Origin of pulling your whistle out of pocket when you're just about to tip off

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by CMHCoachNRef

Virtually all of the referees with whom I work keep their whistles in their pockets until just prior to tip-off. Further, whenever there is an extended break -- time outs, between quarters, etc. -- they (we) either remove our whistles or tuck them in our shirts. I personally started doing this when a veteran official suggested that someone could come out of the stands and grab the whistle and create a very uncomfortable situation for the referee. Ever since, I have kept the whistle out of plain sight until ready for play....

Tucking it away during time outs and intermissions seems a little unnecessary, but before and after the game and during halftime, mine goes under the shirt. It's too easy for someone to grab to leave hanging out there. And if you're wearing a neck lanyard, it could be life-threatening in a fight if it's grabbed.