Whistle While You Work

[rainmaker]

Tuesday evening after my game, my partner told me the only thing I did wrong was to blow my whistle just before every hand-off for a throw-in. I've had other people comment on this in the past, and I've tried to stop, but I just can't find a workable substitute. The problem is that in girls ball, often, the thrower-in isn't looking for the ball. She's yelling at someone, or tucking in her bra strap, or trying to hear which play the coach wants her to call. I'm ready to hand off, the players on the floor are in position, and she's still looking the wrong way. I've seen refs yell, "Ball!" as they reach the ball across, but then you've got to get the whistle into your mouth, count to five and keep the clock hand up in the air -- that's three hands, and I've only got two. How do others solve this problem?

[Ref Daddy]

Nothing wrong with a subdued toot here - particularily in a loud situation.

A quickie whistle does no harm.

[Andy]

Hold the whistle near your mouth with the hand opposite the thrower and the ball in the other, say your phrase of choice, ("Ball", "Here we go"....etc), Hand ball to thrower while placing whistle in your mouth, raise hand closest to thrower, begin count with other hand.

Not too diffcult or requiring a lot of coordination, and looks smooth.

[whistleone]

My method is to keep my whistle out of my mouth until after I've handed the ball off/bounced it to the thrower. I feel this does a couple things for me: lets me talk to the players (remind defense not to come forward; remind thrower to hold spot/run baseline) and it gives the thrower a little more time for the throw (keeps me from having to whistle as many 5 second violations).

Juulie, ever had any complaints about blowing your whistle in the player's ear all night?

[Smitty]

I think a whistle is only appropriate for a throw-in if it's after a timeout (or to start a new period) or if there has been an unusually long time before the throw-in happens. It's inappropriate to whistle on every throw-in. I just hand the ball to the thrower by placing the ball against their gut when I feel we're ready to go. Then I start my count.

[whistleone]

Another thing I've gotten in the habit of doing is saying "It's live" as I hand the ball to the thrower just as a reminder to myself and my partner that any foul thereafter is a live ball foul.

[Dan_ref]

Excellent advice so far.

What I do is yell "Play!" and then press the ball into the players midsection until he takes it. That gets their attention every time. I only whistle at the start of a period, sometimes after a timeout or after an unusual delay.

[rainmaker]

Originally posted by Dan_ref
... then press the ball into the players midsection until he takes it.

Dan -- key word here is "he". I quit doing this about a year ago. Girls' midsections are somewhat less "available", especially since I am often taller than the thrower and thus reaching way down to hit "mid"section. And I feel uneasy "touching" a boy player, even as innocuous as this action may seem. We are often told, don't touch the players, and I don't.

Originally posted by Andy
Hold the whistle near your mouth with the hand opposite the thrower and the ball in the other, say your phrase of choice, ("Ball", "Here we go"....etc), Hand ball to thrower while placing whistle in your mouth, raise hand closest to thrower, begin count with other hand.

Not too diffcult or requiring a lot of coordination, and looks smooth.

This is the answer I was looking for. Although it may seem "Not too difficult" for Andy, I may require a lot of "coordination" especially the brain kind. but I'm gonna try it and see if it can work for me.

[Danvrapp]

Originally posted by rainmaker
...I've seen refs yell, "Ball!" as they reach the ball across, but then you've got to get the whistle into your mouth,...

Learn to talk with your whistle in your mouth

Seriously!

[Dan_ref]

Originally posted by rainmaker

Dan -- key word here is "he". I quit doing this about a year ago. Girls' midsections are somewhat less "available", especially since I am often taller than the thrower and thus reaching way down to hit "mid"section. And I feel uneasy "touching" a boy player, even as innocuous as this action may seem. We are often told, don't touch the players, and I don't.

I don't do nearly as many girls games as you do but I have no problem placing the ball directly into "her" midsection as well. The uhhmmmm....places that need to be avoided can be avoided easily enough, IMO, and there's little chance of even accidental touching since your hand is a good 8 or 9 inches away from flesh. And I find when jamming the ball into the kid's belly there's virtually zero chance of him/her/it fumbling it. (Although if we're talking about middle school & below I guess we might want to be a little more delicate than what I'm suggesting, but you get the idea.)

[Dan_ref]

Originally posted by Danvrapp

Learn to talk with your whistle in your mouth

Seriously!

I ha no pahlehm doing isss my-elf, iss kinna easseee...



Actually good advice, teach yourself to project while talking with the whistle in your mouth.

[BktBallRef]

Maybe it's just me but I don't have a problem with this. Rarely, do I ever have a problem with the thrower not taking the ball.

Now, what I do have problems with is getting the player to the correct spot. That can be very irritating. I fell like Bill Cosby talking to a 3 year old. "Here. Here! Here!! HERE!!"

[Edited by BktBallRef on Dec 18th, 2003 at 01:54 PM]

[davidw]

Rainmaker,

I use the exact same sequence as Andy, and it is smooth and I have no doubt you will pick it up quick. Let us know if you like it or found other options.

I also use a two part 'notification' that play is about to become live. I will always say "READY!" Then as I place it to there mid-section (I use that technique as well) I say "BALL!" As I insert whistle into mouth, raise hand that just gave ball to player--to chop in time and begin the count with hand that just had whistle in it, all the while beginning to step away from player to get proper angle/distance.

I agree with Dan that one should learn to talk with the whistle in their mouth, but I think that there are times for that and this situation is better served by communicatiing with whistle out of mouth. I feel it's not only not necessary for this mechanic, but allows you to take the extra time to communicate clearly and demonstrate control and an unhurried demeanor adding to your professionalism and at the very least the appearance of such.

[ChuckElias]

Originally posted by Dan_ref
Learn to talk with your whistle in your mouth

I ha no pahlehm doing isss my-elf, iss kinna easseee...

[/B][/QUOTE]
I try, but when I say "SPOT!", the whistle blows where the "p" sound should be.

[mick]

Originally posted by ChuckElias

I ha no pahlehm doing isss my-elf, iss kinna easseee...

I try, but when I say "SPOT!", the whistle blows where the "p" sound should be. [/B][/QUOTE]

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