American Football 101, Part 3: The Role of Officials | Thebigtip

In part one of our series we discussed the offensive side of football. In part two of our series we discussed the defensive side of football.

Now in our third installment we will discuss the part officials play in the sport of football and also we will look at some of the most common penalties that are called by the officials.

We will discuss the proper equipment as well.

Also we will distinguish between which penalties are called on the offense and which are called on the defense.

Officials and their job on the field

The officials on a football field are easy to spot. They wear shirts with vertical black and white stripes. The shirt gave the officials there nickname of “zebras”. The pants they wear are white and resemble knickers.

On the back of the official’s shirt is a letter telling you what role the official has on the field. Officials wear a hat and carry a beanbag, a yellow penalty flag or marker, and a whistle.  These objects help the official do his job.

The hat which has black and white stripes ( unless it is the referee’s hat which is black and the only black hat) can be used to mark when a player has stepped out of bounds and comes back in or it there is a second penalty on the play it acts like a second penalty flag.

The yellow penalty flag is used to mark when and where rules infractions take place. The bean bag is normally white and used to mark the ball in the case of kick returns (kickoffs and punts), fumbles and interceptions.

The whistle is used to let the players know the start and stop of play.

The Offense is colored or maked by blue circles, the defense is colored or marked by red circles, and officals are colored or marked by white circles

This is an I-Formation offense and a 4-3 defense

Referee(R) - Also known as the Head Referee (head official) and is the only official that wears a plain white hat. He positions himself behind the offense normally on the right side (since most quarterbacks are right handed) of the formation.

First thing he does is count the offensive players on the field. If the play is a pass play he focuses on the quarterback and the defenders rushing him. The referee looks for roughing the passer or if the quarterback is hit with the ball in his hand on whether the ball is a pass attempt and incomplete or a fumble. (Note: Roughing the passer and other penalties will be discussed later).

If the play is a running play the Referee stays with the quarterback until he is sure the quarterback did not fake the ball to the running backs. After he is sure it is a running play the Referee watches the running back and contact behind him.

If it is a kicking situation or play the Referee watches the punter on punts and the kicker and holder on field goals. He is watching for roughing the kicker, punter, and the holder.

The Referee announces the penalties and the party that caused the infraction. The Referee has final say on all rulings but confers with the other officials to make sure the call is correct.

If a play requires instant replay there are two different systems. In college every play is review and a replay official up above the field looks at the play on video monitors and sends his judgment down to the Referee.

In the NFL teams can only ask for two replay challenges per game. If they get them both challenges right they get a third challenge. If they get the challenge wrong they lose time outs.

The Referee goes to the replay monitor and watches the video whereas the Referee gets the judgment of the replay official in college football. The Referee makes the final decision in the NFL.

The exception is in the final two minutes of the half and the game. During the last two minutes of the half and the game instant replay is handled by the replay booth.

Umpire (U) - The Umpire is positioned behind the defensive line and slightly behind the linebackers. If you see an official receive contact (get hit) during a play it is more than likely the Umpire.

The job of the Umpire is to watch for infractions by the offensive and defensive linebackers on running and passing plays.  He counts the players on offense as well.

On passing plays he moves toward the line of scrimmage. Mainly to open passing lanes but also to watch the quarterback to make sure any forward passes are behind the line of scrimmage and that no offensive linemen are illegally down field.

He also helps rule on incomplete passes and rules on the legality of a player’s equipment.

Head Linesman (H or HL) - The Heads Lineman is positioned on the sideline at the end of the line of scrimmage normally opposite of the press box.  The job of the Head Linesman is to watch for pre-snap fouls by the offensive and defensive line.

After the snap of the ball the Head Linesman is responsible for the action on his side of the field near the sideline including in a player steps out of bounds. He watches the contact for the first five to ten yards between the receivers and the defensive backs.

He watches to make sure passes to his side of the field or either a forward pass or a lateral. He also makes sure the quarterback is behind the line of scrimmage when he releases the ball on a forward pass and helps on incomplete passes.

