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[1] John Langenus. The following are the positions and responsibilities of each officiating positions. 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. If the game ball is deflated before the end of the game, it will be reinflated to 13.0 PSI. The NFL now acknowledges that the previous procedures were insufficient. Such responsibilities include ball spotting, penalty marking, and assisting the referee and umpire. The first new addition to the crew was the field judge (also referred to as the back umpire) in 1951, then the next addition being the back judge in 1979, and the seventh official, the side judge being added in 1991. 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. For years, college football referees were prohibited from announcing the number of a fouling player, except in the Western Athletic Conference and Mountain West Conference (and in all conferences when ejecting the offending player). Like the back judge, the field judge makes sure the defensive team has no more than 11 players on the field. They also need to know the strategic tendencies of both teams, as well as the habits of star players. And dont forget to check out our other articles for more information about referees! In other leagues, the responsibility is assigned to the field judge or the back judge. Its simply not possible to officiate every game in real time. 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. The NFL investigated the Patriots problem last season after the AFC Championship Game, and discovered that some of the teams players had underinflated footballs. Located 20 yards behind the defensive secondary, the side judge is responsible for determining whether a play is an out-of-bounds or a penalty. A referee is appointed to a football game in order to apply the Laws of the Game so that it is played fairly and safely. It is important to note that the pressure on game balls should be between 12.5 and 13.5 psi, or 12.5 to 135.0 psi. Some players are obsessed with them; others are indifferent to them. Without these rule keepers monitoring the progress of a football game, the game might not progress with a set structure. Side judge duties are essentially the same as the back judge. In the NFL, the referee also has final authority on the score and the down number in case of any disagreement. 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 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]. Watches the quarterback for passes beyond the line of scrimmage. 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. Free shipping for many products! U Sports and other leagues in Canada do not utilize the replay-review process. Any of the seven referees can throw flags onto the field. Officials are usually referred to by the general term of referees, but actually, there is only one referee on the field during a game. Diagram showing the relative positions of the traditional seven-official system (in white) in relation to the typical offensive (in blue) and defensive (in red) formations. The head linesman rules on all out-of-bounds plays along the sideline where positioned. The down judge/head line-judge marks the forward progress of the ball and is in charge of the chain crew with regard to its duties. Officials keep the game rolling along by monitoring the game clock and play clock. In addition to marking out-of-bounds plays, the side judge is also responsible for monitoring defensive substitutions and monitoring the game clock. The field judge was added in 1929 and the back judge in 1947. He will take the primary Head Referees position if he cannot fulfill his role for any reason. If the coach doesnt deliver the game ball to the team, the fans can demand it. 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. Having six total officiating crews, there will be one female official for each crew. 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). The field judge, side judge, and back judge become the trail/back positions, and the referee, head linesman/down judge, and line judge then become the lead/front positions. The playing field is 80 yards by 40 yards. Anything above or below these numbers will be deflated. Members of the officiating crew for American football games are known as game officials.It is extremely common for football fans to refer to every official onscreen as a referee, although this is technically not accurate because only one game official on the field is considered the referee. In addition, NFL teams have specially prepped balls for their starting quarterbacks. The Mississippi native's officiating career began in 2007 as a high school football referee. After the flag is thrown and play has stopped, the officials will discuss and announce the final penalty call to coaches, players, and fans. Video Assistant Referees (VARs) and Assistant VARs. These reports led to the NFL changing its policy and procedures surrounding game balls. [39] The UFL later hired Thomas in 2010. However, in the CFL, this was the fifth official, added in 1951.[20]. The umpire records all scores, timeouts, records the winner of the coin toss and wipes the ball dry between plays during inclement weather. Together with the back judge, the field judge rules whether field goal attempts are successful. During professional and most college football games, seven officials operate on the field. The referee can be identified by a white cap, while the other officials wear black caps (the hat color scheme was reversed in the NFL from 1979 to 1987, and in Canadian football until 2019). 