In American football, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. They are traditionally clad in a black-and-white striped shirt, white pants with a black belt, and black shoes. Thus, officials are often called zebras.
Equipment
- Whistle -- Used to stop play.
- Penalty Flag -- A bright yellow colored flag that is thrown on the field to indicate a penalty on the play. A weight such as sand or beans is usually tied to one corner.
- Bean Bag -- Used to mark various spots that are not penalties. For example, it is used to mark the spot of a fumble, or where a player caught a punt. It's either colored white or blue, depending on the official's league, college conference, or level of play.
- Down Hand Indicator -- A specially designed wristband that is used to remind officials of the current down. It has an elastic loop attached to it that is wrapped around the fingers. 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.
Positions
The NFL and College Football primary use a seven-official system.
Referee
A referee is responsible for the general supervision of the game and has the final authority on all rulings. He can be identified by his white cap. During the play from scrimmage, he positions himself behind the offensive team, favoring the right side (if the quarterback is a right-handed passer).
On pass plays, he primarily focuses on the quarterback and defenders approaching him. The referee rules on possible roughing the passer and, if the quarterback loses the ball, rules whether it is a fumble or an incomplete pass.
On running plays, the referee observes the quarterback during and after the handoff to the running back, remains with him until the action has cleared, then checks the running back and the contact behind him.
During punts and field goals, the referee observes the kicker and any contact with defenders.
Umpire
The umpire stands behind the defensive line, observing the blocks by the offensive line and the defenders trying to ward off those blocks -- looking for holding or illegal blocks. He moves forward towards the line of scrimmage as passing plays develop in order to penalize any offensive linemen who move illegally downfield before the pass is thrown. He also assists on ruling incomplete passes when the ball is thrown short.
Head Linesman
The head linesman stands at one end of the line of scrimmage, looking for possible offsides, encroachment and other penalties before the snap. As the play develops, he is responsible for the action near his sideline. During the start of passing plays, he is responsible to watch the receivers near his sideline to a point 5-7 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
He marks the forward progress of the ball and is in charge of the chain crew in regards to its duties.
Line Judge
The line judge assists the head linesman at the other end of the line of scrimmage, looking for possible offsides, encroachment and other penalties before the snap. As the play develops, he is responsible for the action near his sideline.
During the start of passing plays, he is responsible to watch the receivers near his sideline to a point 5-7 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Afterwards, he rules if a pass is forward or a lateral, and if a pass is illegally thrown beyond the line of scrimmage.
In high school and minor leagues, the line judge is the official timekeeper of the game. In the NFL, college and other levels of football where the official time is kept on the stadium scoreboard clock, the line judge becomes the backup timekeeper.
Field Judge
The field judge works downfield on the same side as the line judge. He makes decisions near the sideline on his side of field, judging the action of nearby running backs, receivers and defenders. He rules on pass interference, illegal blocks downfield, and incompete passes.
With the back judge, he rules whether field goal attempts are successful.
Side Judge
The side judge works downfield on the same side as the head linesman. He makes decisions near the sideline on his side of field, judging the action of nearby running backs, receivers and defenders. He rules on pass interference, illegal blocks downfield, and incompete passes.
During field goal attempts he serves as a second umpire.
Back Judge
The back judge stands deep behind the defensive secondary in the middle of the field, judging the action of nearby running backs, receivers (primary the tight ends) and nearby defenders. He rules on pass interference, illegal blocks downfield, and incompete passes.
With the field judge, he rules whether field goal attempts are successful.
Other officiating systems
Arena Football, High school football, and other levels of football have other officiating systems.
- A four-official system only uses the referee, the umpire, the head linesman and the line judge. It's primary used at lower levels of football.
- A five-official system is used in Arena Football. It adds the back judge to the four-official system.
- A six-official system uses the seven-offical system without the side judge.
Trivia
- The practice of having the referee announce penalties over a wireless microphone started in the NFL in 1974. College football and other professional leagues soon copied this tradition.
- For several decades, every NFL official wore white hats. In 1979, NFL referees started to wear black hats, while every other NFL official continued to wear white -- apparently a cost-cutting move. Finally in 1988, the NFL copied what high-school and college football had been doing for years: The referee puts on a white hat and the other officials put on a black hat.
- The NFL is the only major sports league in the United States that only pays their officials part-time. Critics argue that full-time officials would free them from the distractions of a second job. But proponents of part-time officials point out that the NFL would lose a number of current officials because many of them are owners, presidents, or C.E.O.s of various companies. Plus, proponents argue, there is only one game per week. And full-time officials does not necessarily guarantee that they will make fewer officiating mistakes.
External links
Last updated: 05-09-2005 14:24:21