He is also responsible for the chain crew (the guys who hold up the makers with ten yards of chain between them and the down marker).  He makes sure the chain crew place the markers correctly to ensure accurate measurements for first downs.

After the play is over the Head Linesman helps mark the forward progress or loss of progress of the ball. He also helps single if the football breaks the plain of the end zone.

Line Judge (L or LJ) - The Line Judge lines up at the end of the line of scrimmage on the opposite side of the Head Linesman. He has a lot of the same duties of the Head Linesman as well and counts the offensive players before the snap.  

The job of the Line Judge is to watch the offensive and defensive line for pre-snap infractions. He is responsible for the action near his side of the field. He also watches the contact between receivers and defensive backs for the first five to ten yards.

The Line Judge watches passes to his side of the field to make sure they are a forward pass or a lateral. He also makes sure the quarterback is behind the line of scrimmage on a forward pass and helps on incomplete passes.

After the play is over he helps mark the forward or backward progress of the ball. Also helps single if the football breaks the plain of the end zone.

On field goals attempts and punts the Line Judge makes sure the kick occurs behind the line of scrimmage. 

Field Judge (F or FJ) - The Field Judge lines up down the field behind the defensive secondary and on the same side of the field as the Line Judge. Before the ball is snapped he counts the defensive players.

The job of the Field Judge is to watch the action down field near his sideline. He helps rule on pass interference infractions by both offensive and defensive players.

The Field Judge watches down field blocks on his side of the field by offensive players to make sure they are legal. He also helps rule on incomplete passes.

On field goal attempts the Field Judge rules weather if it was successful or not.

Side Judge (S or SJ) - The Side Judge lines up down the field behind the defensive secondary and on the same side of the field as the Head Linesman.  The Side Judge has many of the same duties as the Field Judge. He counts the number of defensive players pre-snap as well.

The Side Judge’s job is to watch the action down field near his sideline. He also helps rule on pass interference penalties by both offensive and defensive players.

He helps rule on incomplete passes. He also watches to offensive players who are blocking down field for illegal blocks on his side of the field.

On field goal attempts he acts as a second back Umpire. In college football the Side Judge is responsible for the play clock.

Back Judge (B or BJ) - The Back Judge is positioned behind the secondary in the middle of the field and covers the area between him and the Umpire. He has many of the same jobs like the Field Judge and Side Judge.

Except instead of watching the side lines for pass interference by the offense or defense he watches the middle of the field. The Back Judge watches the action in the middle of the field as well as the blocks down field by offensive players.

He helps rule on incomplete passes as well.  On field goal attempts he helps rule on the weather they are good or not.

He has final say over the legality of kicks not from scrimmage namely kickoffs.  In the NFL the Back Judge is responsible for the play clock and calling delay of game penalties as well.

Equipment used in football and common penalties:

The equipment and penalties in football are just about the same in college and pro football. We will examine the equipment required so there is no penalty called.

We will also list some common penalties. We will also give you the difference in the in pro and college football in reference to certain penalties. We will also list the differences in offensive and defensive penalties.

Standard Equipment:

Shoulder pads: Go over the shoulders and under the jersey protect the shoulders and chest

Knee pads: Go inside the pants and protect the knees

Thigh pads: Go inside the pants and protect the thighs

Helmet: Worn over the head and used to protect the head

Chin strap: Goes on the helmet and helps keep the helmet on the head and steady

Mouth piece: Goes inside the mouth and is used to protect the mouth

Common offensive penalties:

(Pre-snap penalties first and the amount of yards penalized)

False Start: (5 yards) when any offensive player moves after they are set but before the snap of the ball

Illegal Motion: (5 yards) when any offensive player in motion moving forward at the snap of the ball

Illegal Shift: (5 yards) when a player not in motion is not set before the snap of the ball or two players in motion or all 11 players not set for a second before the snap of the ball

Illegal Formation: (5 yards) when there are not 7 offensive players on the line of scrimmage

Delay of game: (5 yards) when the offensive does not snap the ball before the play clock runs out

