Hand Coordination while Officiating!

Coach Gerry Faust · #1 (**permalink**) Fri Apr 02, 2004, 06:30pm

I am trying to get this "Idea" straight before I
get to mid-season and blow a call.
#1 I always have my watch on my left arm.
#2 I have my finger whistle on my right hand.
#3 I toss my flag with my right hand and pray that
my finger whistle does not follow!
I have gotten to the point where I know that I need help
with this.
I am not sure where to keep my flag either.
I have tried each pocket depending on the throwing hand and
after mid-season I can not keep it inside my belt because
of weight loss and extra speed.
Any suggestions for this coordination.
Coach Faust
PS: Pray for Paul Horning!

Bob Floyd · #2 (**permalink**) Fri Apr 02, 2004, 06:43pm

Quote:

Originally posted by Coach Gerry Faust
I am trying to get this "Idea" straight before I
get to mid-season and blow a call.
#1 I always have my watch on my left arm.
#2 I have my finger whistle on my right hand.
#3 I toss my flag with my right hand and pray that
my finger whistle does not follow!
I have gotten to the point where I know that I need help
with this.
I am not sure where to keep my flag either.
I have tried each pocket depending on the throwing hand and
after mid-season I can not keep it inside my belt because
of weight loss and extra speed.
Any suggestions for this coordination.
Coach Faust
PS: Pray for Paul Horning!

Your item # 3 is a good reason for having your finger whistle on your left hand. If you are having a problem keeping your flag in your belt because of weight loss, I would suggest marketing whatever is contributing to this. You could make a fortune.

[Edited by Bob Floyd on Apr 2nd, 2004 at 05:48 PM]

stevesmith · #3 (**permalink**) Fri Apr 02, 2004, 11:04pm

You have to do whatever works best for you, but I would say the most common ways to handle the things you discussed would be as follows....

Finger whistle on opposite hand of signaling/throwing hand.

I was never a fan of flags with "golf ball" sized weights, but it is becoming much more common, and still looks better than the "rose garden growing out of the back pocket" look. I would say either get a flag with a bigger weight, or take one of your checks and buy a new belt.

Snake~eyes · #4 (**permalink**) Sat Apr 03, 2004, 01:47am

I was going to suggest, tighten your belt? And put your finger whistle in your left hand. But its all personal preference.

Forksref · #5 (**permalink**) Sun Apr 04, 2004, 10:04am

I was working a state championship game and the state supervisor, during our pre-game, said, "I don't want to see any flags out there today." After our initial puzzled reaction, he said, "I mean, keep them tucked in."

Our crew NEVER has a flag showing. I think that looks very sloppy and reflects on the appearance of our crew. You can keep a flag in your rear pocket and still look very neat and professional.

Bob M. · #6 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 05, 2004, 10:05am

REPLY: My own preferences...(LJ, BJ)

1. Watch on left wrist. (That's where I wear my watch normally)
2. Finger whistle on left hand. (And NO...I don't use one-armed signals. Anyone who claims that a finger whistle MUST mean one-armed signals just hasn't learned the skill. However, wearing the whistle on the left hand leaves the right hand free for the wind-the-clock signal and for dropping the bag and throwing the flag since I'm right-handed.)
3. Down indicator (elastic band) on right hand. (Finger whistle won't interfere with changing the band.)
4. Bean bag on belt - right side. Second bag in front left pocket. (Easy to get to the primary bag on all plays requiring the bag. I hold the second bag in my left hand on punt plays when I'm the BJ to mark the PSK spot.)
5. Primary penalty flag in belt - left side. (I learned about this technique a few years ago. Since I'm right-handed, it makes me reach across my body in order to get it. Gives me a little more time to fully process what I've seen.)
6. Secondary flag in right rear pocket tucked out of sight. (Keep the guns out of sight until/unless needed.)

Coach Gerry Faust · #7 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 05, 2004, 10:30am

That was just what I was lokking for!
I had all point backwards!
God Bless,
Coach Faust

Snake~eyes · #8 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 05, 2004, 10:57am

Bob, I like the idea of putting the flag on left side, I might try this, good point on allowing you to think. This year I kept primary in front right belt and secondary in back pocket, nice and deep, like you.

Bob M. · #9 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 05, 2004, 12:01pm

REPLY: snake-eyes...I'll warn you. Work on it during the scrimmage season. You'd be surprised how easy it is to drop your penalty flag on a fumble, or throw your bean bag for a BBW after you've made the switch. Take it from one who's been there---on a TV game no less!

Jim S · #10 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 05, 2004, 01:10pm

Of course there's the new electronic whistle.......

Snake~eyes · #11 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 05, 2004, 04:01pm

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob M.
REPLY: snake-eyes...I'll warn you. Work on it during the scrimmage season. You'd be surprised how easy it is to drop your penalty flag on a fumble, or throw your bean bag for a BBW after you've made the switch. Take it from one who's been there---on a TV game no less!

hehe I've seen it before. I keep the bean bag on the right side of my hip and the flag in the front right, so it shouldn't be that big of a change. I will try it during the scrimmages where I can look like an idiot and see what happens from there.

SWFLguy · #12 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 05, 2004, 05:42pm

Umpire here---
I'm a lefty-- my flag is deep in my left
front pocket--- if I'm throwing it-you know
something bad has happened !!
Whistle hangs around my neck for when I need
it-- bean bag tucked into my belt in front, but
I hold it during kick-offs.
I'm getting psyched for spring ball already !!

jjrye22 · #13 (**permalink**) Wed Apr 07, 2004, 02:14am

Bob:
I'll also be trying my flag on the left side this year. I shouldn't get too mixed up since I used to have a beanbag on each hip, so it will be a matter of grabbing the ball, not the square.

Otherwise, I have to admit I've never tried a Finger whistle, but have basically the same technique as Bob.
What I have is a whistle on a lanyard around my left writst, that way I flip my wrist and it is in my hand.
I also have my down indicator on the left hand, it blends in with the lanyard - and since I'm sometimes in as U I need an indicator on each hand.

I could never find my whistle when it was around my neck, and I figure a Finger whistle might make ball handling a little uncomfortable.

James

#14 (**permalink**) Thu Apr 08, 2004, 05:52am

Bob,

That's a neat idea (wearing flag on left side). Think I'll try that this year during scrimmages. I started wearing my flag on front right side this past year. I also had the problem of flag falling into my pants. Kinda embarrasing when you have to "dig" out your flag to throw it. But I quickly learned to "tighten" my belt so I don't have that problem no more (a coach one time said I musta had some ___ to have called that penalty LOL). I carry a second flag in my front right pocket.

Believe it or not, I carry two finger whistles, one on my left hand, and one in my pocket, just in case I need it. I've never had a problem with ball handling. But I did have to get used to the idea when I first started this.

Oh yeah, Coach Faust, welcome to the wonderful world of officiating. If you follow the "suggestions" here, you'll be just fine. And have fun!!

Serg

bluduc · #15 (**permalink**) Thu Apr 08, 2004, 09:43am

My umpire on my crew has a strange piece of gear. He sewed white numbers on a black wrist band. 1-5. 1 being left hash,2 half to center, 3 center etc. I thought it a little weird but it works for him. He also uses a baseball clicker for downs (balls) and innings for quarters. I never ask what the strikes are for, number of holding calls per quarter he did not call.
Great umpire just a little strange,he will be starting his 38th year this season.