Football officials (Judge) are responsible for enforcing the laws of the game and are frequently the targets of abuse from players, coaches, and spectators. Football games might not go according to a predetermined pattern without these rule enforcers keeping an eye on the action.
In football, there are seven officials, and they all play crucial responsibilities. By keeping an eye on the play clock and game clock, officials keep the game moving along. They also keep track of all rule violations, call penalties when they occur, and watch out that the athletes don’t injure one another unnecessarily.
Although the term “referees” is frequently used to refer to officials, there is only ever one on the field at any given time. Each official, including the referee, umpire, head linesman, line judge, back judge, field judge, and side judge, has a specific title and set of duties. All other officials wear black hats, with the exception of the referee, who wears a white hat.
Referee
All penalties must be announced by the referee. The captain and coach of the team that committed the foul are informed of penalties by the referee, along with the name of the guilty player. Before the play begins, the referee is set up in the backfield, roughly 10 yards behind the quarterback. The referee keeps an eye out for unsportsmanlike contact with the quarterback, looks out for unsportsmanlike blocks close to the quarterback, and decides if the yardage chains need to be on the field for a measurement.
Position
- Right side of the formation, 15 yards deep, and behind the standard Tight End position is the offensive backfield.
General Responsibilities
- Who is recognised as the crew chief and captain of the officiating crew and who dons a white cap
- Oversees all officials-related matters and keeps the game moving.
- Conveys any violations both orally and visually.
- Tally the number of offensive athletes out there
- Identifies first downs and whether a measurement is required.
- Final say on contested decisions
Runs play
- Keep an eye out for the quarterback’s and the running backs’ false starts before the snap.
- Observes the centre, right guard, and right tackle while keeping an eye on their movements and those of the defenders defending them.
Pass Play
- Keep an eye out for the quarterback’s and the running backs’ false starts before the snap.
- Observes the Right Guard and Right Tackle and keeps track of their movements as well as those of the defenders defending them.
- Focuses only on the quarterback as the defense poses a threat.
- Primarily in charge of all activity involving and going to the quarterback or passer
- Rules for intentional grounding, offensive holding, roughing the passer, and pass/fumble.
Special teams
- Kickoff: Position yourself in the middle of the field between the receiving team’s goal line’s hash mark.
- Before the kickoff, the receiving team is counted and the kickoff is started.
- Punt: The punter is primarily responsible. Field Goal/Point After Touchdown: The kicker and holder are primarily responsible.
Umpire
On the defensive side of the ball, the umpire is the official who positions himself about five yards off the line of scrimmage.
When making decisions regarding ball possession, the umpire supports the referee. The referee keeps an eye on the fairness of play at the line of scrimmage, paying particular attention to offensive holding and illegal linemen downfield. The umpire monitors the legality of the players’ equipment and ensures that the offensive has no more than 11 players on the field. Inclement weather requires the umpire to wipe the ball dry between plays and record all scores, timeouts, and coin flip results.
Position
- Mainly in the offensive backfield, across from the official, at a distance of 15 yards, and just outside the traditional tight end position.
General responsibilities
- A look at the athletes’ equipment
- Proactively interacts with and counsels the players to maintain control of the game.
- Determines how many offensive players are present on the field.
- Identifies penalty yards and checks for correctness
- Searches through piles of debris after fumbles to identify the player or team in possession
Run plays
- Keep an eye out for any false starts from the centre, left, or right guard before the snap.
- Observes the Left Guard, Left Tackle, and Center as well as the defensive players defending them.
Pass play
- Keep an eye out for any false starts from the centre, left, or right guard before the snap.
- Observes the Left Guard, Left Tackle, and Center as well as the defensive players defending them.
- Aids the referee in making decisions on conduct involving the quarterback or passer.
Special teams
- Lines up on the Kickers restraining line and makes sure the KO team is properly lined up for kickoffs.
- Responsible for ensuring that the kicker’s team is onside before the kick
- Positions one or two yards behind the punter and as wide as the left tackle when punting, keeping an eye out for the centre and two guards.
- Positions himself a few yards behind the holder, to his right. Field goal/point after touchdown
- Searches for violations on and around the defensive rush’s strong side.
