A referee must be confident, assertive and fair in order to successfully control the game. Hi, my name is Steven Anderson and I am passionate about all sports - from soccer to ice hockey, basketball to baseball. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. In its single aborted season in 2019, The Alliance of American Football's officials wore shirts that are black and white on top with stripes from the middle down, white stars on the sleeves and the number on the back and on the left front pocket. Allen Baynes ( 2008 -present) Side Judge. The position was traditionally known as head linesman. When a review is underway, the referee speaks to the replay official via headset at the sideline. Anything above or below these numbers will be deflated. The NFL has changed the way that game balls are handled and tested. Prior to 1998, the Field Judge was the deep official in the center of the field, and the Back Judge was deep on the sideline. The heavily televised games usually have lots of officials and coverage in comparison to the less known and local games. As a result, they can earn up to half a million dollars per year if they work full-time. In some cases, the Fourth Offical is also the backup Head Referee. Each of the four officials is in charge of different aspects of the game and together they keep everything about the match and the players organized. From 1982 to 1986, the Atlantic Coast Conference allowed officials to wear white shorts for hot weather games. This position originated in the All-America Football Conference and is the deepest secondary official. Lookout. The NFL recently changed the way game balls are handled during games. The experiment was continued for 12 games in the 2011 preseason, and was then discontinued afterwards. On a punt out of bounds, referees use their vantage point behind the punter to direct the nearest sideline official to the spot where the ball went out of bounds. It is illegal to play a football that is underinflated or deflated. However, it is important to note that you should be sure about your qualifications before applying. But in preseason games, NFL officials were unable to add a center judge, as it would have been an unsafe position for the umpire. An official is responsible for interpreting the rules of the game and enforcing them on the football field. The game balls are then numbered one through twelve. Brad Allen is one of the highest-paid NFL referees, earning over $65,000 per season. The alternate judge will also help spot the ball. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. After the game, they are recycled or donated. They are there to make the Head Referees job easier as one man cannot see every little detail and action that happens on the pitch.