I use a smitty, attached to the little loop on my shirt. However, in a university spring league and in some men's leagues games, I use just the whistle. I've actually become quite good at it. I haven't dropped the whistle in about 6-8 months. It's fun too.

Mike

SMITTY
 

It seems as though a lot of college officials use the Smitty, does anyone know if they are required to be on some of the college staffs?

Also it seems that a lot of upper level officials use neither during the summer season. I asked the question as to why, and the answer I got is that it gives them an extra second to think about the call that they are making.

Re: SMITTY
 

I personally see a lot of noose lanyards or lanyards with the "adjuster" for that lack of a better term. I think it is just personal preference.

Peace

It's a personal preference, but I hate the noose lanyard.
It tend to tangle up a bit, and the whistle can "bounce" around too much in those few seconds per game the whistle is not in your mouth.

Personally, I don't like the idea of working a game in a hostle gym with a noose around my neck. :p

Mark, I agree...A noose around the neck just doesn't sound appealing!

Yeah - no noose is good noose.

OK - you knew someone was going to say it eventually.

I use the noose lanyard as well. I've used it for the past 4 years. A lot of officials will ask where I got it and to be honest, I don't really remember.

I was officiating a game the first year I had the noose lanyard and the varsity coach's wife was taking the books. She glanced at my lanyard and said--

"That is the cutest thing I've ever seen! It's like a little noose around your neck."

It dawned on her one second later that I am a black guy and her faced turned bright, bright red.

I just laughed and made a joke of it. She felt a lot better after that. She, and her husband, were such nice people. They requested me to do some of their varsity...but I moved away. :(