Agreed on both points. I think it's funny that so many people think that anything other officials do that they don't personally like or do themselves then those other officials are trying to be "big dawgs" or "big time" or copying officials at a higher level.

And besides other officials, people do not pay nearly as much attention to us as many of us think.


When I transferred into my current association 4 years ago I noticed many of the veteran officials putting the whistle in their right pocket. I had never done this myself and didnt really like it at first so I didnt do it.

Then I forgot my whistle in the locker room one time because I thought it was around my neck. Another time I couldnt find my whistle only to discover it already around my neck. And as I started getting more R assignments and having to runn across the court with the ball in my hand prior to the toss/tip, I didnt like also holding my lanyard with the other hand to keep it from bouncing.

So I now put my whistle in my pocket because it lets me know I have it and I don't have to hold my lanyard or worry about it bouncing around before the game. I do check for knots prior to putting in my pocket and pull it out when I get opposite the table.

Bottom line is that IMO something like this is much more about personal preference/ritual and not about big timing it or anything that should bother anyone else.

I put my whistle around my neck before I leave the house. I've forgotten it twice in 27 years but remembered it before I got a mile from home both times.

Ha.....just was thinking about this last week. my rule of thumb is after player intros we take them off, always waiting for R to start first. Had a partner last week, just before intros, unzips and jacket comes off as myself (r) and U1 kept them on.

It was a harbinger of things to come for rest of the night by the way.

I have no rule of thumb, myself. I usually take it off as soon as the introductions start. Nobody's looking at us that.

Just a little thing, IMHO makes you look like more of a team. Small potatos.

By the way, working kids games last night and talking to partner about videos with plays situations and he says " you won't believe the one I saw where trail(new lead) calls an inbounding five second call after made basket " I smiled!

I wear a smitty and tuck it into my shirt until we're ready to go

Amateur. I wear a whistle around my neck 24/7. Yeah, it gets in the way in certain situations, but it's a small price to pay for being ready to go in a case a game breaks out in my living room.

+1

I can't imagine anyone ever doing that.

Especially not at the end of a closely contested game...

Yeah, why would they?

Nope, it could never happen! :D