Down Judge
In the NFL, CFL, and the USFL of 2022, the down judge (DJ), head line-judge (H or HL), or head linesman (H or HL), stands at one end of the line of scrimmage (typically the side opposite the press box, always with the chain crew), scanning for potential offsides, encroachment, and other fouls prior to the snap.
The head linesman is the official on the sideline who crosses the line of scrimmage in search of penalties including illegal motion, illegal shifts, illegal use of hands, and illegal men downfield as well as scrimmage offences like offsides or encroachment.
Position
- Looking down the LOS from the sideline opposite the line judge.
General Responsibilities
- Supervises LOS
- In charge of the chain crew
- Observes for encroachment and offside
- Regulations for sideline plays on the closest half of the field
- Informs the referee of the current down by counting the offensive players on the field.
Runs play
- Keeps an eye out for false starts, offside, or line encroachment
- Keeps an eye out for any penalties among the closest field’s defenders and blockers.
- Determines when and if the runner is out of bounds by watching the sideline during plays that are run to the nearest half of the field.
- Indicates the runner’s advancement
Pass play
- They are in charge of particular receivers depending on the formation.
- When a play enters their zone of influence, it assists in determining whether a pass is complete or incomplete.
- If the receiver is in or out of bounds when the catch is made, the rules apply.
- Rules regarding Pass Interference, Defensive Holding, and Illegal Contact with Eligible Receivers, Both Offensive and Defensive
- Determines if passes aimed against them are forward or backwards.
- The ball is thrown with the passer behind the line of sight.
Special teams
- Positioned near the sideline’s goal line for the receiver for the kickoff
- Prior to the kickoff, the receiving team’s punts are counted. – Monitors LOS for encroachment and offside
- Rules regarding offside, encroachment at the line, and false starts for field goals and points after touchdowns
Line Judge
The official who lines up on the field’s other side from the head linesman is known as the line judge. In making decisions about illegal motion, illegal shifts, offsides, and encroachment, the line judge aids the chief linesman. When it comes to holding and illegal use of hands calls, the line judge supports the umpire, while the referee receives assistance from the line judge.
The line judge oversees the timing of the game and the team’s substitutions on the side of the field where they are positioned. They also look for offensive linemen coming downfield too early on punts and make sure the quarterback does not cross the line of scrimmage before throwing the ball.
Position
- Looking toward the LOS from the sideline across from the down judge.
General Responsibilities
- Observes for encroachment and offside
- The number of attacking athletes out there
- Rules for plays in the closest half of the field, close to the sidelines
Runs play
- Keeps an eye out for false starts, offside, or line encroachment
- Keeps an eye out for any penalties among the closest field’s defenders and blockers.
- Determines when and if the runner is out of bounds by watching the sideline during plays that are run to the nearest half of the field.
- Indicates the runner’s advancement
Pass play
- They are in charge of particular receivers depending on the formation.
- When a play enters their zone of influence, it assists in determining whether a pass is complete or incomplete.
- If the receiver is in or out of bounds when the catch is made, the rules apply.
- Rules regarding Pass Interference, Defensive Holding, and Illegal Contact with Eligible Receivers, Both Offensive and Defensive
- Determines if passes aimed against them are forward or backward.
- The ball is thrown with the passer behind the line of sight.
Special teams
- Positioned near the sideline’s goal line for the receiver for the kickoff
- Prior to the kickoff, the receiving team’s punts are counted. – Monitors LOS for encroachment and offside
- Rules regarding offside, encroachment at the line, and false starts for field goals and points after touchdowns
Field Judge
The referee who is positioned 25 yards into the defensive backfield on the tight end side of the field is known as the field judge. The field judge is in charge of monitoring the play clock and signalling a delay of the game if it runs out. The field judge, like the back judge, ensures that the defensive team’s lineup does not exceed 11 players. The field judge oversees all eligible receivers on the tight end side of the field and makes decisions about plays that cross the defence’s goal line, the legality of catches, pass interference penalties, and eligible receiver eligibility. The field judge also marks the place if a play goes out of bounds on the tight end side of the field.
Position
- 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage and on the same side of the field as the line judge is the defensive backfield.
General Responsibilities
- Watches the widest receiver on the closest side of the field for penalties on the defensive back covering him, as well as for unlawful use of hands and blocking fouls.
