NFL referees (1 Viewer)

[CommuterMan]

Joe makes the comment that the NFL should keep an extra referee at each site to provide backup in case one of them falls to injury during a game...

My question is are NFL referees 'interchangeable' like other referees/umpires in other sports? I know that MLB umpires rotate during a series taking turns at the bases... and NBA referees (when they are not gambling on games) are certainly interchangeable.

If I understand the roles of NFL referees though each referee has specific duties and is looking at different parts of the game in order to officiate the game (i.e. Field Judge, Linesman, etc...). Are all NFL referees trained to work all the 'positions' and would they be able to competently step-in for another referee in any situation? Do they decide from week to week who will take which duty or are they determined for the season? Is there a heirarchy in NFL officiating - do you start off as the guy with the yardstick and then get promoted up to other duties?

Just curious as this is not something I have ever considered in all my years of watching the NFL...

 

[The Ref]

Joe makes the comment that the NFL should keep an extra referee at each site to provide backup in case one of them falls to injury during a game...My question is are NFL referees 'interchangeable' like other referees/umpires in other sports? I know that MLB umpires rotate during a series taking turns at the bases... and NBA referees (when they are not gambling on games) are certainly interchangeable. If I understand the roles of NFL referees though each referee has specific duties and is looking at different parts of the game in order to officiate the game (i.e. Field Judge, Linesman, etc...). Are all NFL referees trained to work all the 'positions' and would they be able to competently step-in for another referee in any situation? Do they decide from week to week who will take which duty or are they determined for the season? Is there a heirarchy in NFL officiating - do you start off as the guy with the yardstick and then get promoted up to other duties? Just curious as this is not something I have ever considered in all my years of watching the NFL...

Yes there is.As a rule of thumb you start out as one of the two rear "Corner judges", known as the field judge and the side judge. Your younger, in shape and have to be able to run. You then normaly graduate to Head linesman and then Line judge (Younger guy gets the sticks to worry about). You stay on the line for a while and a few posible things happen. If your good, but not good enough to make the next step you stay on the line at Line Judge. If you start to slow down a little or if your good but are more of a rough and tumble type of guy, you move to Umpire. If your good, and "they" think you have what it takes to make Referee you get moved to Back Judge. If you survive Back Judge, you then become a referee.As part of a team you are suposed to know all the posistions, but your usualy asked to work a season at a posistion and are suffled around at seasons end.