Official (American football)
![NFL officials (black-striped shirts) and guests prepare to toss the coin to start the 40th annual Pro Bowl.](/Images/godic/202501/13/NFLprobowlcointoss3629.jpg")
![An official (right) watches Navy's Shun White (#26) score a touchdown against Tulsa. Visible on his belt are his yellow penalty flag and an orange bean bag.](/Images/godic/202501/13/2006_Navy_-_Tusla3629.jpg")
![A pair of officials at a Maryland high school football game in September 2008.](/Images/godic/202501/13/Referees,_Battle_for_the_King's_Trophy,_Germantown,_Maryland,_September_12,_20083629.jpg")
![A referee (foreground) follows the action of a play between the Texas Longhorns and the Rice Owls.](/Images/godic/202501/13/College_football_-_Selvin_Young_of_the_Texas_Longhorns_scores_a_touchdown_vs_Rice_Owls_-_2006-09-163629.jpg")
In American football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game.
During professional and most college football games, seven officials operate on the field. Beginning in 2015, Division I college football conferences are using eight game officials. College games outside the Division I level use six or seven officials. Arena football, high school football, and other levels of football have other officiating systems. High school football played under the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) rules typically use five officials for varsity and 3, 4, or 5 for non-varsity games.