Whistle in hand

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Johnny Ringo

Personally, I think it looks bad and arrogant. Nothing personal - just want to see what many of your takes are on this.

Come on, lighten up -- you said "personally" and "nothing personal" in consecutive sentences.

[Johnny Ringo]

Yes I did. What I was trying to say is it really no big deal to me. I just think it looks unofficial (no pun intended) and most of the ones who do it where I work are known for being arrogant.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Johnny Ringo

Yes I did. What I was trying to say is it really no big deal to me. I just think it looks unofficial (no pun intended) and most of the ones who do it where I work are known for being arrogant.

For the life of me, I can't figure out how anyone could equate how someone carries a whistle to being arrogant. That makes about as much sense to me as saying that an official who ties his shoelaces differently than most other officials is arrogant too. It's just a personal preference. Personally, I tried it a few times and I don't like it. Others do. Whoopee. I'd rather worry about what they're blowing the whistle for. That seems a little more important imo.

[Johnny Ringo]

Now that the couple of you who have responded I need to say that the officials in my association that do this are arrogant and try to have that be there style ... that has most likely made me think this.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Johnny Ringo

Now that the couple of you who have responded I need to say that the officials in my association that do this are arrogant and try to have that be there style ... that has most likely made me think this.

Could be true, Johnny, but don't you think that those officials would probably be just as arrogant if they used a lanyard?

Also, arrogance can sometimes be confused with self-confidence. In my experience, most good officials will exude an air of confidence when they're working.

[Johnny Ringo]

True. I should have left my opinion out, because what I was after was just to see what others thought and if it was something that wasbecoming more common in their areas.

Revamped:

How many of you officials out there hold the whistle in their hand? Curious to see what many of your takes are on this. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Johnny Ringo

How many of you officials out there hold the whistle in their hand? Curious to see what many of your takes are on this.

Soccer officials carry their whistle in their hand. I guess they all must be "bad and arrogant."

Many football officials use a finger whistle. I guess they all must be "bad and arrogant."

Before you criticize, perhaps you should try it. During the spring and summer AAU season, I don't use a lanyard. Why? Because it's an excellent training mechanic. It's makes you much more aware and in tuned with when you blow your whistle. It makes you think! It's makes you see the whole play before you blow it. Yes, at first, you'll drop it. But the more you use it, the more comfortable you become.

I don't use it during the high school season because roughly a third of the schools we work use Precision Time. You have to use a lanyard using PT, because the microphone must be within an inch or so of the whistle, so that the air from the whistle stops the clock. To go back and forth between a lanyard and sans lanyard is a little more difficult.

Hopefully that helps you have a little better understanding, as opposed to just making assumptions.

[Ed Maeder]

In our local association we require all officials to wear a lanyard. Even if you are visiting from another association we require this. It is felt by our board that it looks better and makes for some conformity among our officials. Tried not using one before, and it wasn't for me. My back kept getting sore from having to bend over and pick up my whistle. As far as visiting officials go, we require them to use one to conform to our local people. Hard to tell our locals to use one when visitors don't

[Bad Zebra]

I know a couple guys in our assn. that do it. It just so happens that they are also college officials. Don't know if there is a correlation. I have done games with these individuals and have laughed when they have either dropped their whistles or blown them across the floor. I personally don't know why anyone would hold them in their hand when a lanyard is acceptable. I think they are just trying to differentiate themselves. These are the same guys that voted to go to greys for no apparent reason.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Johnny Ringo

Yes I did. What I was trying to say is it really no big deal to me. I just think it looks unofficial (no pun intended) and most of the ones who do it where I work are known for being arrogant.

My brother's first wife was a lying cheater. She drove a blue car. Can I make that connection? No.