Multiple Whistles
 

Silly question:

Why do some referees (?) have multiple whistles on their lanyard?

In case one quits working.

Or, more likely, in case the referee on the field next to you is already using that same style of whistle. Having a backup allows you to switch so that everybody on both fields knows which whistle is for their field.

Also makes it easier to hold and to find should you drop it. Most soccer refs don't use lanyards.

I carry two connected whistles in hand with no lanyard. I don't use a lanyard because I want to be able to blow the whistle and use my hands at the same time. (I think I've seen one or two referees with a neck lanyard in the last decade.) I connect two whistles together because it gives me more to hold onto and a thin spot to stick between my thumb and index finger so I can give open-hand signals even with a whistle in hand.

I've gone to the hockey whistle just this year. Much better, I say.

I use a wrist lanyard with a pink whistle. Easy to hold. Easy to give signals. Easy to find. And it shows awareness for breast cancer.

Just be glad you're not a football ref in Washington, since there it would also get you suspended.

The pink whistle will get me suspended?

The Washington Officials Association suspended an entire local association for using pink whistles because they did not meet the uniform requirements.

I was told that a USSF referee was scolded for having a yellow whistle as his second whistle during an assessment. His argument was that yellow would be easy to see in the event he dropped them.

Personally, I just carry a second one in my upper pocket....