judge

In sports, a judge is an official responsible for impartially deciding or resolving disputes or controversies. This role is distinct from a public official who decides questions of law.12

In figure skating, judges are crucial for scoring. They attend special schools and seminars to master the rules and regulations, demonstrating their expertise through various levels of judging. Judges evaluate skaters on elements like jumps, spins, choreography, and harmony with music. In pairs skating, they also assess unison and athleticism in lifts and throws. For ice dancing, precision, speed, timing, and expression are key criteria.3

In baseball, the role of an umpire is similar to that of a judge in other sports. Umpires officiate the game, enforce rules, and make calls on plays, such as balls and strikes, and whether runners are safe or out.4