S-L-O-W Whistles

[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.