page_title: Official (gridiron football)
section_title: Umpire
hierarchical_section_title: Official (gridiron football) / Positions and responsibilities / Active / On-field / Umpire
caption_attribution_description: UCLA vs. Cal Oct. 16, 2004College Football
context_page_description: In gridiron football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game.
  During professional and most college football games, seven officials operate on the field. Since 2015, Division I college football conferences have used eight game officials, the Alliance of American Football in its only season in 2019 and the 2020 version of the XFL have used eight game officials. College games outside the Division I level use six or seven officials. Arena football, high school football, and other levels of football have other officiating systems, which use less than the standard seven officials. High school football played under the National Federation of State High School Associations rules typically use five officials for varsity and 3, 4, or 5 for non-varsity games.
  Football officials are commonly, but incorrectly, referred to collectively as referees, but each position has specific duties and a specific name: Common positions include referee, umpire, head linesman, line judge, field judge, side judge, back judge and center judge.
context_section_description: The umpire (U) stands behind the defensive line and linebackers (except as described below for the NFL and CFL), observing the blocks by the offensive line and defenders trying to ward off those blocks, looking for holding or illegal blocks. Prior to the snap, he counts all offensive players.
  During passing plays, he moves forward towards the line of scrimmage as the play develops to (1) penalize any offensive linemen who move illegally downfield before the pass is thrown or (2) penalize the quarterback for throwing the ball when beyond the original line of scrimmage. He also assists in ruling incomplete passes when the ball is thrown short.
  In addition to his on-field duties, the umpire is responsible for the legality of all of the players' equipment.
  As the umpire is situated where much of the play's initial action occurs, he is considered by many to hold the most dangerous officiating position.
caption: An umpire watches a play from behind the defensive line during a game between the UCLA Bruins and the California Golden Bears.
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