Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Three-Second Violation • Penalty Box • Double Dribble

Encroachment

Term from Sports Officiating industry explained for recruiters

Encroachment is a common rule violation in sports, particularly in football and soccer, where players cross into restricted areas before they're allowed to. It's like when someone jumps the line before it's their turn. Officials need to watch for this carefully because it gives players an unfair advantage. In football, it often happens when defensive players cross the line of scrimmage too early, or when players move into restricted areas during kicks. Being able to spot and call encroachment is a basic but important skill for sports officials.

Examples in Resumes

Consistently identified and called Encroachment violations in high school football games

Trained junior officials on proper Encroachment detection and signaling procedures

Maintained game flow while properly enforcing Encroachment rules in 200+ matches

Typical job title: "Sports Officials"

Also try searching for:

Football Official Sports Referee Game Official Athletic Official Field Judge Line Judge Sports Umpire

Where to Find Sports Officials

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Training Resources

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you handle conflicts between coaches when there's disagreement about an encroachment call?

Expected Answer: A senior official should explain their process for maintaining control of the game, clear communication with both teams, and proper mechanics for explaining the call. They should also mention experience in de-escalating tense situations.

Q: How do you mentor newer officials in recognizing and calling encroachment?

Expected Answer: Should discuss teaching methods, common mistakes to watch for, and how they help develop other officials' confidence in making these calls accurately and consistently.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What's the difference between encroachment and other similar violations?

Expected Answer: Should be able to clearly explain the differences between encroachment, offsides, and neutral zone infractions, and when each should be called.

Q: How do you position yourself to best observe potential encroachment violations?

Expected Answer: Should describe proper positioning techniques, what to watch for before the snap, and how to maintain the best angle to see the line of scrimmage.