to our kickoff position.  Someone else will have to chime in.

[TxSkyBolt]

I admit I don't know this one, but, i've seen several pics/videos of the officials who, when huddling at the 50 prior to the initial kick-off, all putting one hand each in the air.
A veteran told me "If you don't know why, ask other veterans why we do that."

I've been doing this a long time, but, I honestly don't know *why* we do that.

Anyone want to chime in on that one?

They are indicating to the replay booth that they received the test buzzer signal

[ElvisLives]

During the last 10 years or so of my FBS days, we stopped huddling - just moved to our positions after the coin toss. The ROs would check our pagers shortly after we came on the field, so he could catch as many of us as close together as practical. But, if it took a few more seconds to find everybody and get their ‘raised hand’ acknowledgement, so it was.

Haven’t personally attended an NCAA game since 2012, so I don’t know what they are doing these days, since that is nothing we ever see on TV. Personally, I liked not huddling - let’s get to business. Thankfully the National Anthem/school songs, etc., had already been played. Boy, I miss those days of structure.

By the way, I was known to head off in the wrong direction for my kickoff position more than once.

[JasonTX]

They are indicating to the replay booth that they received the test buzzer signal

He said he has seen this prior to replay being in existence.

[ElvisLives]

He said he has seen this prior to replay being in existence.

They were taking a vote on where to go after the game.

I’d like to see those photos. I think he is simply mistaken on chronology.