The number of officials on a high school football field depends on the level of play, but standard crews are well-defined:
- Standard Varsity Crew (5 Officials): Most varsity high school games use a five-official crew. The positions are:
- Referee (R): The lead official focusing on the backfield and quarterback.
- Umpire (U): Watches the line play near the defensive line.
- Head Linesman (HL): Checks the line of scrimmage and monitors one sideline.
- Line Judge (LJ): Monitors the opposite sideline as the head linesman.
- Back Judge (BJ): Monitors the deep secondary and timing.
- Six-Official Crew: In many high schools, a sixth official is added. This extra official is usually called the Field Judge (FJ) or Side Judge (SJ). The field judge positions themselves deep on one side of the field, covering passes and the play clock. Adding this official helps cover more of the field. Some regions or postseason games use six officials by default.
- Sub-Varsity Crews (3 or 4 Officials): Freshman and junior varsity games sometimes use fewer officials. For example:
- 3 Officials: Only Referee, Umpire, and one Linesman (often combining Head Linesman/Line Judge).
- 4 Officials: Referee, Umpire, Head Linesman, and Line Judge (omitting the Back Judge to reduce staffing).
These smaller crews cover the most crucial areas when officials are limited.
In summary, five officials is the standard for most high school varsity games, while six officials provide extra coverage at higher levels. Lower levels may operate with three or four. Always check with your state or association, as some have specific requirements for crew size based on game level.
Crew Roles and Coordination
Each official on the crew has specific responsibilities to avoid overlap. The referee leads the crew, but all officials communicate continuously during the game. Proper teamwork (using signals, eye contact, or headsets) is crucial, especially in the chaotic moments of a football game.
Advantages of More Officials
Adding officials improves coverage and safety. With six officials, fewer incidents are missed (such as fouls on deep plays or line-of-scrimmage infractions). Many playoff games add officials even if regular games don't, for this reason.
If you're joining a crew or assigning officials, remember these guidelines:
- 3-person crew: Usually only in emergencies or very small programs.
- 5-person crew: Typical for high school varsity games.
- 6-person crew: Used when available, especially for varsity or playoff games.
Understanding how many officials are on the field helps you find the right role on a crew. Dream Big Officials can help new referees learn proper mechanics and position coverage for each number of officials. Knowing the standard crew size is the first step—next, get trained in your position and join a crew to start officiating games!
