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What does the line judge do in football?

7 min read

Asked by: Bennie Tillman

The line judge (L or LJ) assists the head linesman/down judge at the other end of the line of scrimmage, looking for possible offsides, encroachment and other fouls before the snap. As the play develops, line judges are responsible for the action near their sideline, including whether a player is out of bounds.

What is a line judge in soccer?

The linesman, also referred to as the assistant referee, is one of two officials charged with standing directly on either touchline. They also make calls regarding who gets possession of the ball after it’s gone out of bounds, and also are the people responsible for denoting an offsides situation.

What are the different responsibilities of line judges during the match?

Each line judge controls an end line and an entire sideline. During the match, the line judges stand in their assigned areas and move from those areas to avoid interference with players playing the ball or to better observe a ball crossing the net near an antenna.

How much does an NFL referee get paid?

$205,000

Although the official figures are not usually revealed publicly, after the last agreement between the league and the NFL Referees Association it was known that in the 2019 season, referees received earnings of $205,000 on average. This equates to around $12,000 per game, a pretty significant figure.

What is the role of the Down judge?

When a play ends, the line judge comes in action to check how many yards a team advanced, and signal it to the other officials. The down judge is also the official in charge of the chain crew, and when necessary he comes into the field to measure a first down.

How does a linesman signal a goal?

When the ball crosses the goal line near to the assistant referee’s position, he must make a direct signal with his right hand (better line of vision) to indicate whether it is a goal kick or a corner kick.

What is line judge?

A line judge is responsible for indicating whether a shuttle has landed “in” or “out” when the shuttle lands near the lines he/she has been assigned to monitor. Depending on the level of tournament, there may be as many as 10 line judges assigned to a court for a particular match.

How do you become a good line judge?

Volleyball Line Judge Training Line judge signals for calling lines

  1. Watch the line, not the ball.
  2. Get out of the way of a player. …
  3. Antenna Fault/Foot Fault. …
  4. Serve Foot Fault. …
  5. Touch off the block. …
  6. The referee will be looking at you during the match for help. …
  7. Call everything you see no matter how obvious it might be.

How do you become a line judge?


The cyl volleyball line judge will be standing at the corner of each end of the volleyball.

What sport needs a line judge?

A line judge in badminton has one main duty — to make calls about where the shuttlecock has landed. As per the Badminton World Federation (BWF) regulations on technical officials, there are usually 10 line judges in a game, each with their respective lines to watch. There can be less depending on the level of play.

How many line judges are there in football?

List of officiating systems

Officiating System Officials
Three Referee (R), umpire (U), line judge (LJ)
Four Referee, umpire, line judge, head linesman (HL)
Five Referee, umpire, line judge, head linesman, back judge (BJ)
Six Referee, umpire, line judge, head linesman, field judge (FJ), side judge (SJ)

What are the 7 officials in football?

American football officials are commonly referred to as referees, but each has a title based on their position. They consist of: Referee, Head Linesman, Line Judge, Umpire, Back Judge, Side Judge, and Field Judge.

Why do refs stand in front of quarterback?

The Referee stands behind the offense, shading over to the quarterback’s throwing side. The Referee’s responsible for watching the quarterback on passing plays and running back on run plays. Calls like roughing the passer or whether a quarterback fumble was a forward pass are the Referee’s in-play priorities.

How do you become a line judge in soccer?

As a line judge, you should take a base position at the corner where a sideline and end line intersect, about a foot away from the court. When a ball lands close to a line, you should lower your stance to get closer to the line, as it will position your eyes directly down the line.

What sport needs a line judge?

A line judge in badminton has one main duty — to make calls about where the shuttlecock has landed. As per the Badminton World Federation (BWF) regulations on technical officials, there are usually 10 line judges in a game, each with their respective lines to watch. There can be less depending on the level of play.

What is a back judge?

The back judge is an official in the NFL who is positioned in the deep backfield on the tight end’s side of the field. They are one of seven officials present throughout each game. The back judge focuses primarily on the tight end and his movements, but they have other responsibilities, too.

What are the names of the officials in football?

The seven officials in an NFL game include:

  • The Referee.
  • The Umpire.
  • The Down Judge.
  • The Line Judge.
  • The Field Judge.
  • The Side Judge.
  • The Back Judge.


How many line judges are there in football?

List of officiating systems

Officiating System Officials
Three Referee (R), umpire (U), line judge (LJ)
Four Referee, umpire, line judge, head linesman (HL)
Five Referee, umpire, line judge, head linesman, back judge (BJ)
Six Referee, umpire, line judge, head linesman, field judge (FJ), side judge (SJ)

What are the 7 officials in football?

American football officials are commonly referred to as referees, but each has a title based on their position. They consist of: Referee, Head Linesman, Line Judge, Umpire, Back Judge, Side Judge, and Field Judge.

Do football referees earn?

According to TotalSportek and Sportingfree, the salaries for EPL refs can go up to $92,000 annually. In addition to a yearly retainer that ranges between $50,700 to $55,300 and $1,500 per game. Umpires officiating international matches in the UEFA and European leagues receive up to $263,000.

Who is the richest referee in the world?

Mark Clattenburg



He is the highest-paid referee and according to some reports he has signed a contract with Saudi Arabia Football Federation and he gets $650,00 per season.

Who is the highest-paid referee?

Brad Allen and Walter Anderson are the highest-paid NFL referees for the 2020-21 season. Sarah Thomas is one of the best-paid women referees in the NFL. According to a TSM Sportz report, a women referee earns a maximum of $1.5k for an NFL match and $5k maximum if they get selected for the Super Bowl.

Are referees full time?

As alluded to above, yes. Premier League referees are part of the ‘Select Group’ level category in English football, though they and the Championship are the only two leagues to boast professional referees.



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Name Made Premier League debut in…
Tim Robinson December 2019

What do referees do in the off season?

During the offseason, the NFL holds two clinics to get on the same page with its officials. The first focuses on new rules, physical assessments and administrative changes. The second features written exams, testing their knowledge of the rules, mechanics for their positions and on-field mobility.

How do referees get chosen?

Appointments are made by the Professional Game Match Officials Board. They take into account several factors, including the referee’s overall experience, their current form, how often they have refereed the clubs involved, which team the referee supports and any forthcoming international appointments.

What qualifications do referees need?

A referee must be confident, assertive and fair in order to successfully control the game. For more information on the responsibilities of a referee, consult the law 5 of the Laws of the Game. A qualified referee much affiliate with his or her local County Football Association each season. 2.

How old can a referee be?

A referee must be at least 25 years old on 1 January to be eligible for International Referee listing nomination on that calendar year. An assistant referee is eligible at the age of 23 years. In 2016 maximum age limits for the list (45, or 38 for first-time listees) was dropped.

Can I be a referee at 14?

How Can I Get Started as a Youth Sports Referee? Anyone who enjoys youth sports can pick up the whistle, but the job is not for lazy people. This work challenges you athletically, but also requires decisive thinking. The minimum age to start as a Youth sports referee is at least 16 years old.