Editing Umpire

{{Short description|Official in various competitions}}
{{About|the official in a variety of sports|the similar term in other sports|Referee|other uses}}{{Not to be confused|Empire}}{{refimprove|date=March 2021}}

[[File:Wimbledonchair frontview.jpg|thumb|upright|A chair umpire prior to the start of a tennis match]]

An '''umpire''' is an [[Official#Sports|official]] in a variety of [[sport]]s and competition, responsible for enforcing the [[Regulation of sport|rules of the sport]], including [[sportsmanship]] decisions such as [[ejection (sports)|ejection]].

The term derives from the [[Old French]] {{Lang|fr|nonper}}, {{Lang|fro|non}}, {{Gloss|not}} and {{Lang|fro|per}}, {{Gloss|equal}}: {{Gloss|one who is requested to act as arbiter of a dispute between two people}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/519003/UMPIRE-CAME-FROM-FRENCH-AS-WORD-MEANING-NOT-EQUAL.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902084456/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/519003/UMPIRE-CAME-FROM-FRENCH-AS-WORD-MEANING-NOT-EQUAL.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 2, 2018 |title='Umpire' Came from French as Word Meaning 'Not Equal' |agency=[[Merriam-Webster]] |website=[[Deseret News]] |location=[[Salt Lake City]] |date=October 13, 1996 |access-date=September 2, 2018}}</ref> (as evidenced in [[cricket]], where dismissal decisions can only be made on appeal). {{Lang|enm|Noumper}} shows up around 1350 before undergoing a linguistic shift known as [[false splitting]]. It was written in 1426–1427 as {{Lang|enm|a noounpier}}; the ''n'' was lost with the ''a'' [[indefinite article]] becoming ''an''.<ref>''noumpere'',  [[Middle English]] [[dictionary]]</ref> The earliest version without the ''n'' shows up as {{Lang|enm|owmpere}}, a variant spelling in Middle English, circa 1440.<ref>[https://sarahemilybond.com/2015/10/15/the-fall-of-the-roman-umpire-a-short-history-of-ancient-referees/ The Fall of the Roman Umpire]</ref> The leading ''n'' became permanently attached to the article, changing it to {{Lang|enm|an Oumper}} around 1475.

The word was applied to the officials of many sports including [[baseball]], [[association football]] (where it has been superseded by ''[[assistant-referee]]'') and [[Umpire (cricket)|cricket]] (which still uses it).

== Field hockey ==
{{Main|Umpire (field hockey)}}
An umpire in [[field hockey]] is a person with the authority to make decisions on a hockey field in accordance with the laws of the game. Each match is controlled by two such umpires, where it is ty

== Cricket ==
{{main|Umpire (cricket)}}
[[File:Cricket Umpire dismissal.jpg|thumb|upright|A cricket umpire calling a batsman out]]
In [[cricket]], dismissal decisions can only be made on appeal by the players. Otherwise, on-field decisions, relevant to the rules and scoring and of the game, are handled by two on-field [[umpire (cricket)|umpires]], although an off-field [[third umpire]] may help with certain decisions. At the international level, the [[match referee]] is an off-field official who makes judgements concerning the reputable conduct of the game and hands out penalties for breaches of the [[ICC Cricket Code of Conduct]].

== Baseball and softball ==
{{Main|Umpire (baseball)}}
[[File:MLB umpire.JPG|thumb|upright|A second base umpire at a baseball game]]
In baseball and softball, there is commonly a head umpire (also known as a plate umpire) who is in charge of calling balls and strikes from behind the plate, who is assisted by one, two, three, or five field umpires who make calls on their specific bases (or with five umpires the bases and the outfield). On any question, all umpires are equal.

== Football (Australian rules) ==
{{Main|Umpire (Australian rules football)}}
[[File:AFL Goal Umpire.jpg|thumb|upright|A goal umpire officiating between the goal posts at one end of an Australian rules football field]]
An umpire is an official in the sport of Australian rules football. Games are overseen by one to four field umpires, two to four boundary umpires, and two goal umpires.
== Lawn bowls ==
A [[bowls|lawn bowls]] match is presided over by a bowls umpire or technical official.  In games where single players compete, a marker is required to direct play and assist players with questions relating to the position of their bowls.
== Netball ==
{{main|Rules of netball}}

In the game of [[netball]], the match at hand is presided over by two umpires, typically female, with a comprehensive knowledge of the rules. There are also two [[Timekeeper|timekeepers]] and two scorekeepers who inform the umpires and players of time remaining and scores.
== Rowing ==
In a [[regatta]] an umpire is the on-the-water official appointed to enforce the rules of racing and to ensure safety. In some cases an umpire may be designated specifically as starter, or otherwise the umpire starts the race from a launch and follows it to its end, ensuring that crews follow their proper course. If no infringements occur, the result is decided by a judge or judges on the waterside who determine the finish order of the crews.
== Sailing ==
In [[match race]] and team racing, an [[International Umpire of Sailing|umpire]] is an on-the-water referee appointed to directly enforce the [[Racing Rules of Sailing]]. An umpire is also used in fleet racing to enforce [[Racing Rules of Sailing|Racing Rule]] 42 which limits the use of kinetics to drive the boat rather than the wind. Umpires are rarely present during sailing races as decisions are normally referred to a [[International Judge of Sailing|jury-style]] protest committee after the race.
== Tennis ==
{{Main|Official (tennis)}}

In tennis an [[Official (tennis)#Chair umpire|umpire]] is an on-court official, while a [[Official (tennis)#Referee|referee]] is an off-court official.

== Badminton ==

In badminton, the umpire has set authority to call faults and lets. Umpires also keep score and respond to challenges requested by badminton players. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://badminton.org.nz/courses/national-accredited-line-judge/lessons/roles-of-technical-officials/topic/role-of-the-umpire/ | title=Role of the Umpire - Badminton New Zealand }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Umpire abuse]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{Wiktionary-inline|umpire}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Referees and umpires| ]]
[[Category:Sports officiating| ]]
[[Category:Terminology used in multiple sports| ]]