The Dreaded Inadvertant Whistle

[kdf5]

Originally Posted by john_faz

He knows not to blow unless he sees leather but the previous series the coaches were on him for having a slow whistle.


Thanks.

We will have several plays a game with no whistle. Tell the coaches the play ends when the ball becomes dead, not when we blow the whistle. When we blow the whistle the ball is ALREADY dead. I friggin' hate hearing coaches yelling about playing to the whistle. Play til the down ends, not the whistle.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by kdf5

We will have several plays a game with no whistle. Tell the coaches the play ends when the ball becomes dead, not when we blow the whistle. When we blow the whistle the ball is ALREADY dead. I friggin' hate hearing coaches yelling about playing to the whistle. Play til the down ends, not the whistle.

I hear this from coaches all the time, especially when a coach wants to whine about a flag for a late hit. The players have to have some awareness and can't rely on a whistle to tell them when to stop beating each other up.

[BktBallRef]

"An official's whistle seldom kills the ball. It is already dead by rule."

Coaches and fans seem to have more trouble grasping this fundamental than any other thing in football.

[jemiller]

We actually have late whistles because we want to make sure that we see leather in possession and the player down before blowing the whistle. Always with whistle in hand to make sure that you have a bit of time before blowing a play dead. I'd rather be a little late than a little early...IMHO Jim

[Texas Aggie]

the coaches were on him for having a slow whistle.

"Coach, that's one thing we won't even discuss. We will be slow and even get slower. Because if we blow one early, you're going to be the first one in our face if it went against you."

Shut down any talk of slow whistles. And preach it to your crew.

[GoodwillRef]

In area of Wisconsin we have had more and more teams going back to the option and we preach hard if you don't see the ball, and don't guess, then don't blow your whistle. You must trust the other members of the crew. We should never let a coach(es) influence the way we officiate the game, easier said than done I know. If the coaches are getting to you then that is the time when we need to shut them down. The game is hard enough without 10 other yahoos yelling at you every play!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

In area of Wisconsin we have had more and more teams going back to the option and we preach hard if you don't see the ball, and don't guess, then don't blow your whistle. You must trust the other members of the crew. We should never let a coach(es) influence the way we officiate the game, easier said than done I know. If the coaches are getting to you then that is the time when we need to shut them down. The game is hard enough without 10 other yahoos yelling at you every play!

I know what you mean about the option. Seems like every other week we have a team that runs it and we've had the best option team I've seen at least 10 times the last 5 years. In the coach's meeting, the head coach always mentions other crew's IW and reminds us he's got an option team. Although the last time he didn't, so maybe he recognized the crew. Or something.

I've had at least a dozen instances of following the QB as he moves with the ball then losing the football only to see another player with it 15 yards downfield. Since my whistle is nowhere near my mouth (and as the WH I very, very rarely blow my whistle except to mark the ball RFP) all I do is laugh when this happens and then tell my wings that they had great whistle control afterwards.

[parepat]

Originally Posted by kdf5

We will have several plays a game with no whistle. Tell the coaches the play ends when the ball becomes dead, not when we blow the whistle. When we blow the whistle the ball is ALREADY dead. I friggin' hate hearing coaches yelling about playing to the whistle. Play til the down ends, not the whistle.

I always like to have a whistle even if late. The players expect it and I find that it makes officiating easier. For example, if a lineman is blocking downfield he has no clue whether the runner is down or not. While I can always hit him w a flag if he is blocking after the play, but it sure makes it easier when a whistle has been blown.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by parepat

I always like to have a whistle even if late. The players expect it and I find that it makes officiating easier. For example, if a lineman is blocking downfield he has no clue whether the runner is down or not. While I can always hit him w a flag if he is blocking after the play, but it sure makes it easier when a whistle has been blown.

The problem with this is that now you're saying it's different if a player flattens someone before a whistle than after. And it's not that way at all -- it's a problem if a player flattens someone once the ball is dead.

And to bring this thread full circle, the only time that happens is when we have an inadvertent whistle.

[Welpe]

One of my partners had an IW today during a JV game. The runner started to go down, but kept himself up and gained enough for a first down. Whistle was blown where he slipped, which was near the LOS. Offense fumbled and turned it over the next down. It was a light whistle and thankfully he owned up to it but it was not fun.

[parepat]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

The problem with this is that now you're saying it's different if a player flattens someone before a whistle than after. And it's not that way at all -- it's a problem if a player flattens someone once the ball is dead.

And to bring this thread full circle, the only time that happens is when we have an inadvertent whistle.

