You've never blown the whistle on the court, and the player nearest you gets a shower? :D

Yeah - when my whistle signals his second T.

For those who've played wind instruments, it will come naturally. Unfortunately, not everyone has ... but you've gotta use your tongue. Not with the same force you use to shoot your whistle out of your mouth; it's more subtle and it may take you a while to figure out just how fast and hard to do it.. Too much tongue and yeah, you'll make a mess. :-D

Also make sure you have good air support, it will help a lot with tonguing. Breath deeply and relax -- if you find yourself straining at the throat trying to get air out, you're not going to tongue effectively ...

Sorry to be a music nerd but I also play trumpet and the same principles really do help with getting good sound & 'technique' with the whistle!

I played the B-Flat Farthorn when I was younger.

Sorry. Couldn't help myself. Welcome to the forum.

And you're getting up to the age where you'll be playing it again! :p

I always have to do the signaling myself.

Talking about the short blasts of the whistle brings up a good question, what do they mean. I've heard them used at all levels, and i'm wondering what situation they would be most effective in. The only one i've seen so far is on a held ball, its gets the players attention, and they end up dropping the ball. I heard somewhere that an old mechanic was 3 short blasts for a foul, but i'm not sure if this is true.

I dunno.. I don't think there's any particular scenario you're supposed to use them in. I find myself doing it when I need to draw attention quickly, e.g. held balls, or dribbler sprinting down court and stepping OOB.

I've got my whistles trained. One time they called a travel and my nose got bruised.

I once almost knocked out a tooth signaling a travel with the whistle still in my mouth....

That's why you do travel signals at waist/chest level - not up high.

Actually.. has anyone tried some of the other pealess whistles out there (e.g. Acme Tornado) ?

I was taught NOT to use more than 1 toot - loud and clear enough for all concerned to hear and stop. None of these multiple, short toots. Something about it not being professional (please don't take that the wrong way, I am only quoting our senior official) and show-boating. But then again I learned to officiate when I lived in NY <grin>