How Many Officials Are There In An NFL Game?
Contents
There are a total of 120 officials in an NFL game. This includes the seven on-field officials, as well as the 113 off-field officials.
Introduction
In American football, there are typically seven officials on the field during a game. These officials are responsible for ensuring that the game is played fairly and safely. The seven officials are the referee, umpire, head linesman, line judge, back judge, side judge, and field judge.
The Various Officials in an NFL Game
Depending on the level of play, there are typically between 4 and 7 officials in an NFL game. The officials are responsible for enforcing the rules of the game and keeping players safe. They also keep the game flowing smoothly by making sure the ball is in play and keeping track of the score.
The Referee
The referee is the leader of the officiating crew and announcement of penalties and initial enforcement thereof. He also signals touchdown, field goals, and extra points. In the NFL he wears a white cap with a black stripe down the middle. He also carries a handkerchief in his back pocket to wipe his hands off before he signals a play. If a coach challenges a play, the referee will confer with the other officials to make sure there is enough evidence to overturn the call on the field.
The Umpire
The umpire is responsible for the general supervision of the game and has the final decision on all rulings. He is positioned behind the defense at the line of scrimmage. His primary responsibility is to rule on the legality of the snap, whether a forward pass is legal, and if a player has gone out of bounds. He also watches for and calls holding and pass interference infractions against either team. Umpires also keep track of timeouts called, scores, downs, and any other information necessary to run the game. In addition, they handle all duties relating to yardage markers and chains.
The umpire wears a white cap with black stripe running down the center, black shoes, black pants with white stripes running down each side seam, and a black sweater or shirt with white stripes running across the chest and back.
The Head Linesman
The head linesman is responsible for two main duties: line of scrimmage rulings and watching for interference downfield. On plays where the ball is inside the hashmarks, the head linesman is responsible for determining whether a player touched the ball before it went out of bounds or if a player has crossed the line of scrimmage before the snap. He also keeps an eye on potential illegal use of hands downfield, as well as any receiver who may be pushed out of bounds by a defender while making a catch.
The Line Judge
The line judge is responsible for making sure that the offensive linemen do not illegally move past the line of scrimmage before the play starts, as well as keeping an eye on the quarterback to make sure he does not cross the line of scrimmage before he throws the ball. The line judge also watches for any illegal blocks that may occur downfield. If a player is caught illegally blocking another player more than five yards from the line of scrimmage, it is considered a personal foul and will result in a fifteen-yard penalty.
The Back Judge
The back judge is responsible for supervising the defensive backfield and monitoring all plays from this area of the field. He also acts as the alternate referee, assuming the duties of the referee when he is not on the field of play. The back judge must have a good understanding of the rules and be able to make quick decisions.
The Duties of the Officials
There are seven officials in an NFL game. They are the referee, umpire, head linesman, line judge, back judge, side judge, and field judge. The referee is the leader of the officials and is responsible for the administration of the game. The umpire is responsible for the timing of the game and for enforcing the rules regarding player contact.
The Referee
The referee is the leader of the officiating crew and ultimately responsible for the proper conduct of the game. He announces all rulings and imposes penalties for rule infractions. The referee also keeps time on scoreboard clocks and signals when time expires in each period. In the NFL, there are seven officials who wear black-and-white stripes on their shirts: the referee, umpire, head linesman, line judge, side judge, back judge and field judge.
The Umpire
The umpire is responsible for the enforcement of all playing rules relating to the actual conduct of the game on the field, such as illegal use of hands, interference, and unsportsmanlike conduct. He also keeps track of the down marker and ensures that it is moved properly after each play. The umpire also has the authority to disqualify players and to assess penalties against teams.
The Head Linesman
The head linesman is responsible for making sure that the scrimmage line is set correctly and that there are no false starts or encroachments by either team. He also keeps an eye on the wide receivers to make sure they are not interfering with the defensive backs. In addition, the head linesman calls out the number of the player who committed a foul, so that the player can be appropriately penalized.
The Line Judge
The line judge is responsible for making sure that the offensive and defensive lines are set prior to the snap, and also for keeping an eye on the quarterback to make sure he does not cross the line of scrimmage before the ball is released. Additionally, the line judge is responsible for spotting the ball after each play and ensuring that it is placed correctly for the next play. In case of a fumble, it is the job of the line judge to determine which team has recovered the ball.
The Back Judge
The back judge is responsible for supervising the defensive backfield and making sure that there are no more than 11 players on the field. In addition, the back judge is responsible for calling out-of-bounds plays and keeping track of the time on the play clock.
The back judge also has a number of specific duties during kickoffs and punts. On kickoffs, the back judge is responsible for signaling touchbacks and making sure that no players are more than five yards behind the kicker when he kicks the ball. On punts, the back judge is responsible for making sure that there are no more than two blockers in front of the punter when he kicks the ball.
In addition, the back judge is responsible for keeping an eye on all of the players on the field and calling penalties when he sees them commit a foul.
Conclusion
After doing some research, we have found that there are normally seven officials in an NFL game. However, there can be anywhere from six to eight officials depending on the circumstances.
