[23] In NCAA Division I FBS, the Center Judge becomes the "Acting Referee" should the referee become injured and unable to continue offiating. After practice, head coach Zac Taylor gave the last game ball hed received to Zips Cafe in Mt. List of National Football League officials, NFL Back Judge 199091 Referee 1992 to 2017, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_National_Football_League_officials&oldid=1142536522, Dave Anderson (19842002) Head Linesman; Line Judge, Ron Baynes (19872000) Side Judge 1987; Line Judge 19882000, Grover Klemmer (19551981) Head Linesman 19551966, Back Judge 19671977, Side Judge 19781981, George A Sladky, Sr (19861991) Replay Official, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 23:52. Here are the rules for roughing the passer, Position of side judges, and Average salaries of NFL referees. Also, if a play goes out of bounds on the tight end side of the field, the field judge marks the spot. The following are the positions and responsibilities of each officiating positions. The NFL has also amended its rule book to emphasize second acts by defenders who hit the quarterback. They also met with the crews captain and coordinator to discuss how they would react in different scenarios. NFL referees are paid more than many other professionals in the country, but the amount they earn is still quite high compared to the average wage for Americans. They may also disagree with the other officials calls. If the side judge is correct, the play will be reviewed by the head line judge and the head linesman. Uzomah may deliver a third ball. However, the NFL has not ruled on the Patriots yet. 29 Likes, 0 Comments - Liberty Hill Football Boosters (@lhpantherfootball) on Instagram: "It's OFFICIAL! False Start in Football - Definition and Explanation. The seven officials in an NFL game include: The referee is the head official and has the final say with all rulings on the field. It is also used by the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference. Sometimes something can happen in a match and only a few players actually see it, such as an unfair tackle or the ball going offside and the Head Referee is there to ensure that the game is being played as fairly as possible with as little violence. They are there to make the Head Referees job easier as one man cannot see every little detail and action that happens on the pitch. The NFL requires teams to return twenty-four footballs to the Officials Locker Room after every game. The referee will place this marking on the side of the ball, on the corner of the non-insignia panels. In addition, NBA rookie Tyler York (right) scored seven points, had one rebound and a block in his 15-minute NBA debut against the Sixers. Terri Valenti became the first woman to officiate professional football when she began working United Football League games in 2009. Henri Christophe. However, in Canada, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame has inducted a few game officials as members of their Hall of Fame. Afterwards, the line judge moves back towards the line of scrimmage, ruling if a pass is forward, a lateral, or if it is illegally thrown beyond the line of scrimmage. Privacy Policy NFL.com, 2022 Rules Changes and Points of Clarification, Summits showcase pipeline for minority coaches, GMs, Their Causes, Their Impact: Player-Led Initiatives a Multiplying Force for Good, Offensive backfield, right side of the formation, 15 yards deep and behind the normal Tight End position, Wears the white cap, known as the crew chief and leader of the officiating crew, Oversees everything related to the officials and maintains the pace of the game, Verbally and visually communicates all fouls, Counts the offensive players on the field, Determines first downs or if a measurement is necessary, Before the snap, watches for false starts by the QB and the Running Backs, Watches the Center, Right Guard, Right Tackle, monitors their actions and those of the defenders engaged with them, Watches the Right Guard, Right Tackle and monitors their actions and those of the defenders engaged with them, Turns attention solely to quarterback as the defense becomes a threat, Primarily responsible for all action around and to the QB/Passer, Rules on Roughing the Passer, Offensive Holding, Pass/Fumble and Intentional Grounding, Kickoff Lines up middle of the field between the hash mark on the receiving teams goal line, Prior to the kickoff counts the receiving team and initiates the kickoff, Punt Primary responsibility is the Punter, Field Goal/Point After Touchdown - Primary responsibility is the Kicker and Holder, On opposite sideline from line judge, looking directly down the LOS, Rules on sideline plays on nearest half of field, Watches for false starts, offside or encroachment at line, Watches blockers and defenders on nearest side of field for any penalties, Monitors sideline on plays run to nearest half of field, Determines when and if runner is out of bounds, Based on the formation they are responsible for specific receivers, If play goes into their vicinity, helps to rule on whether pass is complete or incomplete, Rules if receiver is in or out of bounds when catch is made, Rules on Offensive and Defensive Pass Interference, Defensive Holding and Illegal Contact of eligible receivers, Determines if pass is forwards or backwards on passes towards them, Makes sure passer is behind LOS when he throws ball, Kickoff Positioned on the receivers goal line on the sideline, Prior to the kickoff counts the receiving team, Punts - Observes LOS for offside and encroachment, Field Goal/Point After Touchdown Rules on false starts, offside or encroachment at line, Defensive backfield, 25 yards downfield from the LOS on the same side of the field as the down judge, Serves as the primary timekeeper if the game clock malfunctions, Watches receivers on their side of the field for illegal use of hands and