Line, Field, Back Judge

James Madison University Intramural Sports

Officials Development Program- Flag Football

Line, Field and Back Judges

Each official on the field has an important role to fill in the overall success of the unit. When officials are confident in their own abilities and those of their peers, the crew is able to work well together and function seamlessly across the field.

Flag Football Home Rule Book Illustrated Rules

Pre-Snap: Positioning
The Line Judge will always set themselves straddling the neutral zone, slightly out of bounds. They are responsible for watching the offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage, as well as the neutral zone.

Pre-Snap: Setting the Line
Setting the Line is the primary job of the Line Judge. This is done as a courtesy to the teams to ensure that they are not being penalized for avoidable fouls.

When the Line Judge announces “Line is Set”, it is a signal to the teams that the ball is ready to be snapped legally, meaning the ball is on the puck, there are at least three offensive players on the line, and that no one on the offense or defense is encroaching on the neutral zone. The offense does not have to wait for the line to be declared set, they can snap the ball whenever they are ready.

At the time of the snap, the Line Judge will be watching for an illegal snap, illegal motion, false start, encroachment and briefly,contact on the line. After one or two seconds the Line Judge will begin moving downfield with the play. It is important to anticipate what type of play is happening to be in the right position to make the call. Watch the middle of the field, looking for illegal contact,holding, flag guarding and pass interference. Keep the `meat' of the play in front and do not be afraid to step back to make close calls on the sideline.

The Line Judge is also primarily responsible for marking the spot of the ball at the end of the play. The Field Judge will assist in this job, but it will always be the Line Judge that holds the final spot and chops the Referee in to set the pucks. When the ball becomes dead, the Line Judge should be already moving to the spot. Once the spot is established, the LJ will mark it by using their downfield foot and extending their downfield arm straight up in the air. The Line Judge will also signal when there is a First Down.

After the pass is thrown, and until it is touched, there shall be no defensive pass interference beyond Team A’s scrimmage line while the ball is in flight.

On plays that are close to the goal line, it is the responsibility of the Line Judge and Field Judge to cover the goal line plane. The Field Judge will already be lined up on the goal line and after the snap the LJ will immediately move to the line. On running plays that cross the plane, the LJ and FJ will signal the Touchdown,while the Back Judge will help make the call on plays in the corners and along the end line.

If a legal forward pass is caught simultaneously by members of opposing teams the ball becomes dead and belongs to the team that snapped the ball at the spot of the catch.

The Field Judge will line up on the sideline opposite the Line Judge, 8 to 10 yards downfield of the line of scrimmage, basically in the middle of the defense. This may vary depending on the down and position of the ball as it is the Field Judge's primary responsibility to cover the zone line-to-gain.

Pre-Snap
Always signal the down. Check the defense for legal equipment and tucked in shirts. Anticipate the play and move to the appropriate spot. For example, if it is fourth down and twelve yards to the line to gain, it is ok to start the play already positioned on the line-to-gain.

The Field Judge will be watching the downfield play, not the QB or the action on the line. Move with and anticipate the play, trying to stay roughly even with the ball as it moves downfield.

Judge must be prepared to rule on completions, in or out of bounds, and penalties such as flag guarding, holding, illegal block, and diving for flags or yards. The Field Judge will also assist the Line Judge on marking the end of the play and the spot.

On plays close to the goal line, the Field Judge will line up on the Goal line itself. The responsibilities of the FJ are the same as the LJ, watching the plane and assisting on calls in the corner with the BJ.

After the ball becomes dead,it is important to continue officiating. Look for late contact or unsportsmanlike penalties. Clean up and watch any players that have gone out of bounds.

The Back Judge keeps the official time on the field on a stopwatch. It is their responsibility to announce the remaining time on the field to the players and the other officials. The time should be announced when there are 15, 10 and 5 minutes left on the clock. Inside of 2 minutes, the remaining time should be announced after every play. It is also extremely important to announce whether the clock is running or if it is stopped and when it will restart.

The Back Judge will line up opposite of the Referee, towards the middle of the field but favoring the Line Judge's side slightly. The Back Judge should be no more then 15 yards back from the line of scrimmage but should always be a yard or two behind the deepest back. Always signal the down. Check the defensive players for legal equipment and tucked in shirts. Announce the time.

As the play progresses, move downfield with it. NEVER LET A PLAYER BEHIND YOU. The first move the Back Judge makes should always be a step backwards. The Back Judge is primarily watching the defensive backs and receivers for illegal contact, holding and pass interference. On a running play, assist the LJ and FJ in watching for illegal screens and flag guarding, as well as the out of bounds lines.

The Back Judge is responsible for the endline (the net) and the corners of the end zone. Only signal a Touchdown if it is in this zone.