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What A Football Official Does

FOOTBALL OFFICIALS: WHO THEY ARE & WHAT THEY DO


With such a huge field of grass with twenty-two equipment-clad athletes running around, a football official can only see a small area of the football field at a time. That's why there are different kinds of football officials for the best coverage possible. 


The Officials

In the game of football, play is supervised by impartial officials. Although they sometimes receive undue criticism, football officials are an integral part of the sport. Without qualified officials, the game would be chaotic and less fun for the players. Because they govern the rules of the sport, they are an extension of the game itself, and therefore, should be respected for keeping the game safe and fun to play for all parties involved.

Youth leagues and high schools use between two and five officials for football games (professional and college football programs use seven): referee, umpire, linesman, field judge, back judge, line judge, and side judge. Each set of football officials must at least have a referee and an umpire, but most have a linesman as well. 

The two most important pieces of equipment for an official are a whistle and a yellow penalty flag, which is weighted in the center by sand. Officials blow the whistles or throw the flags to indicate that a rule has been broken.

Referee

The Football Referee has control over the entire football game. In addition to supervising the other officials on the field, the Referee uses hand signals to designate penalties, decides when a ball is in or out of play, and has the primary responsibility of monitoring the offensive backfield (quarterback, running backs, and blocking backs) including the snap and the hand-offs. 

Roughing the passer, forward progress, and fumble versus incomplete pass are three of the main calls that are made by the Referee. The Referee also monitors the kicker during field goals and extra points to see if a foul was committed by a defender during the play. 

The Referee takes a position in the offensive backfield 10 to 12 yards behind the line of scrimmage, favoring the right side if the quarterback is a right-handed passer. 

Umpire

The Football Umpire makes decisions on questions concerning the players' equipment, their conduct, and their positioning. His main duties include checking the offensive and defensive lines for any illegal blocking or tackling or false-starts. 

In addition, the Umpire watches the wide receivers and attempts to ensure they are unimpeded in their routes. He also determines if the pass is caught or trapped on incomplete passes. 

Illegal player downfield, false-starts, and incomplete passes are some of the most frequent calls an Umpire makes. 

So as not to be confused with a Referee or other official, an Umpire wears a white cap while the rest of the officials wear black caps with white piping. 

The Umpire lines up approximately four to five yards downfield, varying position from in front of the weak-side tackle to the strong-side guard. 


Head Linesman

As the Head Linesman, this official's primary responsibility is ruling on offside, encroachment, and actions pertaining to the line of scrimmage, prior to or at the time of the snap. 

The principle duty of the Linesman is to mark the position of the ball at the end of each play. The Linesman has assistants who measure distances gained or lost, using a device consisting of two vertical markers connected by a chain or cord 10 yards long. Together with the Referee, the Linesman is responsible for keeping track of the number of downs and is in charge of the mechanics of his chain crew. 

Linesman's secondary responsibility is to rule on any illegal action taken by defenders on any delayed receiver moving downfield. He has full responsibility for ruling on sideline plays on his side, e.g., pass receiver or runner in or out of bounds. 

In addition to assisting in the determination of a runner or receiver's forward progress, the Linesman must be responsible for any and all activity in his side of the field. 

Some of the most frequently made calls for a Head Linesman are pass interference, out of bounds, and illegal blocking downfield. 


Line Judge

As the backup for the clock operator, the Line Judge keeps the time of the game. As does the Head Linesman, the Line Judge is responsible for calling offside, encroachment, and actions pertaining to the line of scrimmage, prior to or at the time of the snap on his side of the field. 

The Line Judge is to observe his receiver until he moves at least seven yards downfield. He then moves toward the backfield side, being especially alert to rule on any back in motion and on flight of ball when a pass is made (he must rule whether forward or backward). 

The Line Judge's primary responsibility is to rule whether or not the passer is behind or beyond line of scrimmage when a pass is made. He assists in observing actions by blockers and defenders on his side of the field. After a pass is thrown, the Line Judge directs attention toward activities that occur in behind the Umpire. 

During punting situations, the Line Judge remains at the line of scrimmage to be sure that only the end men move downfield until the kick has been made. He also rules whether or not the kick crossed the line and then observes action by members of the kicking team who are moving downfield to cover the kick. 

The Line Judge also advises the Referee when time has expired at the end of each period. 

The Line Judge straddles the line of scrimmage on the side of the field opposite the Linesman. 

Back Judge

The Back Judge keys on the wide receiver on his side of the field. He focuses on the path of running backs and receivers to observe the legality of their blocks and action made by a defender against them. 

He sometimes rules on holding or illegal use of hands by an end or back or on illegal motions by a defensive back on them. The Back Judge makes decisions involving catching, recovery, or illegal touching of a loose ball beyond line of scrimmage. In addition, he rules on pass interference and assists in covering the actions of the runner as well. 

He calls clipping on punt returns, and, together with the Field Judge, rules on success of attempted field goals and extra points. 

The Back Judge operates on the same side of the field as the Line Judge, 20 yards deep.


Side Judge

Specifically, the Side Judge rules on all infractions made by players on his side of the field relating to passing, catching, or kicking. He also keys on his receivers and backs on his side of the field. 

The Side Judge rules on legality of the path of ends and backs and the defenders' actions against them. In addition, the Side Judge is in a position to rule on holding or illegal use of hands by offensive or defensive backs. 

The Side Judge rules on the same side as the Linesman, only 20 yards downfield. 


Field Judge

The Field Judge keys on the tight end and observes the legality of his blocks. In addition the Field Judge calls pass interference, fair catch infractions, and clipping on kick returns; and, together with Back Judge, rules whether or not field goals and conversions are successful.

The Field Judge takes a position 25 yards downfield. In general, he favors the tight end's side of the field.