# Law 18: The Umpire and the Court Officials (BWF Laws of Badminton)

Badminton · Law 18: The Umpire and the Court Officials · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/badminton/laws/law-18-the-umpire-and-the-court-officials/)

From the Instructions to Technical Officials: the umpire's calls, line judges' and the service judge's work, cards, coaches and conduct between rallies.

## 18.181 The Umpire's Calls

Toss, warm-up, the announcement, calling the score and signalling.

### Test 1: The umpire before and during the match

- The two-minute warm-up runs from when the umpire sits in the chair to the call of 'Play'. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.2.2.1)
- 'Ready to play' comes at ninety seconds of the two-minute warm-up. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.2.2.1)
- The umpire always calls the server's score first. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.4.2)
- The umpire calls 'Service over' and then the score, starting with the new serving side's. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.4.6)
- The announcement ends '... to serve; love all; play', and 'Play' starts the match. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.3.1, 5.3.2)
- The umpire notes the choices made at the toss; once made they are final. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.2.1)
- With a service judge watching the server, the umpire especially watches the receiver. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.4.3)
- Toss, warm-up in the chair, 'Ready to play', then the announcement ending in 'Play'. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.2, 5.3)
- The serve has changed hands, so the new server's points are called before the other side's. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.4.6, 5.4.2)
- The umpire raises the right hand above the head when the Referee is required; a challenge uses the left. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.4.5)

## 18.182 Line Judges

Where line judges sit, their signals and when they may call.

### Test 1: Line judges: where they sit and how they signal

- Line judges sit directly looking down their designated lines. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 8.1)
- 'Out' is called clearly while both arms are extended horizontally, looking at the umpire. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 8.3)
- An unsighted line judge informs the umpire at once by covering the eyes with both hands. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 8.5)
- No call or signal until the shuttle has touched the floor or something outside the court, except a player. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 8.6)
- Line calls are made without anticipating the umpire's decision on faults such as a touch. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 8.7)
- It is recommended that line judges sit 2.5 to 3.5 m from the court boundaries. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 8.9)
- Where there is no line judge, the umpire calls 'Out' and then the score, or 'Service over' and the score. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.8.3.1)
- No signal until the shuttle lands; the signal is made towards the umpire. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 8.3, 8.4, 8.6)
- The umpire makes the call if possible, otherwise a let. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 8.5, 5.8.3.3; Law 14.3)
- For a shuttle that lands in, the line judge says nothing and points to the line with the right hand. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 8.4)

## 18.183 The Service Judge

Calls, signals and the service judge's other duties.

### Test 1: The service judge

- The service judge calls 'Fault' loudly and uses the approved hand signal for the infringement. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 7.2)
- The umpire uses the standard vocabulary to acknowledge the call and explain the fault. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 7.3)
- The service judge administers changes of shuttle and keeps enough shuttles ready. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 7.5)
- Extra duties can include checking the posts on the doubles side lines and the height of the net. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 7.6)
- The service judge alerts the umpire immediately, crossing the court if necessary. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 7.8)
- The service judge judges that the server delivers a correct service under Laws 9.1.2 to 9.1.8. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 7.2)
- Immediately after 'Game' the service judge stands to shake hands with the players. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 7.9)
- Call and signal, then the umpire's acknowledgement and explanation. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 7.2, 7.3)
- The service judge checks challenges and advises the umpire before the next rally if needed. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 7.7)
- The service judge sits on a low chair by the net post and judges the server's service. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 7.1, 7.2)

## 18.184 Cards, Coaches and Conduct

Yellow, red and black cards, coaches in intervals, time between rallies.

### Test 1: Cards, coaches and conduct between rallies

- A warning is given while the umpire raises a yellow card. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.17.3)
- A fault for misconduct is shown with a red card, and the Referee is called on court. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.17.4)
- When the Referee decides to disqualify, a black card is given to the umpire, who shows it. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.17.5)
- Each side may be joined by no more than two accredited coaches. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.4.13)
- Coaches must leave when the umpire calls '20 seconds'. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.4.13)
- A quick towel, a towel and drink, or a self-applied spray, if play is not held up; shirts change in intervals. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.10.4, 5.10.11)
- The time clock expires when 25 seconds have elapsed. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.10.8.2)
- Yellow, red, then the Referee's black card. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.17)
- At '20 seconds' the coaches leave; the game resumes with the score and 'Play'. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.4.12-5.4.14)
- The black card shows that the Referee has disqualified the offending player or pair. (Source: BWF ITTO 2025, 5.17.5)

Sources: BWF Laws of Badminton, V6.0 in force 4 January 2027, and the BWF Instructions to Technical Officials V8.0 (Sections 5, 7 and 8) (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