The officials for 99% of American Football games played in Britain are all members of BAFRA, the British American Football Referees' Association.

BAFRA was founded in 1984 to provide officials for the then fledgling sport. In the early days the majority of its members were US military personnel stationed in the UK but now Americans account for only around 10% of the total membership.

The Association's aims are twofold:

1. To be able to provide neutral officials for all American football games in Britain
2. To raise the quality of that officiating to the highest possible standard.

BAFRA covers several hundred games at all levels, including senior (over 18), college and youth games. Through the European American Football Officials Association, BAFRA also provides officials for tournaments on the continent.

BAFRA also provided the chain crew for the World League's Monarchs.

BAFRA is run by a board of six directors. Matters such as scheduling and training are delegated through a network of regional co-ordinators to local associations. An annual training weekend is held together with regional meetings. A Grading Programme rewards those officials who demonstrate a recognised standard of theoretical knowledge and on-field performance.

An American football game can be played under the supervision of up to seven officials:

• Referee
• Umpire
• Linesman
• Line Judge
• Back Judge (Optional)
• Field Judge (Optional)
• Side Judge (Optional)

All games in Britain are assigned at least a four man crew.

New members of BAFRA go through a short basic training course to qualify to get on the field. Basic training consists of a six-part induction course that teaches the basics of the rules and, just as importantly, where to stand and what to look for on the field. This part of the training is usually conducted locally with a "buddy" - an experienced official who can guide you through the rulebook and give you the necessary tips on how things are done.

Once the basic training has been completed, new officials will go out on to the field and put what they have learned into practice. The first ten games are monitored closely. From this point on, the official can progress through the grading system, one year at a time from level 1 to level 5.

Anyone can officiate provided they have the basic level of fitness to remain on the field for up to three hours. There is nowhere like the amount of running involved that a soccer or rugby referee does during a game and officials work well into their fifties and beyond. Officiating is open to both men and women.

American football officials are easily recognised by their distinctive black and white striped shirt, white pants and striped socks. The Referee wears a white cap, the othere officials wear black ones. A yellow penalty marker, known as a flag, is used to mark the spot where a foul takes place.