Lineups

Lineups refer to the arrangement of people or things in a specific order for a purpose. The term is used in multiple domains, including sports, law enforcement, and entertainment, and can apply to any roster, schedule, or parade of participants.

In sports, a lineup is the set of players chosen to compete in a game. In team sports, the starting lineup designates the players who begin play and their positions, while a lineup card or roster lists substitutes, positions, and order for strategic planning and officiating. The concept also appears in baseball as a batting order. In music and broadcasting, a lineup refers to the scheduled performers or guests who will appear at an event or program.

In law enforcement, a lineup, or identification parade, is a procedure that presents a group of individuals to a witness for potential identification of a suspect. Lineups may be live or photographic. Best practices emphasize fairness and non-suggestion, often including fillers who resemble the suspect and procedures that are blind to the administrator to reduce influence on the witness.

In entertainment and public events, organizers publish the lineup of artists, speakers, or acts for a festival, concert, or conference. Changes to the lineup are common and can affect marketing, ticketing, and logistics.

Etymology: the term arises from presenting people in a single file or line, and its use across domains reflects a common need to arrange participants in a clear, standardized order.