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. 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. Generally four, sometimes six. He lines up in the offensive backfield with the referee. The following are the positions and responsibilities of each officiating positions. Sometimes there are only three. Reserve Referees. Once the score is over, a team has four consecutive downs to advance to the next down. 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. Prior to the snap and during the play, each official, by position, has a specific area of responsibility on the field to watch specific player positions and watch for specific fouls. On passing plays, the referee primarily focuses on the quarterback and approaching defenders. [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. Three is the maximum number of challenges a team may use in a game. In Major League Soccer (MLS), three officials make up the crew members who will oversee the match: a referee and two assistants. [38] She worked NFC divisional games in 2020 and 2021,[37] and was the down judge for Super Bowl LV. The fourth official's assistance also includes: supervising the substitution procedure; checking a player's/substitute's equipment In CFL football, the replay official is not located at the stadium itself, but rather at the CFL Command Centre at the CFL Head Office in Toronto. Since 2015, Division I college football conferences have used eight game officials, the Alliance of American Football (AAF) in its only season in 2019 and the 2020 version of the XFL have used eight game officials. The referee is responsible for counting the offense while in the huddle and then after they break huddle to make sure there are 11 guys on the field. The Umpire. Allen Baynes ( 2008 -present) Side Judge. Indicating extra time at the end of the halves (usually with an electronic sign that has numbers on it). There are some nuances to the officials on the field, as not every official or referee has the same role. What does a referee do? The side judge makes sure the defensive team has no more than 11 players on the field and watches all eligible receivers from that side of the field. Advantages to this system include being able to eliminate unqualified officials simply by not offering them a contract the following season, where terminating full-time employees would require them to show cause. The Fourth Offical keeps the players manners in check and supervises substitutes. If youre wondering, How many officials are on the field during an NFL football game? youve come to the right place. After the game, the Patriots equipment staff had been informed of this incident and the NFL contacted its vice president of game operations, Mike Kensil. [23] In NCAA Division I FBS, the Center Judge becomes the "Acting Referee" should the referee become injured and unable to continue offiating. Watches the running back during running plays. Footballs are inflated to a pressure of approximately 12.5 to 13.5 pounds per square inch. A challenge is a way for a coach to ask an official to review the previous play with instant replay. For the NFL, this was the sixth official, added in 1965. The referee explains penalties to the offending team's captain and coach and says which player is responsible for the penalty. The penalties for roughing the passer in an NFL football game are complex and are often hard to interpret. Responsibilities on a passing play include watching the receivers near that sideline to a point five to seven yards beyond the line of scrimmage. There are also other referees and officials involved in a soccer game, but exactly how many officially are there per game? The head linesman and line judge move toward the goal line at the snap of the ball. While a defensive player may legally hit the quarterback when they are holding the ball, they are subject to a 15-yard personal foul for roughing the passer. The playing field is 80 yards by 40 yards. Defensive players are no longer allowed to hit the quarterback in the head or below the knees. The circumference of the ball must be 58-61cm and be of a circular shape. This position originated in the All-America Football Conference and is the deepest secondary official. (1966 inductee Hugh L. Ray was inducted for his 14-season tenure as the league's head of officiating, an off-field position.) If wearing knickers, high school officials wear socks with a "Northwestern stripe" pattern, which college officials used to wear; NFL officials wore socks with two white stripes bordering one black stripe. 2. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Proper training and. Soccer officials ensure that the game's rules are followed in every match. However, the NFL has not ruled on the Patriots yet. The NFL has made a few changes to its rules that have affected the game. In the NCAA, the eighth official is known as the center judge. Since the program began in 2010, 160 graduates have officiated in youth and high school leagues. The center judge (C) is positioned beside the referee in the offensive backfield adjacent to the referee, positioned equivalent to the umpire. 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. Because the referee is responsible for the general supervision of the game, the position is sometimes referred to as head referee or crew chief.[1][2][3]. A team has the right to defend its own touchdown, and must pass the ball to gain a first down. The pressure of a football is checked by officials before each game to ensure its safety. 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. U Sports and other leagues in Canada do not utilize the replay-review process. 