Who are the officials in a badminton match?
I · Intermediate · Conduct, stoppages and officials · 9 of 10The umpire runs the match from a high chair by the net and calls faults and lets. A service judge calls service faults, and line judges call the shuttle in or out on their lines. The referee is in charge of the whole tournament and decides appeals on the Laws.
How it works
- The umpire enforces the Laws, calls faults and lets, keeps the score, announces it and reports to the referee.
- The service judge calls faults by the server.
- A line judge signals in or out on the line or lines they are given.
- Each official's decision is final on the facts they are responsible for.
- The umpire overrules a line judge only when it is beyond reasonable doubt that the call was wrong.
- A player can appeal to the umpire on a point of dispute before the next serve. Appeals on a question of law can go to the referee.
- Where an official is missing or unsighted, the umpire does that job or plays a let.
- Without an umpire, the players make the calls themselves.
Tricky cases
Can the umpire change a line judge's call?
Yes, but only if the umpire is sure beyond reasonable doubt that it was wrong.
Can a player argue a call?
It depends on the kind of call. A player can ask the umpire about a disputed point before the next serve. Decisions of fact are final; only questions of law go to the referee.
Why the rule exists
The shuttle moves too fast for one person to judge everything, so the calls are shared by line and by task.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All badminton under the BWF Laws | As above | L17 |
| Club and social play | Usually no officials; players call their own lines | L14.1; C |
From the rule book
BWF Laws of Badminton, Law 17, version 5.0, in force from 26 April 2025. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: BWF Laws of Badminton (PDF).