Ha Ha. No, I just don't throw them away. I'm only subscribed to two magazines: Referee and QST. And yes, I've got every issue since I've been subscribed to both magazines.

Broken Arrow ???
 

I would prefer not to, but it's expected by my evaluators. I didn't mind doing it for the first couple of years after we switched from jump balls to alternating possession. The crew at the table was unfamiliar with the rules, and mechanics, of switching the arrow, and mistakes were often made, and easily corrected, with the memory aid of switching the whistle in our pocket to coincide with the arrow. Now, most table crews are very familiar with the rules, and mechanics, of the alternating possession procedure, and they seldom make mistakes, so the whistles seem kind of redundant. I never thought we would use this mechanic for such a long time.

Do your evaluators also insist that you put a different color ring on your fingers to keep track of the team fouls? :D

I can't see why not, that's logically the same as what they are making you do with the AP arrow. Why would they trust the table on one issue and not on another?

Rings On My Fingers, And, Bells On My Toes ...
 

That's exactly what I humorously thought when these mechanics were first introduced to us many, many years ago. It's not so funny any more.

Do you actually use it? Or just leave it in your pocket?

ALt poss Gizmo
 

there is a gizmo you can buy to put on your Fox 40 whistles that will help you with ALt possesion it flips back and forth Light/dark.
It is just like the pocket whistle if you remember to do it it works great.

ugh!

It alters the sound of the Fox40. While it is a neat gizmo, it's just easier for me to remember which way we are going and to confirm it when the arrow is suppose to change.

I have never used it nor seen anyone who has
I consider knowing the AP arrow, score, Time, and Shot clock information as a part on game managment, and keeping my head in the game at all times.

It is a great thing when there is an issue and the crew can quickly say the shot clock should read 19 seconds, when it has accidentally been re set or the calling official comes out of the scrum with a jump ball and direction rather than having to check with the table - this awarness on the floor is one of the things I worked on all summer and it has been an advantage already in the four games I have worked several times.

When you have these little items under control it is one less thing you have to worry about going wrong in a game, it gives those there (correctly) the impression you are on top of things and that can keep a coach off you back on a borderline call because they know you are in the game.

Well stated, and using the gizmo or rubber band or whistle in the pocket or (insert crutch here) only diminishes the professional appearance.

Agreed, but -- the newer official has lots of other (more important) stuff to learn -- so the "training wheels" might be appropriate at that level. After a couple of years, though, the official should learn to remember the arrow.

Any special methods to cleaning your whistles? I rinse mine with water and then let them sit in mouthwash for a few hours.

Then you need a rubber band on your wrist to remind yourself to switch the whistle to the correct pocket, then part your hair in the right direction facing the table to remind yourself which way the rubber............never mind.