Line of Scrimmage
The Line of Scrimmage is a fundamental concept in football officiating. It's an imaginary line that stretches across the field where the ball is placed before each play begins. Officials must monitor this line carefully as it determines where players can legally position themselves before the play starts and helps regulate many important rules of the game. This is similar to other boundary concepts in sports like the tennis service line or basketball's three-point line, but the Line of Scrimmage moves after every play based on where the ball is placed.
Examples in Resumes
Accurately enforced rules related to the Line of Scrimmage while officiating high school football games
Conducted training sessions for new officials on LOS positioning and mechanics
Served as Head Linesman responsible for Line of Scrimmage violations in college football
Typical job title: "Football Officials"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Football Officials
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Training Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you handle a situation where coaches from both teams disagree about a Line of Scrimmage violation?
Expected Answer: A senior official should discuss conflict resolution, clear communication with coaches, proper mechanics for making and explaining calls, and the importance of maintaining game control while showing confidence in decisions.
Q: Describe your experience training other officials on Line of Scrimmage responsibilities.
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate leadership ability, teaching experience, thorough knowledge of rules and mechanics, and ability to develop other officials through mentoring and constructive feedback.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What are the key Line of Scrimmage violations you look for during a game?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain common violations like encroachment, false start, illegal formation, and illegal motion, plus demonstrate understanding of proper positioning to see these fouls.
Q: How do you coordinate with other officials regarding Line of Scrimmage responsibilities?
Expected Answer: Should discuss pre-game communications, proper signals, teamwork with other officials, and understanding of primary and secondary responsibilities.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the Line of Scrimmage and why is it important?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that it's the starting point for each play, describe how it's established, and discuss basic rules that relate to it.
Q: What are your pre-snap responsibilities regarding the Line of Scrimmage?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of basic positioning, counting players, checking legal formation, and monitoring for obvious fouls.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of football rules
- Proper positioning for Line of Scrimmage duties
- Basic penalty enforcement
- Game clock operation
Mid (2-5 years)
- Advanced rule interpretation
- Effective communication with coaches
- Proper mechanics and signals
- Game situation management
Senior (5+ years)
- Crew chief experience
- Official training and development
- Complex rule interpretation
- Game control and conflict resolution
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to explain basic football rules
- Poor physical conditioning or mobility
- Lack of conflict resolution skills
- No experience with organized sports officiating
Related Terms
Need more hiring wisdom? Check these out...
Resume Screening Reinvented: 9 Unconventional Strategies to Discover Top Talent Hidden in Plain Sight
Recruitment in the Fast Lane: How to Adapt Hiring Practices in the Blink of an Eye
Changing Careers: A Recruiter's Inside View