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. He will take the primary Head Referees position if he cannot fulfill his role for any reason. Jeff Bergman ( 1991 -present) Line Judge 1991-2015; Head Linesman 2016-2017; Line Judge 2018-present. The head linesman rules on all out-of-bounds plays along the sideline where positioned. But in preseason games, NFL officials were unable to add a center judge, as it would have been an unsafe position for the umpire. In other leagues, the responsibility is assigned to the field judge or the back judge. How To Start Refereeing: What Equipment Do You Need? These looser-fitting pants allow for layering of warmer clothes underneath. It is illegal to play a football that is underinflated or deflated. In the 2015 season, the center judge became standard across all of FBS. Here are some facts about the NFLs game balls. It was not until 2019 that the CFL finally mirrored this convention, which had also been in use at the lower levels of football in Canada; prior to this, the referee wore a black hat, with the other officiating crew members wearing white hats with a black bill and black piping. Like the side judge and the field judge, the back judge rules on pass interference, illegal blocks downfield, and incomplete passes. No woman had ever officiated at the professional level before. During the game, the officials gathered the 11 Patriots balls, which were presumably at 12.5 PSI when they were first inflated. In addition to the general equipment listed above, the referee also carries a coin to conduct the pregame (and if necessary, overtime) coin toss. The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, American Athletic Conference, and Big 12 Conference implemented an eight-official system for games; the eighth official's position name changed to center judge (C) but this judge's location on the field was the same as the alternate judge was in 2013. 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. In the preseason, the NFL experiments with eight-person crews, adding a deep judge to observe downfield pass plays. Football officials enforce the rules of the gameand, as such, are usually the people whodraw the most ire from coaches, players and fans. It is enjoyed by many different cultures and nationalities and it really brings people together to enjoy a good match. During punts and field goals, the referee observes the kicker (and holder) and any contact made by defenders approaching them. In addition, the Line Judge can call a pass interference, illegal shifts, or holding a player. Prior to 1998, the Field Judge was the deep official in the center of the field, and the Back Judge was deep on the sideline. One thing hasnt changed: the pressure. Is in charge of the chain crew and the current position of the ball. The replay official is located upstairs in the stadium of the game played. 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 replay official has the final call over all challenges and reviews.[28]. However, in the CFL, this was the fifth official, added in 1951.[20]. From 1982 to 1986, the Atlantic Coast Conference allowed officials to wear white shorts for hot weather games. They rule on pass interference, illegal blocks downfield, and incomplete passes, and are also responsible for counting defensive players. An official is responsible for interpreting the rules of the game and enforcing them on the football field. How To Referee Basketball: Guide To Being A Good Officiating. This article is a list of American football officials who have experience working National Football League (NFL) games. The more heavily televised games and cups, such as the UEFA Champions League can have up to 5 officials present at all their games. In response to scrambling quarterbacks (Fran Tarkenton in particular), the line judge was added in 1965 to watch the opposite side of the line of scrimmage. [6] In addition, officials wore white (or red) "newsboy" style hats. In the NFL and CFL's seven-official system, the umpire is instead positioned in the offensive backfield where the center judge would be. 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. However, some players are still complaining about the quality of footballs. In high school football there are generally five officials, while youth leagues and middle school will typically use three officials at a game. Determining if a goalkeeper moved off the goal line before the taking of a penalty kick. The ball is placed at the two-yard line after the game, and after a touchdown, the offense can attempt to score two points. The third official is a linesman, who has responsibility for certain important decisions involving offside and goalscoring opportunities. Learn more about NFL football referees below! The field judge is the official that lines up 25 yards deep in the defensive backfield on the tight end side of the field. 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. In fact, theyre paid twice as much for postseason games as during the regular season. [citation needed] Critics argue that full-time officials would be free from the distractions of a second job, but proponents of part-time officials point out that the NFL would lose a number of qualified officials because many of them are owners, presidents, or CEOs of various companies. In gridiron football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. According to NFL rules, game balls must be inflated between 12.5 and 13.5 psi, but teams can choose to supply their own footballs. Similar to the field judge, just covering the opposite side of the field. The back judge (B or BJ) stands deep behind the defensive secondary in the middle of the field, judging the action of nearby running backs, receivers (primarily the tight ends) and nearby defenders. 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. For several decades, all NFL officials wore white hats. So a total of 8-9 referees handle a football match in 2019. 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. The game balls are then numbered one through twelve. All rights reserved. There is one female NFL referee, Sarah Thomas. The umpire stands opposite the referee, also behind the line of scrimmage. Meanwhile, the NCAA Football Rules Committee has given all Football Bowl Subdivision conferences the option of implementing the new system. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. James Alder is an expert on the game of American football, blogs for The New York Times, and appears on radio shows. 