# Which NFL Ref actually signals that the Point After is good?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-nfl-ref-actually-signals-that-the-point-after-is-good/419578>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 18, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-nfl-ref-actually-signals-that-the-point-after-is-good/419578 "2007-09-18T03:29:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-nfl-ref-actually-signals-that-the-point-after-is-good/419578/1 "2007-09-18T03:29:42Z")

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I just watched the PAT after the Skins touchdown with about 10 minutes to play just now. I watched it a couple three times in my own cable-provided slo-mo.

There are 2 officials under the crossbar, two more in the end zone, a few yards in front of them. As best as I could see, not one of those guys watched the ball in flight as it passed through the uprights. Instead, they were looking downfield - presumably at other officials who actually make the call.

Is this true? I’ve never been to an NFL game so I don’t know.

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**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-nfl-ref-actually-signals-that-the-point-after-is-good/419578/2 "2007-09-18T03:58:34Z")

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Well, the way it’s supposed to work, the Back Judge and Field Judge, each under an upright are supposed to make the signal, then the Referee echoes the signal to the pressbox.

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**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2007, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-nfl-ref-actually-signals-that-the-point-after-is-good/419578/3 "2007-09-18T06:53:34Z")

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The two officials usually look at each other also to make sure that they agree on the call. On a PAT in the pros, the ball gets through the uprights really fast.