Had an IW tonight

[ChickenOfNC]

My third year, and I had my first IW tonight (JV game). Was back on a punt, kick bounces of an R shoulder pad, mad scramble ensues. Pile of kids digging for the ball. So naturally I'm killing the clock to start digging through the pile to find the ball. Out the corner of my eye, I see somebody running. An R player with the ball shooting up the sideline. Linesman tells me the ball squirted out the back of the pile and was lying between a kids legs on the backside of the pile. Arghhhh!!!!!

Didn't realize how dirty they make you feel the rest of the night. Still have a sour taste in my mouth this morning.

Oh well, gotta brush it off before tonight.

[mcrowder]

We've all been there. Don't let it get you down, but learn from it. No ball, no whistle.

[jontheref]

Many moons ago when I was an umpire I had a guy go into the middle of the line and a pile of players in front of me. Everyone had stopped. I blew the whistle and unpiled players. That would have been fine except thirty yards away the ball carrier was running down the side line. Fortunately it was a blow out with a good number of people having a bit of laugh at my expence. It makes you feel horrible but it happens.

Look at it this way....there are only two types of officials....ones who have had an IW and those who will. They key is to admit it...get right back in the game and do your job.

[booker227]

welcome to the club. I had my first one on varsity this past season.

[FBullock]

A former Conference USA official once told me, there are only 2 kinds of officials: Those who have had an Inadvertent whistle and those who are GOING to have one. PATIENCE is the key.

[BktBallRef]

Yes, but you can't always have patience when there are 10 players in a pile, scrapping for the ball.

My IW came in a 22-22 varsity game 8 years ago, with just over 2 minutes left in the 4th quarter.

[Forksref]

Originally Posted by ChickenOfNC

My third year, and I had my first IW tonight (JV game). Was back on a punt, kick bounces of an R shoulder pad, mad scramble ensues. Pile of kids digging for the ball. So naturally I'm killing the clock to start digging through the pile to find the ball. Out the corner of my eye, I see somebody running. An R player with the ball shooting up the sideline. Linesman tells me the ball squirted out the back of the pile and was lying between a kids legs on the backside of the pile. Arghhhh!!!!!

Didn't realize how dirty they make you feel the rest of the night. Still have a sour taste in my mouth this morning.

Oh well, gotta brush it off before tonight.

Drop the whistle out of your mouth after the snap and after a free kick is kicked. Now you know the reason for this!

[a4caster]

Originally Posted by Forksref

Drop the whistle out of your mouth after the snap and after a free kick is kicked. Now you know the reason for this!

Last week, had a cold game, so was wearing some gloves. Well, right out of the chute, had a false start. Went for the whistle, couldn't grasp it because of the gloves, couldn't grab the flag, so about 2-3 seconds into the play, finally got the play killed. Needless to say, it rattled the marbles, so it ruined me for at least the next five minutes. After the first touchdown, was relating my misery to the crew, and they gave me the "whistle" technique. Started to use it and it really helps. I have always kept it out to avoid IW's, but it actually helped on a few FS's. Just remember to spit it out at the snap.