Badminton · Laws of Badminton
Law 17: Officials and Appeals
2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts · updated 29 October 2026 · markdown
Law 17 names the officials and their areas. The Referee is in overall charge of the tournament or championship. The umpire, where appointed, is in charge of the match, the court and its surrounds, and reports to the Referee. The service judge, on a low chair by the net post opposite the umpire, calls the server's service faults under Laws 9.1.2 to 9.1.8, and each line judge indicates in or out on the assigned lines.
An official's decision is final on points of fact within their responsibility, with the exceptions in Law 17.5. The umpire overrules a line judge only if it is beyond reasonable doubt that the line judge clearly made a wrong call. Where a review system is used, its decision stands unless it is inconsistent or obviously incorrect. If an appointed official is unsighted, the umpire carries out their duties or plays a let.
The umpire also records and reports to the Referee all matters relating to Law 16. The umpire decides appeals made before the next service is delivered and refers unsatisfied appeals on questions of law to the Referee; at the end of a match, the appeal must come before the appealing side has left the court.
The facts below cover each official's role, overrules, the review system and appeals.
17.171The Officials and Their Roles
Who is in charge of what, and final decisions on points of fact.
Test 1The officials and what each is responsible forTake a test
The Referee is in overall charge of the tournament or championship.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.1 · recall
The umpire, where appointed, is in charge of the match, the court and its surrounds.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.2 · recall
The umpire reports to the Referee.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.2 · recall
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 · recall
A line judge indicates in or out on the assigned lines.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.4 · recall
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 · applied
Where an appointed official is unsighted, the umpire carries out their duties or plays a let.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.6 · applied
Laws 17.1-17.4 set out each official's area.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.1-17.4 · recall
The umpire records and reports to the Referee all matters relating to Law 16.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.4, 17.6.7 · applied
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 · applied
17.172Decisions, Overrules and Appeals
Overruling a line judge, the review system, appeals and the umpire's other duties.
Test 1Final decisions, overrules and appealsTake a test
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 · recall
The system decides, unless its decision is inconsistent or obviously incorrect.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.5.2 · applied
The umpire decides appeals made before the next service is delivered.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.2 · applied
The umpire refers all unsatisfied appeals on questions of law to the Referee.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.8 · applied
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 · applied
The umpire appoints or replaces them in consultation with the Referee.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.4 · recall
Where another official is not appointed, the umpire arranges for those duties to be carried out.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.5 · applied
Laws 17.6.2 and 17.6.8.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.2, 17.6.8 · applied
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 · applied
Here the mistake is plain, so the umpire's correction replaces the signal.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.5.1 · applied
Questions people ask
- Who are the officials in a badminton match?
- The Referee in charge of the tournament, the umpire in charge of the match and court, the service judge, and the line judges.
- What does the service judge do in badminton?
- The service judge calls the server's service faults under Laws 9.1.2 to 9.1.8, from a low chair by the net post opposite the umpire.
- Can the umpire overrule a line judge?
- Yes, but only after the signal and only if it is beyond reasonable doubt that the line judge clearly made a wrong call.
- Is the review system's decision final?
- The system decides, unless its decision is inconsistent or obviously incorrect.
- How does a player appeal a decision in badminton?
- The umpire decides appeals made before the next service is delivered. Unsatisfied appeals on questions of law go to the Referee, and at the end of a match before the appealing side leaves the court.
- What happens when a line judge cannot see the shuttle land?
- Where an appointed official is unsighted, the umpire carries out their duties or plays a let.
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)
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.5.13
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.22
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.82
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.31
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.41
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.51
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.61
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.1-17.41
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.4, 17.6.71
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.3; BWF ITTO 2025, 7.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.5.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.41
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.51
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 17.6.2, 17.6.81