blocking fouls, and for penalties on defensive back covering him, Watches sidelines to determine if runners are in or out of bounds, Signals referee when time expires at end of each quarter, Watches the blocks by receivers on their side of the field, looking for illegal blocks or holding by the receivers, If play goes to nearest side of field, helps determine if runner goes out of bounds, Focuses on the receivers to their side of the field to make sure the player is able to run his route without defensive interference, If play goes to the SJs area, helps to rule on whether a pass is complete or incomplete, Rules if receiver is in or out of bounds at time of catch, Kickoff Lines up on the receivers back restraining line and ensures the receiving team is lined up by rule, Punts Position 7-10 yards behind the receiver on the sideline, Field Goal/Point After Touchdown - Defensive backfield, lines up seven yards off the line of scrimmage over the snapper, watches for snap infractions and illegal blocks, Deep defensive backfield, 30 yards downfield. They also line themselves up with the line of scrimmage. The head linesman and line judge move toward the goal line at the snap of the ball. From 1982 to 1986, the Atlantic Coast Conference allowed officials to wear white shorts for hot weather games. FOA alumni have joined officiating crews in major college football conferences, including the Big 12 . The more heavily televised games and cups, such as the UEFA Champions League can have up to 5 officials present at all their games. Football is an essential piece of Americas fabric, uniting fans, players and communities with a simple yet powerful bond. [26] In the 2014 season, any conference that wanted to use the eight-official system could do so on an experimental basis. [9] Thus, this position is sometimes referred to as head referee and is considered to be the crew chief. In other leagues, the responsibility is assigned to the field judge or the back judge. [34] In 2015, Thomas became the NFL's first permanent female official. She officated the 2020 AFC Championship game. Reserve Referees. Though they dont spend much time on the pitch, the Fourth Offical is a key part of the game and act as the glue of the four officials, keeping them all together and keeping the players calm and collected. In college football, the referee confers with a replay official, who is stationed in the press box above the field, on the play and then announces the final result over the wireless microphone. Is in charge of the chain crew and the current position of the ball. Of these, one was nearly two pounds under regulation. [38] She worked NFC divisional games in 2020 and 2021,[37] and was the down judge for Super Bowl LV. Diagram showing the relative positions of the eight-official system. Makes any announcements during the game like penalties or other clarifications. The back-up and game balls will be stamped with the referees distinctive mark. In fact, theyre paid twice as much for postseason games as during the regular season. 1930. Rules on pass interference or holding downfield. One of the changes in the rules is that it has been made easier to penalize defenders who throw down a quarterback by hitting his helmet. Before every game, the NFL requires that its game balls be tested for inflation. Starting off at the top, the Head Referee is in charge of overseeing and enforcing the rules of the game in play. The umpire monitors the legality of play on the line of scrimmage with a special emphasison offensive holdingand illegal linemen down field. Darin Gantt of Profootballtalk.com and Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times lamented that it was in this manner that this gender barrier was broken. If youre wondering, How many officials are on the field during an NFL football game? youve come to the right place. In 2016, this provision was deleted, and the umpire now stands in the offensive backfield on all plays. If a team makes two successful challenges, they are awarded a third challenge. Similar to the down judge, they also watch for offsides players and encroachment and rule on plays on their side of the field. Three is the maximum number of challenges a team may use in a game. However, some players are still complaining about the quality of footballs. In some high school and minor leagues, the line judge is the official timekeeper of the game. During professional and most college football games, seven officials operate on the field. Here's a look at how the Rams and 49ers have fared over the past five years when Cheffers has served as the ref in one of their games (stats via Pro Football Reference). During turnovers, punts, and other returns by the defense, and play transitions from one direction to the other, the officials must also adjust. During the game, the officials gathered the 11 Patriots balls, which were presumably at 12.5 PSI when they were first inflated. The New England game balls were checked again at halftime, and were still at the legal pressure. What are the 4 officials in football? A line judge is also responsible for counting offensive players. Regardless, this change was a positive step toward increasing game quality. Responsibilities on a passing play include watching the receivers near that sideline to a point five to seven yards beyond the line of scrimmage. The experiment was continued for 12 games in the 2011 preseason, and was then discontinued afterwards. [30] The eighth official did not return in 2019. The official is responsible for the final determination of challenges made by the two teams' head coaches; and in the final 3 minutes (and all of overtime) of the game initiating a review of any play they believe warrants such attention. The referee monitors illegal hits on the quarterback, watches for illegal blocks near the quarterback and determines if the yardage chains are needed on the field for a measurement. For the NFL, this