S-L-O-W Whistles

[Rich]

I'm about to apply the kiss of death. It's been three years since I've been on the field when an IW happened. I once had 2 guys on my crew that were good for one every few weeks, and I eventually replaced them.

From time-to-time, a coach will complain that we are too slow on the whistle, but I'm unconcerned about that. I tell my guys if you don't see a football, don't blow a whistle -- the play ends by rule, not by a whistle. Now, I'm not encouraging a very late whistle or no whistle, but we have to see the ball to kill a play.

Well, last night, I saw something that made me proud of my crew.

Kickoff return after a TD. Returner is turned a$$-over-teakettle by a K player and he rolls over on the body of the defender, puts his hand on the ground, and flips over on his feet, not even losing stride. The U was the official on the scene and he (and the rest of the crew) kept right on officiating as the returner got another 40 yards.

Now, I would love, LOVE to see a replay of this, as I wonder in the back of my head whether a forearm might have touched the ground, if only for a split-second, but the U and the runner both reacted as if there was no tackle and the downfield guys kept right on officiating, too. And as the WH, I was in the middle of the field 15 yards behind the returner at this point.

I've been part of crews where someone not even near the play would've blown it down and I'm glad my crew has gotten pretty darned good at knowing how to use the whistle.

[Tim C]

Rich:

With my new position within the confines of the NFHS I have been able to attend 11 high school football games this year. And I get to see them from the SIDELINES. This unobstructed view has taught me an important mechanic.

From the first game I noticed the very best way to eliminate the fateful IW.

Officials in Oregon are being trained to NOT have the whistle in their mouths during the play. Only at plays end do they place the whistle in their mouth to blow the play dead.

Each of the three IWs that I have seen this year the offending official has run with the play with whistle in mouth.

I think this simple mechanic is a great help in making sure the whistle is blown at the correct time.

Regards,

[waltjp]

The most likely candidate on my crew for an IW is my R. He absolutely can not stand the thought of a play without a whistle sounding and often times he's the first.

We had a play in today's game where the runner hit a crowd while running up the middle. The pile was still moving forward and just as the runner was breaking free for a what could have been a good chunk of additional yardage my R blows his whistle.

Nobody really complained and we 'could' have argued that forward progress had been stopped, although I know in my heart that it wasn't. I commented to the R that he was a bit quick with the whistle and he told me some BS story about another back running into the pile and pushing the runner so instead of throwing a flag on the illegal act he decided to blow his whistle.

I'm not sure this story is true and if it is I know I don't agree with that philosophy.

[MJT]

The R with the whistle, and often before the wings!!!!! BAD SITUATION!!!!

[Forksref]

The best mechanic that I have learned for preventing the IW is dropping the whistle out of my mouth at the snap (I usually am the R.) The only time I deliberately keep it in is when I am anticipating the QB taking a knee.

As for the R blowing his whistle often, I rarely have reason to blow my whistle on a normal run or pass. The wings should be doing that as they have the forward progress and spot. I have been the U some games this year (subvarsity to let a new WH work) and at the U position I rarely need to blow my whistle either.

I am trying to get the guys in our association to drop the whistle at the snap but it is hard to break old habits. At least on my crew I have some pull (I hope!).

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Forksref

The best mechanic that I have learned for preventing the IW is dropping the whistle out of my mouth at the snap (I usually am the R.) The only time I deliberately keep it in is when I am anticipating the QB taking a knee.

As for the R blowing his whistle often, I rarely have reason to blow my whistle on a normal run or pass. The wings should be doing that as they have the forward progress and spot. I have been the U some games this year (subvarsity to let a new WH work) and at the U position I rarely need to blow my whistle either.

I am trying to get the guys in our association to drop the whistle at the snap but it is hard to break old habits. At least on my crew I have some pull (I hope!).

I am the R 90% of the time and always at the varsity level. I only add my whistle for "weight" after another whistle if it's absolutely needed or if I'm the covering official.

I also keep it in the mouth and let it fall on the snap.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by waltjp

The most likely candidate on my crew for an IW is my R. He absolutely can not stand the thought of a play without a whistle sounding and often times he's the first.

