The Dreaded Inadvertant Whistle

[john_faz]

We had one on Friday night that really affected the game and my crew's performance. QB runs a beautiful option play, FB gets tackled at the LOS and the QB pulls the ball and runs downfield with no defenders in sight. The HL blows the play dead thinking the FB was down with the ball. In his defense, he was staring directly into the 5pm sun and this was the first option play they ran that night. He knows not to blow unless he sees leather but the previous series the coaches were on him for having a slow whistle.

Anyway, my question is: What mechanics do you use when signaling a IW besides the "fist punch"? and Any advice on how to get the crew past a bad mental state after the IW?

Thanks.

[waltjp]

Not sure what other signal you're looking for. Figure out the options and enforce them properly - apologize to the irate coach - enjoy the free beer after the game.

[Rich]

I used to have 2 guys on my crew that were IW machines. They'd have at least 3 a season. So it taught me how to handle IWs:

(1) Know the rules.
(2) Know that you need to talk to the coach. Let him rant for a bit.
(3) At some point, tell the coach he has X seconds to get it all out of his system and then we're ALL putting it behind us and moving on. Don't be a doormat to this coach the rest of the night -- it does nobody any good.

It sucks. My LJ had one last week (the crew's first since 2005) and I'm sure he's looking forward to getting it behind him. And it had no effect on the game.

[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.

[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.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by parepat

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.

We had this last night. WR from the home team has a toenail OB, and we're slow on the whistle. He keeps running in bounds, and is hit 10 yards downfield. At halftime coach is whining about it being a late hit, how I missed it, blah blah.