Signal 29 & 35
 

When the Referee gives signal 29 or 35 is his back facing press box to see the signal?

Some would say yes to your question. I think it is not necessary. I have also never had to signal sideline interference, so I am not completely sure if you need to turn around.

Peace

In a previous post with the same question, Mike had the following response. I think he is reffering to the Redding Study Guide, but I couldn't find it in my glancing thru it.

According the the Referee Study Guide, for the illegal forward pass signal, we DON'T turn our back. For the sideline warning, we DO turn our back.

I thought someone else refferenced once that we are to ALWAYS face the pressbox when signaling. I would face the pressbox. They have a signal chart and can figure out what you are calling based on the pictures they have the what they see you doing.

If we're talking strictly Fed mechanics, there is little room for interpretation, as the signal chart denotes the referee facing the press box in both.

In any case, it is not necessary the press box see what the hand(s) are doing when they are behind the back in either signal, because 35 is the only signal given where one hand goes behind the back (and it is moving out from behind the back anyway), and 29 is the only signal where both hands are behind the back, therefore there should be little confusion as to what is being signaled.

This is actually specifically mentioned in the new Officials' Manual - the R faces the press box for all signals.

If you look at the signal chart, it says "Face Press Box" for S29 and S35.

That verbage was added this year, and that's what we should be doing.

Point of Emphasis in Minnesota
 

Face the press box when making these signals.

REPLY: It was a point of emphasis in the package delivered by our techniques committe last week--face the press box for these signals.