When does the U blow his whistle?
 

I worked with a different crew as a LJ last week and I noticed differences when the U blew his whistle.

I very seldom hear a whistle from our U- only when a play is directly at his feet, on the try, maybe for a foul that needs to kill it at the snap.

What is standard for U's on blwing the whistle?

I'm a new U and just learning. But I hardly ever blow my wistle on a scrimage play. I did blow one Friday that was at my feet, I saw 100% that he was down and nobody else could see it. My R told me it was a good wistle. I will blow it on a kickoff of course if the returner is downed in my area. And the others like you said a deadball foul (snap infraction or false start). I'm not experienced so will also be interested in reading the responses to this thread.

I've been U for 4 years now... you're pretty much got it right.
The other one I would add: after the play ends when you've got a foul to report (to let your WH and the rest of the crew know).

Spit our your whistle at the snap, and from then on use your voice primarily. Things like "that's it" or "he's down" or "it's over" can do a great deal to avoid any late/unnecessary hits, and lets players know that you're there and that you're watching them.

I rarely blow my whistle more then a few times a game.

Where can u find the whistle mechanics for each position?

Page 14 of the NF Officials Manual

I whistle if:
1- the runner is down at my feet.
2- there's a foul.
3- the wing offiicals have whistled forward progress stopped and we're trying to get the players to stop play.*

*Personally, I think too many wing officials wait to long to blow this whistle. :(

I lost my whistle for a couple series in my college game yesterday and didn't miss it. I think it was blown only 3 times the entire game and that was when I had fouls to report to the R.

I am guilty of the late whistle! I am a bit gun shy on the IW!

Personally, I'd rather a slow whistle than an inadvertent one. If my guys don't see the ball, they better not be blowing a whistle.

Which is why if I'm 1000% sure
1- the runner has the ball,
2- his forward progress is stopped (been shoved backwards 3 or more yards)
3- and the wings can't see the ball

I will whistle that play.

I've just seen too many times where the whistle should have been blown but wasn't, the runner was stripped of the ball. That's our fault.

very good point! good preventative officiating!

It is not uncommon to have plays end with our crew not blowing the whistle at all. You do not need a whistle to stop many plays really.

Peace

Attended a clinic with some NFL refs maybe 10 years back and worked with the UMP (Butch Hannah...this was Bill Carrolo's old crew) and I learned more in those few hours than you could imagine.

They would run a play with scrimmage teams, and every UMP that had a whistle in his mouth during the play got some extra education. I went to a finger whistle for the following 2 years or so until I I moved to the white hat.

The umpire should be talking alot more than hitting his whistle during a game.

What about incomplete pass in your area, esp one that no one else blows...

One of those rare items that JR and I agree completely on. The crew I was on in Dallas would go 7, 8, 10 plays even occasionally without a whistle at all.