The down judge (DJ) in the NFL, CFL, and the 2022 version of the USFL; head line-judge (H or HL) in college and some states for high school football; or head linesman (H or HL) stands at one end of the line of scrimmage (usually the side opposite the press box, always with the chain crew), looking for possible offsides, encroachment and other fouls before the snap. However, this doesnt mean that officials from other sports are interchangeable. [7] In the 2010 season, college officials and, in many states, high school officials, were given the option of wearing the black cold-weather pants. So overall, the standard number of officials that are in a soccer game is four: the Head Referee, two Assistant Referees, and the Fourth Offical. There are some nuances to the officials on the field, as not every official or referee has the same role. In most cases, the player is not able to roll off. Late in the 2018 playoffs, the CFL added an eighth official to the on-field crew; it did not have an official position title. The line judge is on the opposite side of the field from the down judge. 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. It depends on the games and cups themselves. During each play from scrimmage, the referee is positioned behind the offensive team, favoring the right side (if the quarterback is a right-handed passer). The field judge makes decisions near the sideline on his or her side of the field, judging the action of nearby running backs, receivers and defenders. Therefore, the pressure on game balls is regulated by the NFL. New England Patriots vs New York Giants NFL Rivalry. The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game Sunday to advance to their first Super Bowl appearance in 30 years. 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. In the NCAA, the eighth official is known as the center judge. They consist of the Head Referee, two Assistant Referees, and the final one who is referred to as the Fourth Offical. The practice of having the referee announce penalties or clarify complex and/or unusual rulings over a wireless microphone started in the NFL in 1975. In high school the line judge is the official timekeeper of the game. This is usually a mistake, so look for where the contact was made and whether or not excessive force was used. [25] Main responsibilities were to look for holding near the line of scrimmage. The referees wore red hats, the others white, each with the AFL logo; the league switched to the standard black and white stripes emulating the elder league for their last two seasons before their merger with the NFL was completed (1968 and 1969). However, after the injuries of the umpires, NFL officials moved back to their defensive side during play. The official also reviews all scoring plays during the game. During instant replay reviews in the NFL, the referee confers with the NFL's replay center in New York City, which makes the final ruling. James Alder is an expert on the game of American football, blogs for The New York Times, and appears on radio shows. The circumference of the ball must be 58-61cm and be of a circular shape. The opponent's two-yard line is the first stop in a football game. For the NFL and CFL, this was the seventh official, added in 1978 and 1991 respectively.[21][20]. The umpire is the official that lines up approximately five yards off the line of scrimmage on the defensive side of the ball. [11] In March 2010, the NFL announced that this repositioning would be permanent, after five major injuries were suffered by umpires in 2009 (two concussions and three knee or shoulder injuries requiring surgery). 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. The lineup of officials usually includes the Head Referee, the two Assistant Referees, the Fourth Offical, and then a Video Assistant Referee. Strong backgrounds in College Football are represented as 33 of the 35 USFL officials have worked in Power Five Conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, PAC-12, and SEC). In 2016, this provision was deleted, and the umpire now stands in the offensive backfield on all plays. As no teams in the league wore red or orange, there was no prospect of a clash of colors. Referees enforce FIFA Laws of the Game in connection with each match. The heavily televised games usually have lots of officials and coverage in comparison to the less known and local games. To ask for a challenge, the coach will throw a red flag on the field after a play. During a play, a side judge may make a false start call, and back up the head line judge when necessary. Here are some facts about the NFLs game balls. The Alliance of American Football used the sky judge, who had the authority to assess penalties (or overturn penalties) for unsafe play, and (within the final five minutes of the fourth quarter) either call or overturn pass interference penalties against either the offense or defense. They consist of: Referee, Head Linesman, Line Judge, Umpire, Back Judge, Side Judge, and Field Judge. A referee is the only official wearing a white hat, all other officials wear black hats. 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. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. 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. For the NFL, this was the sixth official, added in 1965. The field judge rules on plays that cross the defense's goal line, rules on the legality of catches and pass interference penalties and monitors all eligible receivers on the tight end side of the field. Side judges rule on pass interference, illegal blocks downfield, and incomplete passes, and also count defensive players. He also helps with offside, encroachment, false start, and other line of scrimmage calls. Each of the officials roles works hand in hand with each other which means the Head Referee doesnt have to worry about being in a dozen places at once. She officated the 2020 AFC Championship game. In addition to that, the NFL requires teams to open six new footballs in their locker room two hours prior to the game, and they must be specially marked. The umpire stands opposite the referee, also behind the line of scrimmage. During an NFL football game, a line judge can call out of bounds, make a call, or assist with the chain crew. Rookie Road may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. In 1978, the NFL added a fifth official: the back judge. The more heavily televised games and cups, such as the UEFA Champions League can have up to 5 officials present at all their games. The rules regarding game balls are available at Pro Football Talk. . Defensive players are no longer allowed to hit the quarterback in the head or below the knees. Together with the field judge, the back judge rules whether field goal attempts are successful. It will always be there.. During the 1940s, the NFL officials wore color-striped shirts that represented their positions; black and white for referees, red and white for umpires, orange and white for head linemen, and green and white for field judges. Two Game Officials will be designated by the Referee to inspect and record the PSI reading on each ball. College football and other professional leagues soon adopted this practice. How many judges are in a football game? Certain positions are omitted in systems with six officials or less. The third official is a linesman, who has responsibility for certain important decisions involving offside and goalscoring opportunities. They can initiate replay reviews on in certain circumstances. Usually, officials put the loop around their index finger when it is first down, the middle finger when it is second down, and so on. Grantis Bell (2020-present) Back Judge. The field judge stands on the sideline in the defensive backfield, about 20 yards away from the line of scrimmage. The line judge is the official who lines up on the opposite side of the field from the head linesman. Linemen make about $75,000 a year, and can move up as their skills improve. The position of a side judge in an NFL football game is critical to the integrity of the game. 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. As the umpire's traditional starting position is situated where much of the play's initial action occurs, it is considered by many to be the most dangerous officiating position. Unlike regular footballs, which are inflated to a range between 13.5 and 12.5 psi, the game balls provided to teams are deflated to a lower pressure. Is in charge of the chain crew and the current position of the ball. Officials' hats are occasionally used as markers. Historically, American football officials have been men. A specially designed wristband that is used to remind officials of the current down. NFL games feature eight-person crews of referees. Each official has his own title and assigned responsibilities: referee, umpire, head linesman, line judge, back judge, field judge and side judge. The ball is placed at the opponents two-yard line after a touchdown. For several decades, all NFL officials wore white hats. 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? The side judge is the official positioned 20 yards deep in the defensive backfield near the same sideline as the head linesman. The NFL switched the umpire in 2010 and a year later, experimented with eight-person crews.