Offensive holding: (10 yards) when an offensive player holds a defensive player trying to make a tackle or rush the quarterback

Chop Block: (15 yards) when an offensive lineman tries to cut a defensive player that is already being blocked by an offensive player

Illegal Touching of a Forward Pass: (5 yards) when an ineligible receiver touches the ball without it being touched by an eligible receiver or a defensive player

Ineligible Receiver Down Field: when an ineligible receiver goes past the line of scrimmage before a pass is thrown forward

Illegal Forward Pass: (5 yards and loss of down) when the quarterback throws the ball after he has past the line of scrimmage

Intentional Grounding: (varies) when a quarterback throws the ball away but it does not go pass the line of scrimmage and there is no receiver in the area the ball is intentionally thrown incomplete

1. NFL: 10 yard penalty or from the spot of the foul whichever is longer and loss of down

2. College: spot foul and loss of down

Offensive pass interference: (varies) when an offensive receiver uses physical contact on a defensive backs affecting his ability to protect against the pass

1. NFL: 10 yard penalty and an automatic first down. If in the end zone ball moved to the 1 yard line

2. College: 15 yard penalty

Common defensive penalties:

Encroachment: (5 yards) when a defensive player crosses the neutral zone and touches and offensive player or is unabated (free shot) at the quarterback before the snap of the ball

Neutral Zone Infraction: (5 yards) when a defensive player is in the neutral zone before or while the ball is being snapped

Defensive Offside: (5 yards) when jumps into the neutral zone causing an offensive player to move

Delay of Game: (5 yards) when a defensive player holds up the flow of the game

Running into the Kicker: (5 yards) when a defensive player fails to block a kick and lightly runs into the kicker or the punter

Roughing the Kicker: (15 yards and automatic first down) when a defensive player fails to block a kick and runs hard into the kicker or the punter

Illegal Contact: (5 yards and automatic first down) when a defensive back touches a wide receiver after 5 yard from the line of scrimmage

Roughing the Passer: (15 yards and automatic first down) when a defensive player hits the quarterback after he has thrown the ball

Roughing the Snapper: (15 yard and automatic first down) when a defensive player hits the snapper before he can get back into a protective position after snapping the ball

Defensive holding: (5 yards) when a defensive player holds a receiver or an offensive player trying to block him

Helmet to Helmet Contact: (15 yards and automatic first down) when a defensive player hits an offensive player while leading with is head

Illegal touching defense: (first down at spot of foul) when the defense touches a kickoff before it goes ten yards

Defensive Pass Interference: (varies) when a defensive player touches a receiver egregiously before the ball makes it to the receiver or hinders him from catching the ball

1. NFL: automatic first down at the spot of the foul

3. College: 15 yards or the spot of the foul whichever is closer to the line of scrimmage

Common offensive and defensive penalties:

Facemask: (15 yards) any player that grabs an opposing players facemask

Tripping: (10 yards) when a player intentional trips another player

Clipping: (15 yards) when a player blocks another player from behind and below the waist

Illegal Block in the Back: (10 yards) when a player blocks another player above the waist but in the back

Substitution Infraction: (5 yards) when a team has 12 or more players in the huddle or attempting to leave the field when the ball is snapped

Illegal Participation: (15 yards) when a team has 12 or more players on the field during a play or entering the field of play after the snap of the ball

Personal foul: (15 yards) when a player commits a conduct or safety related infraction; Contact foul

Unsportsmanlike Conduct: (15 yards) when a player, coach, or fan acts or speaks in a manor deemed to be intentionally harmful or especially objectionable to the game officials or to the rules; non-contact foul

While this may not be every job of the officials it is a list of the main jobs of the officials and their place on the field. Also this might not be a complete list of penalties that can be called. It is however a list of the most common penalties called.

Now that we have explored the role of the offense, the role of the defense and the role of the officials in football most of the learning is done. I hope everyone has enjoyed this series as much as I have writing it.

There still is one part of this series to go. In the final part of this series we will explore the parts of the kicking game and the job of coaches.

Part Four (and second to last part) of learning football will be on Wednesday.