was the fifth official, added in 1947. The NFL has drafted new rules for roughing the passer. How many judges are in a football game? What Are the Offensive and Defensive Positions on a Football Team? Youth football leagues typically only have three officials for each game. How Long Does An American Football Game Last? A Quick Guide, Basketball Referee Roles And Responsibilities, The Hardest And Easiest Sports To Officiate, referees and officials involved in a soccer game, How Many Officials Are On The Field During A Football Game? 2. Each of the four officials is in charge of different aspects of the game and together they keep everything about the match and the players organized. [33] Since then, other women have officiated Division I college football games. There are 17 laws of the game that officials . For the 2016, 2017, and 2019 NFL preseasons, for 16, 5, and 2 games respectively, the NFL experimented with the middle judge (MJ). In 2013, college football's Big 12 Conference began using an eighth official, an alternate judge (A). The NFL has made a few changes to its rules that have affected the game. The ball is placed at the opponent's two-yard line after a touchdown. The back judge is responsible for monitoring the area between the umpire and the field judge. Officials inspect each ball before the game to ensure proper inflation. James Alder is an expert on the game of American football, blogs for The New York Times, and appears on radio shows. During an NFL football game, a line judge can call out of bounds, make a call, or assist with the chain crew. Prior to the snap, he counts all offensive players. In gridiron football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. It began opposite the head linesman and was used on extra-point tries and field goals. Eight-person crews officiate NFL games, making the Super Bowl the highest paying game of the year. [8] Although all officials on the crew may be responsible for any decision involving the application or interpretation of the rules, the referee has the final decision. Once the score is over, a team has four consecutive downs to advance to the next down. In most cases, the player is not able to roll off. Because their regular season spans only 18 weeks, the NFL is one of only two major sports leagues in the United States that only pay their officials on a contract basis as opposed to being full-time salaried employees, the other being Major League Soccer. A successful PAT conversion or goal post kick earns one point for the offense. The field judge has sometimes been the official timekeeper, and in a number of leagues will run the game clock on a six-person crew.[18][19]. The line judge is on the opposite side of the field from the down judge. Rules Guiding Football Game A single football match is played for 90 minutes, 45 minutes halves each with a 15-minute rest period in between. On punts and field goal attempts, the line judge also determines whether the kick is made from behind the line of scrimmage. He later revealed that he and his coaching staff had a 30-minute weekly meeting to discuss the crew. [39] The UFL later hired Thomas in 2010. It is most common for high school football games to have five officials, although this number can change depending on the league and state that games are played in. After the game, the balls are returned to the Officials Locker Room. The hat also is often used to signal a second foul called by the official on a play (by those officials that may carry only one flag); to indicate unsportsmanlike conduct committed against the official himself (as when a player shoves an official); or when some other situation requires a physical mark and the official has already used the ordinary item on the play. How Many Officials Are Needed For A Game To Take Place? The eight-person crews were used in bowl games, including games in the College Football Playoff, since officials from conferences using eight-person crews were chosen for the three playoff games. Over the next 40 years, the system would change into what is more-or-less equal to what most American football leagues use today, a seven-official system. Soccer Kick-Off Rules: Everything You Need To Know, 11 Soccer Throw-In Rules: All You Need To Know, Assessing and judging fouls and penalty appeals. official to watch scramblers, clock", "2009 FOOTBALL MANUAL For IOA Officials, Observers, Athletic Directors, and Coaches", "National League officials to work in crews of six (five)", "Why the ACC will use an eighth official called the 'center judge' in all conference games this season", "Inside Slant: Using Microsoft tablets for replay and more preseason experiments", "NFL taking another look at adding an 8th official in preseason test", "Big 12 adds eighth official just to keep up with up-tempo offenses", "XFL Q&A: Oliver Luck on lessons learned, Colin Kaepernick and sports betting", "CFL adds eighth official to monitor hits to helmet", "NFL experimenting with 8th on-field official", "Thomas will become first female referee in top tier of college football", "Thomas on field for Little Caesars Bowl", "Female ref Conti still chases NFL dream", "NFL makes Sarah Thomas first full-time female official", "Sarah Thomas, NFL's 1st Full-Time Female Ref, Gets 2015 Season Assignment", "Meet Sarah Thomas: The Only Female Official in NFL Playoff History", "Sarah Thomas Becomes 1st Woman to Officiate NFL Playoff Game", "UFL hires first female official in pro football", "United Football League Announces Officials And Explains Rules Differences For 2010 Season", "XFL breaks new ground by having a woman on every officiating crew", "Officiating crews for the 2020 XFL season", "Former officials are at odds with the NFL, too", "NFL's replacement officials would include first female ref", "Football referee Shannon Eastin a pioneer, but also a pawn", "XFL makes history again by opening doors to LGBTQ officials", "Officiating crews