# Law 17: Officials and Appeals (BWF Laws of Badminton)

Badminton · Law 17: Officials and Appeals · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/badminton/laws/law-17-officials-and-appeals/)

The Referee, umpire, service judge and line judges, whose decisions are final, overrules and the review system, and the umpire's duties including appeals.

## 17.171 The Officials and Their Roles

Who is in charge of what, and final decisions on points of fact.

### Test 1: The officials and what each is responsible for

- The Referee is in overall charge of the tournament or championship. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.1)
- The umpire, where appointed, is in charge of the match, the court and its surrounds. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.2)
- The umpire reports to the Referee. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.2)
- The service judge calls the server's service faults under Laws 9.1.2 to 9.1.8. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.3)
- A line judge indicates in or out on the assigned lines. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.4)
- An official's decision is final on points of fact within their responsibility, with Law 17.5's exceptions. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.5)
- Where an appointed official is unsighted, the umpire carries out their duties or plays a let. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.6)
- Laws 17.1-17.4 set out each official's area. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.1-17.4)
- The umpire records and reports to the Referee all matters relating to Law 16. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.4, 17.6.7)
- The service judge sits on a low chair by the net post, opposite the umpire. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.3; BWF ITTO 2025, 7.1)

## 17.172 Decisions, Overrules and Appeals

Overruling a line judge, the review system, appeals and the umpire's other duties.

### Test 1: Final decisions, overrules and appeals

- The umpire overrules if it is beyond reasonable doubt that the line judge clearly made a wrong call. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.5.1)
- The system decides, unless its decision is inconsistent or obviously incorrect. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.5.2)
- The umpire decides appeals made before the next service is delivered. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.2)
- The umpire refers all unsatisfied appeals on questions of law to the Referee. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.8)
- At the end of the match the appeal must come before the appealing side has left the court. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.8)
- The umpire appoints or replaces them in consultation with the Referee. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.4)
- Where another official is not appointed, the umpire arranges for those duties to be carried out. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.5)
- Laws 17.6.2 and 17.6.8. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.2, 17.6.8)
- The overrule comes only after the signal, and only for a call the umpire is sure of. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.5.1)
- Here the mistake is plain, so the umpire's correction replaces the signal. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.5.1)

Sources: BWF Laws of Badminton, V6.0 in force 4 January 2027, Law 17 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Laws, not reproduced)

Take the tests: https://insporta.app/try?utm_source=book&utm_medium=referral