How to Draw a Referee (Easy Step by Step)
Learn to draw a referee using simple shapes like a big round head, boxy striped shirt, and circles for hands. You'll practice drawing stripes and a raised arm holding a card to make your referee look like they're in a game.
- Start with simple shapes like a round head and boxy shirt for your referee.
- Practice drawing stripes on the shirt to add detail and line practice.
- Include a raised arm holding a card to show your referee in action.
- Utilize basic forms to make drawing the referee easy and enjoyable.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
A referee is a fun one to draw because they are made almost entirely of simple shapes: a big round head, a boxy striped shirt, and a few circles for hands. The raised arm holding up a card makes the referee look like they are in the middle of a game, and the stripes give you lots of easy lines to practice.
- Easy
- 15 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a referee step by step
How to Draw a Referee · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: Big round head
Draw a big, wide curve for the head, starting at the bottom left, going up and over the top, and stopping on the right side. Leave the lower right part open for now.
Step 3: Eye, shoulders and shirt side
Add a small dot for the left eye inside the head. Under the head, draw a straight line across for the shoulders, then draw a line down from its left end for the left side of the shirt.
Step 4: Eye, mouth and raised arm
Add a second dot for the other eye and a tiny short line under the eyes for the mouth. On the right, draw a long curved line that swings up from the shoulder and ends in a small hook for the top of the hand.
Step 5: Card, hand and shirt side
Draw a tall rectangle with rounded corners above the hand, tilted a little, like a card held up high. Add a small circle for the hand, then draw a line down from the arm to make the right side of the shirt.
Step 6: Hanging arm and hand
On the left side of the shirt, draw a curved arm hanging down like a bendy sausage. Finish it with a small circle at the bottom for the hand.
Step 7: Shorts, socks and shoes
At the bottom of the shirt, draw two short boxes side by side for the shorts. Under each box draw two short stacked lines for the sock, then a flat oval for each shoe. Add a small cuff line by the left hand.
Step 8: Whistle
Under the eyes, draw a small whistle: a little circle with a tiny rectangle next to it, and a short curved line that leads to the mouth.
Step 9: Shirt stripes
Draw four straight lines going down the shirt from the top edge, spaced evenly apart, stopping just above the shorts.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your referee? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a paramedic or how to draw a hairdresser next.
Tips for drawing a referee
- Draw the head first and make it big. The body looks cute and small when the head is much larger than the shirt.
- Keep the stripes straight and evenly spaced. Draw each one from top to bottom in one smooth pull.
- The whistle is the trickiest part. Start with the small circle, add the tiny rectangle next to it, and finish with the curved line toward the mouth.
Free referee coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this referee coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your referee drawing
Color the shirt with black and white stripes and the shorts black, then make the card bright red or yellow. For a creative twist, color the whistle silver or give the shoes your favorite color.
Referee fun fact for kids
Soccer referees use a yellow card to warn a player and a red card to send a player off the field. The cards were first used at the 1970 World Cup, so everyone could understand them without speaking the same language.
Questions about drawing a referee
What shapes do I need to draw a referee?
You need a big round shape for the head, a boxy shape for the shirt, a tall rounded rectangle for the card, and a few small circles for the hands. Two flat ovals make the shoes.
How do I make my referee look cuter?
Make the head extra big and the body small. Keep the eyes as simple dots and add a small whistle by the mouth.
How do I draw the raised arm?
Start at the shoulder and draw one long curved line going up and to the right. Finish it with a small circle for the hand, then draw the card above it.
