Techniques for a Patient Whistle
 

One item that I have been trying to work on is to have a slower whistle - see the beginning, middle, and end of the play. What do you all do to slow your whistle down?

Do not be so anxious to blow your whistle, keep the air in your stomach. Let fouls jump out at you. SDF mostly applies to plays to the basket. If you are the Lead, keep your weight on your back foot and let the play happen.

I think the main way is to see a lot of plays and think to yourself was the contact necessary in each situation. If you can do that, the blowing the whistle is secondary.

Every play has starts, develops and finishes. You want to call a foul at the end of that sequence as much as possible.

Peace

On drives to the basket, I actually exhale...meaning I have NO air in my lungs; that way, when I feel like I need/want to blow my whistle, I've got to inhale first before I can blow - oftentimes that extra "second" can mean the difference between an patient/accurate whistle and one that's too quick and potentially incorrect.

A lot of this is just experience in seeing plays and putting yourself in the mindset that you're going to let plays finish before committing one way or the other.

I quickly ask myself was there serious consequences (turnover, affect the shot, etc) of that contact? That question gives me time to replay the contact and make a decision. I also love when the coaches and fans raise their voices most of the time it is a foul unless I ask myself, if I call something will I actually give the defense the advantage to reset up and the offense a missed chance for an easy lay up or an assist.

Best thing is actually have a mentor watch and see if you are a patient or too fast and point it out. Really drills in what kind of play caller you are.

The best method to do what you are trying to do is to just not blow the whistle.

I think part of it has to do with anxiety over being immediate with the call. If you can get over that, and not be so concerned with having a "late whistle" (even though it's not really late), it might help you to see the whole play through.

Anticipation ...
 

Anticipate the play, not the call.

The call might not be there.