for the 2019 AAF season", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Official_(gridiron_football)&oldid=1136544818, Referee, umpire, head line judge, line judge, Referee, umpire, head line judge, line judge, back judge, Arena football, high school varsity, semi-pro, Referee, umpire, head line judge, line judge, field judge, Referee, umpire, head line-judge/down judge, Referee, umpire, head line-judge, line judge, back judge, field judge, side judge, center judge, This page was last edited on 30 January 2023, at 21:47. In four games in the 2010 preseason, the NFL experimented with an eighth official, a deep judge (DJ), in the defensive backfield opposite the back judge. Three years ago, Bruce Arians of the Arizona Cardinals said that he and his team would scout the officiating crew each week. Finally, in 1988, the NFL switched to the high-school and college football convention: the referee wears a white hat (with the NFL logo since Super Bowl XXXIX), and the other officials wear black hats with white stripes. Indicating and alerting the Head Referee, other players, and other officials when a player has strayed offside. Rookie Road may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. One of the roles of the back judge is to make sure the defensive team has no more than 11 players on the field. The Down Judge. Football Official The seven officials in an NFL game include: The Referee. Women Officiating Now (WON) aims to do just that. For the NFL and CFL, this was the seventh official, added in 1978 and 1991 respectively.[21][20]. On offense, a back judge might line up on the strong side of the offensive formation, and a side judge may be on the weak side of an offensive formation. During field goal attempts field judges serve as a second umpire, except in the NFL, where they are the lone official positioned behind the defensive line, as the umpire remains in the offensive backfield. This is usually a mistake, so look for where the contact was made and whether or not excessive force was used. The NFL has changed its football inspection procedures after the scandal of Deflategate. In the red zone, the back judge is positioned in the center of the end line, so he does not have to climb the stands to reach downfield. The umpire is the official that lines up approximately five yards off the line of scrimmage on the defensive side of the ball. The average salary for NFL referees was $205,000 in 2019, up $55,000 from the previous year. [32] Thomas later became the first woman to officiate a bowl game when she worked as a line judge during the 2009 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl between Marshall and Ohio. Usually there are four officials at a professional football game.There is one referee, who is the highest authority on the pitch and whose job is to ensure that the game is . In addition, the Line Judge can call a pass interference, illegal shifts, or holding a player. Using these prescribed mechanics ensures that the officiating crew sees all 22 players and their actions wherever they occur on the field. After it has been established that the running back will keep the ball, the referee then checks the running back and the contact behind him. They are responsible for watching over the line of scrimmage, reviewing player equipment, and counting the number of players on the field. In the NFL and CFL's seven-official system, the umpire is instead positioned in the offensive backfield where the center judge would be. Therefore, the pressure on game balls is regulated by the NFL. During most of the American Football League's existence (19601967), officials wore red-orange striped jerseys. They can initiate replay reviews on in certain circumstances. This judge keeps track of the wide receiver on their side of the field to watch for any fouls on the offensive or defensive side. Hi, my name is Steven Anderson and I am passionate about all sports - from soccer to ice hockey, basketball to baseball. A side judge also plays an integral role during field goal attempts, judging whether a kicker made a successful field goal. Rams: 2-1 (1-0 in 2021 . The third official is a linesman, who has responsibility for certain important decisions involving offside and goalscoring opportunities. How to Deal With Spectator Abuse: Advice for Referees, What Makes A Great Soccer Referee? Soccer is a popular sport all around the world. Learn more about NFL football referees below! How many referees are there in a soccer football game? They rule on pass interference, illegal blocks downfield, and incomplete passes, and are also responsible for counting defensive players. NFL referees work 20-24 hours a week, which is equivalent to three days at a typical 9-to-5 job. If the game ball is deflated before the end of the game, it will be reinflated to 13.0 PSI. All rights reserved. New England Patriots vs New York Giants NFL Rivalry. Its simply not possible to officiate every game in real time. On running plays, the referee observes the quarterback during and after the time he hands off the ball to a running back, focusing on him until the action has cleared in case the play becomes a play action pass or some other trick passing play. Watches the kicker and holder during kicking plays. In college football, the side judge is responsible for either the game clock or the play clock, which are operated by an assistant that the side judge directs. The level of training and review in which NFL officials participate makes additional time redundant. Similar to the head linesman, he rules on out of bounds plays for his sideline. On passing plays, the referee primarily focuses on the quarterback and approaching defenders. The balls are placed in bags, under the supervision of officials, and brought to the sidelines prior to kickoff. In the lower division cups, however, there sometimes arent even four officials. Originally Answered: How many officials are in football?