A. The book tells us we are to blow our whistles.
B. A runs along the sideline and steps out. He is unaware he stepped out as is the Defense, who knocks him out of bounds (again) before the whistle. The play killed itself yet do you have a flag? I don't.
C. Players and coaches expect whistles.
D. If the plays kill themselves why ever have a whistle?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by parepat

A. The book tells us we are to blow our whistles.
B. A runs along the sideline and steps out. He is unaware he stepped out as is the Defense, who knocks him out of bounds (again) before the whistle. The play killed itself yet do you have a flag? I don't.
C. Players and coaches expect whistles.
D. If the plays kill themselves why ever have a whistle?

The whistle is a nice thing to have, but it doesn't absolve players from knowing their location on the field.

In A, I would give a little leeway. I'm talking about a player who's 30 yards behind the play who decleats a player with an unnecessary block and the coach screams, "we teach them to play through the whistle." Well, chucklehead, you should teach them to not hit someone 30 yards behind the play that's wrapping up.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by parepat

A. The book tells us we are to blow our whistles.
B. A runs along the sideline and steps out. He is unaware he stepped out as is the Defense, who knocks him out of bounds (again) before the whistle. The play killed itself yet do you have a flag? I don't.
C. Players and coaches expect whistles.
D. If the plays kill themselves why ever have a whistle?

A. No it doesn't. The only times the rule book says talks about whistles is about inadvertent whistles and to say that a foul before a snap or free kick should have a whistle to indicate the ball remains dead.

If you are talking about the officials manual it says things like "Find ball before sounding whistle." "Actually see ball in possession of runner who is down or forward progress stopped." "Before sounding whistle see the ball and be certain ball is dead."

Many times by the time you actually find the ball it would be stupid to sound the whistle as everyone has already stopped playing.

B. You should learn the rules.

"No player or non player shall: Charge into or throw an opponent to the ground after he is obviously out of the play, or after the ball is clearly dead either in or out of bounds."

Just because the ball is dead does not mean it is a foul if the defense knocks the runner down. In your play the ball was not clearly dead to any of the players so it would not be a foul.

C. Why do you care about them?

D. The whistle is used to get people's attention.

[parepat]

Originally Posted by Cobra

A. No it doesn't. The only times the rule book says talks about whistles is about inadvertent whistles and to say that a foul before a snap or free kick should have a whistle to indicate the ball remains dead.

If you are talking about the officials manual it says things like "Find ball before sounding whistle." "Actually see ball in possession of runner who is down or forward progress stopped." "Before sounding whistle see the ball and be certain ball is dead."

Many times by the time you actually find the ball it would be stupid to sound the whistle as everyone has already stopped playing.

B. You should learn the rules.

"No player or non player shall: Charge into or throw an opponent to the ground after he is obviously out of the play, or after the ball is clearly dead either in or out of bounds."

Just because the ball is dead does not mean it is a foul if the defense knocks the runner down. In your play the ball was not clearly dead to any of the players so it would not be a foul.

C. Why do you care about them?

D. The whistle is used to get people's attention.

You are wrong

A. The book (officials manual--the "book that tells us how to officiate") says the following about the whistle:

"sounding the whistle sharply contributes to the reduction of fouls"
"When ball becomes dead sound whistle quickly and loudly"
"find ball before sounding whistle"
"When sounding whistle, do it wuickly and loudly"
"move in quickly to be certain all action stops on whistle"
"be ready to assist covering official after whistle has sounded"

** I did not find the following in the book (although some are true statements)
"if you never blow your whistle, you will never have an inadvertant whistle"

"Blow the whistle once the ball is down in your area-unless you don't want to"

"all players should know when the play is dead regardless of their distance from the ball, so heck with them"

B. I am pretty good on the rules, thanks.

You missed the point.

If a runner steps out and we don't have a whistle, the likelihood that he will be hit again (unnecessarily as he is already down) is much higher. Blow your stinkin whistle and let everyone know that the play is over.

C. Are you kidding. The players are the ones who we are paid (quite handsomely. I think we would all agree) to protect. Blowing the whistle is designed to halt contact between players. Less contact equals less injury). The players rely (as they should) on that notice to let them know that the play is over. If they are not in position to see the runner it is the ONLY way they will know when the play is over.

As for the coaches, they have far more invested in the game than we do. Sometimes their jobs depend upon it. To say that their opinions and that of the players don't matter leads me to believe that you are one of those officials that thinks that the game is about him. Enough said.

D. You are right. The whistle is used to get people's attention. The players, to alert them that the down is over by rule. That is why I prefer to have a whistle at the end of each down when possible.

[BuckeyeRef]

In Ohio they have made the whistle part of our mechanics. "Whistle on every play - No exceptions." They want to stop the action between players who are not near the ball or looking at the ball carrier.