Football Officials' Whistles

[Forksref]

I use a lanyard. I am not into one-handed timeout signals.

I wear my wedding ring. No problems in 23 years.

[jaybird]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

When I first started officiating someone told me I should always remove my wedding ring during games because it could get caught or snagged on a player during the game and could rip off your finger. That stuck with me and I always remove it. I've seen other officials work with their wedding ring on though. The comments around putting the finger whistle in your mouth while clearing up a pile are along the same lines. Do most officials take off their wedding rings (or other jewelry) or is this an unusual practice I picked up early on?

I don't wear my wedding (or any other) ring at all. Several years back, while water skiing, my ring caught on the ski handle and almost took my finger off so for the past 20 + years my ring is a mangled mess resting in my wife's jewelry box.

[Welpe]

My whistle is on a lanyard though I'm not necessarily opposed to giving a finger whistle a try. I also wear my wedding band, even while working umpire.

[ajmc]

for whatever it's worth, the very LAST place you want to put a whistle, when clearing up a scuffle, or even reaching down into a pile of players for a ball (or anything else) is in your mouth. Players bouncing around unexpectedly colliding with whistles, whether they're on the end of a lanyard or your finger can cause a lot of damage to your teeth or mouth.

Sounding your whistle and interacting with players in a "scrum" should always be separate and distinct acts, that absolutely do not mix well.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by Welpe

My whistle is on a lanyard though I'm not necessarily opposed to giving a finger whistle a try. I also wear my wedding band, even while working umpire.

My whistle in on a lanyard.

My lanyard is around my wrist.

I don't wear a wedding band. Ever!

I don't give sloppy, one-handed signals. Ever!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by ajmc

for whatever it's worth, the very LAST place you want to put a whistle, when clearing up a scuffle, or even reaching down into a pile of players for a ball (or anything else) is in your mouth. Players bouncing around unexpectedly colliding with whistles, whether they're on the end of a lanyard or your finger can cause a lot of damage to your teeth or mouth.

Sounding your whistle and interacting with players in a "scrum" should always be separate and distinct acts, that absolutely do not mix well.

This is the same advice given to basketball officials administering the jump ball -- do not put the whistle in your mouth cause someday you will take an elbow that will then break off some teeth.

[RMR]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

When I first started officiating someone told me I should always remove my wedding ring during games because it could get caught or snagged on a player during the game and could rip off your finger. That stuck with me and I always remove it. I've seen other officials work with their wedding ring on though. The comments around putting the finger whistle in your mouth while clearing up a pile are along the same lines. Do most officials take off their wedding rings (or other jewelry) or is this an unusual practice I picked up early on?

I wear mine, but my finger whistle covers it up.

[Canned Heat]

I had the pleasure of attending a clinic that Bill Carollo and Butch Hannah put together. Being an umpire at the time, he (BH) had some great pointers and insight and the first thing he mentioned was that the ump should always have a finger whistle due to being bumped, run-over, etc.. and having the whistle in your mouth may cost you several inadvertants over the course of a season. I still used a lanyard, but his pointers stick with me even now as a crew chief.

The wedding ring (or lack thereof) is odd. I've seen rings on nearly every NFL/NCAA ref I've come across.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Canned Heat

Being an umpire at the time, he (BH) had some great pointers and insight and the first thing he mentioned was that the ump should always have a finger whistle due to being bumped, run-over, etc.. and having the whistle in your mouth may cost you several inadvertants over the course of a season.

That is not a factor for me. I leave my whistle in my mouth until the snap and then I spit it out.

[Canned Heat]

Originally Posted by Welpe

That is not a factor for me. I leave my whistle in my mouth until the snap and then I spit it out.

I did the same, but held it and pulled it out as a habit to make sure I did it. As a ref I do the same, but keep it in hand until I know the snap is off and good and hold it in my hand until I know the qb is safe and away.