If the first referee is experienced, is it still required to have line judges?

If the first referee is experienced, is it still required to have line judges?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not necessarily
• D. Depends on level

Answer: (B)

Line judges remain a necessary part of the officiating crew because they provide dedicated coverage of the sidelines and end lines, which the first referee cannot watch consistently on every play. Even an experienced first referee relies on these signals to determine if a ball lands in or out, and to handle line-related calls quickly and accurately. The line judges' input supports faster, more reliable decisions and helps ensure the game flows smoothly, with the referee maintaining final authority when needed. So, the presence of line judges isn’t negated by the referee’s experience—the team needs them for proper court coverage.

Line judges remain a necessary part of the officiating crew because they provide dedicated coverage of the sidelines and end lines, which the first referee cannot watch consistently on every play. Even an experienced first referee relies on these signals to determine if a ball lands in or out, and to handle line-related calls quickly and accurately. The line judges' input supports faster, more reliable decisions and helps ensure the game flows smoothly, with the referee maintaining final authority when needed. So, the presence of line judges isn’t negated by the referee’s experience—the team needs them for proper court coverage.