- Checks the sidelines to see if the runners are in or outside the lines
- The amount of defenders that are present on the pitch.
Run plays
- Observes broadest receiver block, searching for holding or improper use of hands
- Determines if a runner steps out of bounds if the ball is moved to the nearest side of the field.
Pass plays
- Ensures that the player may run his route free from defensive interference by concentrating on the widest receiver on the closest side of the field.
- Rule on whether the pass is complete if the play moves to the closest side
- The regulations are the same whether the receiver is in or out of bounds at the time of the catch.
- Keeps an eye out for pass interference.
Special teams
- Policies on blocking during punts
- To evaluate the accuracy of field goals and extra points, line up beneath the goal posts.
Side Judge
In the defensive backfield, 20 yards deep, on the sideline next to the head linesman, is the official known as the side judge. The duties of a side judge are very similar to those of a back judge. The side judge oversees all eligible receivers from that side of the field and makes sure the defensive team has no more than 11 men on the field. The side judge oversees the region between the field judge and the umpire, assists in determining the legality of kicks during kickoffs, and makes decisions on the validity of catches and pass interference penalties.
Position
- Defensive backfield, 25 yards from the LOS, and on the same side of the field as the down judge
General responsibilities
- Serves as the main timekeeper in the event that the game clock breaks
- Keep an eye out for blocking fouls, improper hand use, and penalties on the defensive backs covering him on their side of the field.
- Checks the sidelines to see if the runners are in or outside the lines
- Counts the number of defenders out there.
- Sends a time-out signal to the referee at the end of each quarter.
Run plays
- Keeps an eye out for any incorrect blocks or holding by the receivers while they watch the receivers’ blocks on their side of the field.
- Determines if runner steps out of bounds if play moves to the closest side of the field.
Pass plays
- Ensures the player may run his route free from defensive interference by concentrating on the receivers on their side of the field.
- If the ball is in the SJ’s territory, it is simpler to tell whether a pass is complete or incomplete.
- Decides whether the receiver is inside the bounds or outside them at the time of the catch.
- Rules regarding Pass Interference, Defensive Holding, and Illegal Contact with Eligible Receivers, Both Offensive and Defensive
Special teams
- Kickoff: lines up on the receiving team’s back restraining line and checks that they are positioned according to the rules.
- Punts should be placed 7 to 10 yards behind the target on the sideline.
- Policies on blocking during punts
- Defensive backfield lines up seven yards off the line of scrimmage over the snapper and keeps an eye out for illegal blocks and snap violations during field goals and points after touchdowns.
Back Judge
The referee who positions themselves 20 yards into the defensive backfield on the wide receiver side of the field is known as the back judge. Making sure the defence team has no more than 11 players on the field is one of the back judge’s responsibilities. On the wide receiver side of the field, the back judge keeps an eye on each eligible receiver. The region between the umpire and the field judge must be kept under observation by the back judge. The back judge makes decisions on the legality of catches, pass interference penalties, and kicks made during kickoffs. The back judge, who is positioned beneath the goalpost during field goals, determines if the attempt was successful.
Position
- 30 yards downfield, deep defensive backfield. beginning between the hash marks.
General responsibilities
- Counts the number of defenders out there.
- Monitors the 40- or 25-second game clock and controls all commercial breaks
Run plays
- Reads the initial move by the Left Guard, Center, and Right Guard starting in the middle.
- Once a BJ recognises a run, they concentrate on the first-level action in search of defensive holding.
- They move to the second level as the action continues in search of holding by the Offense.
- They next turn to the main threat from foul play.
Pass plays
- Depending on the formation, the BJ goes to the #2 or #3 receiver after reading the throw.
- The BJ quickly moves to where the pass is thrown when the ball is released.
- Decides if the catch was legal by the receiver
- Rules regarding Pass Interference, Defensive Holding, and Illegal Contact with Eligible Receivers, Both Offensive and Defensive
Special teams
- Lines up on the Kickers restraining line and makes sure the KO team is properly lined up for kickoffs.
- Responsible for ensuring that the kicker’s team is onside before the kick
- Punts – Position yourself between the hash marks 7–10 yards behind the receiver.
- Rules governing scrimmage kicks, including those governing fair catch, fair catch violations, and all other rules.
- Line up under the goal posts to judge the accuracy of field goals and extra points
