Umpires and referees observe players and regulate the play of sports events.

Umpires and referees know the rules and regulations of the sports they oversee. They observe players during play and penalize those who break the rules. They make decisions and resolve disputes between teams.

Umpires and referees signal players or other officials who are close to the players when they see a rule broken. They resolve claims and complaints by making the decision or talking to other officials. They may assign a penalty. Umpires and referees also direct players to starting blocks or penalty areas to re-start the game after penalties are assigned. They make decisions about when to allow player substitutions.

Sports officials have a variety of other duties depending on the sport. They may start the clock for sporting events. They also time the players' performance on the field or floor. For example, in professional basketball, the team with the ball has 24 seconds to shoot. In college basketball, they have 35 seconds. A referee clocks this time and blows a whistle if the team exceeds the limit.

Umpires and referees confer with other sports officials to coordinate their activities or resolve problems. They may inspect equipment to make sure it complies with the rules of the sport. They may also make inspections to ensure the safety of players and spectators.

Sports officials record and maintain data about players and scores. Usually, the official scorer records this data. Sometimes sports officials prepare reports of the games for the regulating organization for their sport. They include complaints and actions that were taken or that need to be taken, such as fines.