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. Roles of The Match Officials. Up until 1950, the forerunner leagues to the present-day Canadian Football League (founded in 1958) used only four officials: The referee, umpire, head linesman and line judge. No woman had ever officiated at the professional level before. The referee will place this marking on the side of the ball, on the corner of the non-insignia panels. The NFL recently changed the way game balls are handled during games. Once the score is over, a team has four consecutive downs to advance to the next down. The line judge makes sure the quarterback does not cross the line of scrimmage before throwing the ball, watches for offensive lineman going downfield too early on punts, supervises the timing of the game and supervises substitutions by the team on the side of the field where positioned. Lookout. Also new for 2006 were black pants with a white stripe down the side to be worn in cold weather instead of the traditional white knickers. False Start in Football - Definition and Explanation. It is enjoyed by many different cultures and nationalities and it really brings people together to enjoy a good match. The position was traditionally known as head linesman. We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. 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. The NFL requires teams to return twenty-four footballs to the Officials Locker Room after every game. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. This position originated in the All-America Football Conference and is the deepest secondary official. The ball is placed at the opponents two-yard line after a touchdown. Once theyre checked, theyre used to start the game and are changed before each half. Ulises Saucedo. The NFL requires game balls to be inflated to between 12.5 and 13.5 psi. After practice, head coach Zac Taylor gave the last game ball hed received to Zips Cafe in Mt. Some players may fall on the quarterback in an attempt to avoid a roughing the pass penalty. Terri Valenti became the first woman to officiate professional football when she began working United Football League games in 2009. However, Kensil did not respond to requests for comment. 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. 1930. Rusty Baynes ( 1999, 2010 -present) Line Judge. The NFL does not own the footballs; each team provides at least a dozen balls for every game. 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 rules for roughing the passer in an NFL football game are now more clearer than ever. The back judge stands in the defensive backfield in the middle of the field. Three is the maximum number of challenges a team may use in a game. In its single aborted season in 2019, The Alliance of American Football's officials wore shirts that are black and white on top with stripes from the middle down, white stars on the sleeves and the number on the back and on the left front pocket. It began opposite the head linesman and was used on extra-point tries and field goals. The New England game balls were checked again at halftime, and were still at the legal pressure. 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. Each penalty results in different consequences, but the same yellow flag is thrown regardless of which penalty occurred. In 2017, NFL switched from head linesman to down judge as to the gender-neutral term following Sarah Thomas moving from line judge to the position. In 2006, the NFL completely redesigned the shirts, going to a sleeker-looking uniform which, however, no longer identified a given official's position from the front. NFL referees work 20-24 hours a week, which is equivalent to three days at a typical 9-to-5 job. 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 . Rookie Road may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Signaling when the ball has left the field and is out of bounds for a goal kick, corner kick, or throw-in. [38] She worked NFC divisional games in 2020 and 2021,[37] and was the down judge for Super Bowl LV. How much does an NFL Waterboy make? There is the referee, umpire, line judge, side judge, down judge, back judge, field judge and replay official. Watches the line of scrimmage for holding, illegal blocks, or other penalties. How many substitutions can be made in a football game? Game officials are typically accurate on 98.9% of calls. In the NCAA, the eighth official is known as the center judge. A referee must be confident, assertive and fair in order to successfully control the game. Henri Christophe. The number of female referees in English football has increased by 72% since 2016, the Football Association has revealed. Players may not make illegal contact with the passer while the ball is in flight. The NCAA transitioned to the gender-neutral term head line-judge. The umpire (U) traditionally stands behind the defensive line and linebackers, observing the blocks by the offensive line and defenders trying to ward off those blocks, looking for holding or illegal blocks. Watches the kicker and holder during kicking plays. [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. For years, the NFL and NCAA used seven-person crews. Similarly, the Indianapolis game balls were measured at halftime, and were within the regulation range. [30] The eighth official did not return in 2019. since 1994. They have also notified the game officials of their plans. A line judge is also responsible for counting offensive players. Many referees even receive pensions. Next time you watch a match, keep an eye out for the four officials and watch them work their magic on the pitch! This article is a list of American football officials who have experience working National Football League (NFL) games. Football officials enforce the rules of the gameand, as such, are usually the people whodraw the most ire from coaches, players and fans. In addition, the Line Judge can call a pass interference, illegal shifts, or holding a player. 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.