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. In any event, veteran officials can earn substantial salaries for their work. This is the newest position of all the official types and their primary job is to keep everything calm and organized while the other officials watch the main bulk of the game. Side judges rule on pass interference, illegal blocks downfield, and incomplete passes, and also count defensive players. NFL officials have said that inflated balls should be in a range between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch, but the latest report indicates that the pressures of 11 Patriots game balls were below that range. Michael Banks ( 2002 -present) Side Judge 2002-2014; Field Judge 2015-present. Officials inspect each ball before the game to ensure proper inflation. The opponent's two-yard line is the first stop in a football game. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. 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 . Football 101 - The Basics of Beginning a Football Game, Holding in Football - Definition and Explanation, 30 Great Cheers and Chants for Cheerleaders, The Slot in Football - Definition and Explanation. The NFL investigated the Patriots problem last season after the AFC Championship Game, and discovered that some of the teams players had underinflated footballs. [17], The position is called the back umpire in Canadian amateur football; all other leagues use the term field judge. A successful PAT conversion or goal post kick earns one point for the offense. 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. However, after the injuries of the umpires, NFL officials moved back to their defensive side during play. In addition to his salary, NFL officials also get additional payments for every game they referee. [6] For this reason, the NFL carried out experiments in the 2001 preseason with the umpire placed in the offensive backfield adjacent to the referee. American football officials generally use the following equipment: For ease of recognition, officials are usually clad in a black-and-white vertically striped shirt and black trousers with a thin white stripe down the side (this was formerly white knickers with black/white striped stirrup stockings or one-piece stockings). During a sack, a pass rusher must be able to put all his weight on the quarterback without risking a foul call. 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]. 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. Makes out of bounds calls on his sideline. The harsh winter weather can make refs wish they were at home instead of working in the cold. How Many Crosslaces Are on an Official NFL Football. Now, the Big 12 and SEC are planning to try eight-person crews for 2014. The side judge is in the same position as the field judge, just on the other side of the field. Uzomah may deliver a third ball. However, if a defensive player hits the quarterback too hard, he or she may be flagged as a roughing the passer. Taylors plan was to deliver two more game balls to other bars. 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. Game officials are typically accurate on 98.9% of calls. Side judge duties are essentially the same as the back judge. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. This is particularly dangerous for fast players, because the force required to bring down a quarterback can be enormous. 2023 National Football League. Without these rule keepers monitoring the progress of a football game, the game might not progress with a set structure. They also wear protective gear and uniforms, such as facemasks, ear muffs, and a waist pouch with hand warmers. Players may not make illegal contact with the passer while the ball is in flight. Linemen make about $75,000 a year, and can move up as their skills improve. College football and the NFL use seven different officials to monitor the game. During an NFL football game, a line judge can call out of bounds, make a call, or assist with the chain crew. However, Kensil did not respond to requests for comment. In high school the line judge is the official timekeeper of the game. $53,000 per year On average, NFL waterboys make $53,000 per year (according to Stack.com). The NFL also requires teams to use these balls exclusively for the kicking game. The NFL has changed its football inspection procedures after the scandal of Deflategate. However, in Canada, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame has inducted a few game officials as members of their Hall of Fame. The footballs are also subject to doctoring and alteration by teams to make them feel better. A referee signal is a way that the officials communicate with teams and fans during a game. There is the referee, umpire, line judge, side judge, down judge, back judge, field judge and replay official. Inflation standards for game balls in the NFL have been in place for decades. The balls are placed in bags, under the supervision of officials, and brought to the sidelines prior to kickoff. Back judges cover the area in the middle of the field between themselves and umpires. How many more months til' Football" 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). 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. Hi, my name is Steven Anderson and I am passionate about all sports - from soccer to ice hockey, basketball to baseball. The ball is placed at the opponents two-yard line after a touchdown. The Head Referee also keeps track of the time and keeps any notes of time that needs to be added on to the end of the match. [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). Officiating an NFL game takes years of training and experience. Proponents also argue that there is only one game per week and the regular season is only four months long, and that having full-time officials does not necessarily guarantee that they will make fewer officiating mistakes. 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. 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.