That's stunning. When I R, I spit out the whistle at the snap. If I average blowing my whistle twice at the end of a play during games, I'd be shocked. QB tackled in the backfield is usually about the only time I'm reaching for a whistle, and most of those times, my umpire beats me to it.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Each of the three IWs that I have seen this year the offending official has run with the play with whistle in mouth.

"Puff-tweet-puff-tweet-puff-tweet...."?

[sir_eldren]

I still prefer the whole idea that no whistle is needed. Occasionally, when working the wings, I'll have a play come down my side where the guy is tackled, everybody stops and walks away. No whistle. Some white hats are fine with that. Others have a big problem and come in and blow their whistle really late, and it's really odd and out of place.

Earlier this season a "Big Guy" came down from the state offices and gave a great presentation on the fact that whistles are NOT needed if action is stopping or particular things occur on the field. He made a point that even wings don't need to blow their whistles if it's obvious that a play is over. I find it odd, however, that many white hats just sat there and ignored everything that was said by a guy who has more officiating experience at a higher level than these guys will ever get to experience and insist on there being a whistle every play. The whole idea makes me jumpy in a game and I feel prone to have an IW.

What's the story with these guys who think we need a whistle everywhere every time? I think it's great when the next whistle after the ready-for-play is a ready-for-play on the next down. It shows more than just good officiating, but great observation by the players and excellent coaching.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by sir_eldren

I still prefer the whole idea that no whistle is needed. Occasionally, when working the wings, I'll have a play come down my side where the guy is tackled, everybody stops and walks away. No whistle. Some white hats are fine with that. Others have a big problem and come in and blow their whistle really late, and it's really odd and out of place.

Earlier this season a "Big Guy" came down from the state offices and gave a great presentation on the fact that whistles are NOT needed if action is stopping or particular things occur on the field. He made a point that even wings don't need to blow their whistles if it's obvious that a play is over. I find it odd, however, that many white hats just sat there and ignored everything that was said by a guy who has more officiating experience at a higher level than these guys will ever get to experience and insist on there being a whistle every play. The whole idea makes me jumpy in a game and I feel prone to have an IW.

What's the story with these guys who think we need a whistle everywhere every time? I think it's great when the next whistle after the ready-for-play is a ready-for-play on the next down. It shows more than just good officiating, but great observation by the players and excellent coaching.

While I'm perfectly happy with a slow whistle, there has to be (in my little opinion) a whistle at some point acknowledging the play is over. From the covering official, of course.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

While I'm perfectly happy with a slow whistle, there has to be (in my little opinion) a whistle at some point acknowledging the play is over. From the covering official, of course.

I think if you don't have one, chances are good that some player who wasn't looking in that direction at the time it became dead will get the idea the ball is still in play, and wind up delaying the game at best, hitting a defenseless opponent at worst. With deaf players the hand-up dead ball signal should work.

Robert

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by sir_eldren

What's the story with these guys who think we need a whistle everywhere every time? I think it's great when the next whistle after the ready-for-play is a ready-for-play on the next down. It shows more than just good officiating, but great observation by the players and excellent coaching.

What I hate is when I (at HL) or my partner at LJ blow a play dead, and then we hear 3 other whistles. It's just not necessary. I hate it worse from R, when I hear LJ blow it dead, and then hear it again from BJ or HL - makes me think they are bringing in a penalty or something. No need for the echo whistles unless you're trying to get someone's attention or stop something going on after the play.

[Warrenkicker]

Most plays should only have one whistle. That should come from the covering official who sees the ball dead in the possession of a player. If you are getting three or four whistles then you have officials who are not watching their responsibilities. Even if I am confident that the running back was tackled with the ball, if he is turned away from me at the end of the play, even if he is just a few feet in front of me, I am not just blowing it dead. If I can't see the ball then it isn't my decision. I may have the good spot but it is probably the other wing's whistle or no whistle at all. 95% of the time there should be one whistle and whomever blew the whistle had better also have the spot.