Whistle Preference??

[pitz78]

1) I noticed a referee using two whistles ... they appeared to be on a short lanyard (3"-5"), and he just held the whole thing in his hand. Has anyone ever done this before? How do you do it, is there a lanyard that have attachments on both ends?

2) What do you prefer?
Finger grip whistle, holding a whistle in your hand, something cool that I might not know about.

Thanks ... Pitz

[Rudy R9]

I use a fox 40 whistle and a basila whistle.

I prefer finger whistles.

[AtlasZorritoX4]

I also prefer a Finger Whistle, Very handy its alwayz there...

[refmike]

Buy one of every whistle made and try them for yourself.
Everyone's opinion is different.

[AAGunner3]

1) I noticed a referee using two whistles ... they appeared to be on a short lanyard (3"-5"), and he just held the whole thing in his hand. Has anyone ever done this before? How do you do it, is there a lanyard that have attachments on both ends?

2) What do you prefer?
Finger grip whistle, holding a whistle in your hand, something cool that I might not know about.

Thanks ... Pitz

A metal Acme Thunder that was my father's. And a plastic whistle as a backup. I also carry them at the same time on a short lanyard around my wrist. Always have. During the match, I always hold the whistle between my thumb & finger and the other in my palm secured by the last three fingers.

If I need to write, I let go of the whistle, otherwise, I hold them in the above manner for the duration of the game. Just always done it that way.

[tmaker]

I have about three dozen different whistles, which I use NOT to sound like the refs on the other 14 fields. I wouldn't say there is a preference, as such. I tend to use a more shrill whistle for boys' matches, and a slightly lower but still loud tone for girls' matches. For adult men, the shriller the better (often my Ballila or B&D); for adult women, I'm much less picky.

I like a wrist or finger lanyard, rather than the long neck lanyard, because I like to carry my whistle close in hand, and I do not like the feel of finger-grip whistles (except for my NHL whistle). Your mileage will vary. Everyone I know has different recommendations, and no one I know has nearly as many whistles as I do :)

I do wish there were some part of our training as refs though that included HOW to blow a whistle. It might solve some whistle preference questions as well as the embarassing moments of mistaken signals.

[Ref Flunkie]

I dont use a lanyard or anything, I simply have two different whistles hooked together that I hold throughout the match in my hand. If I have to write, I put them in my pocket. I like the Fox 40 but I'm trying to find an alternate that I like where I can adjust tone. I have yet to find one I'm a big fan of.

[Englishref]

I always carry two Fox40s, simply because they are the best whistle on the market. And I carry two of them in case one goes dudd for some reason (not happened yet!).

Can't stand fingergrips, they just feel really unnatural. I have lanyards, and do use them at times, especially when its cold, but I prefer to just have the both on a metal keyring and hold them, that way you can blow and point at the same time. The sweatband/lanyard from refereeworld (the one Urs Meier and Gilles Veissiere use) is also a neat piece of kit.

Just bought the new neon Fox40 which is quite cool, you certainly can't miss it! :D

[Englishref]

While we're talking about kit, out of interest, has the oval red card, as used by most English referees, reached American/Aussie shores yet?

[nsa]

Stay away from the finger-grip style. It's an easy way to break a finger if someone hits your hand with the ball.

[Statesman]

I just carry the whistle in my hand ... no lanyards or grips. From an image standpoint it is a bad idea to bind the whistle through lanyard or grip to a particular hand as it doesn't look good when signalling. With a free whistle you can swap the whistle out of that hand. You also don't have to worry about hurting your fingers or dealing with the whistles dangling from your arm. When you don't need the whistle it is simple to just stuff in a pocket for later retrieval.

I've also used the free whistle as a gimmick to make a point about diving. When a player does a dive I don't consider worthy of stopping the game or cautioning over, and the ball leaves play shortly afteward, I'll get the player's attention, show him my whistle, and then stick it in my front pocket while shaking me head and folding my arms. It's a somewhat comedic way to imply he won't be getting any calls that way.

[Caesar]

While we're talking about kit, out of interest, has the oval red card, as used by most English referees, reached American/Aussie shores yet?
Nope.

I carry two whistles, both of them black Fox40s and both unattached to anything - I keep the spare in my shirt pocket. Neon colours are too conspicuous, and having the whistle loose in your hand is flexible and means it doesn't get in the way. Fox40s are simply the best whistles around, despite their lack of tonal variation (which doesn't worry me too much).

Wear a neck lanyard over here and the players will give you crap for looking like a netball umpire. Wear a fingergrip and you'll get crap for looking like an American. :D

[Ref Flunkie]

I haven't seen the oval red card yet. What is the point of that exactly? Just so it has a different color AND shape then the yellow, or are both cards oval?

[MidwestRef]

I normally carry a Balilla whistle and an Acme Cyclone on a clip similar to what you see on a lanyard. However, I don't use a lanyard unless I'm wearing gloves. I like using a pea whistle like a Balillia (sp?) because I can vary it's tone. If I hear a similar whistle, I just switch to the Cyclone.

For very windy days, I use an Acme Tornado 635. It's a very funny shape, but it is a very loud and distinct whistle. I'm the only official in my association who uses that whistle, so it's also an easy one to use if there are plenty of Fox 40 sounds.

I prefer not to use a lanyard because there are times I want to run near a play blowing my whistle (like in a potential altercation). I also can use either hand to signal right away.

[HoldenMan]

I use a Fox 40 Classic.

I don't use a lanyard because I like to swap my whistle hand very frequently.

I simply keep my 2nd whistle in my pocket.

I only use black - I find that a yellow, orange, pink or red whistle can be mistaken for a card, especially from a distance.

[Englishref]

I haven't seen the oval red card yet. What is the point of that exactly? Just so it has a different color AND shape then the yellow, or are both cards oval?

Here's a picture (http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/search/details_pop.aspx?iid=1009882&cdi=0) of it in use.

I think the idea of it was so that if you had both the yellow and red card in the same pocket, as ironically, is more common outside England (we tend to use the notebook), then it made it easily distinguishable when reaching into your pocket (something I can vouch for after last weekend). It's actually a good idea as it saves pulling both yellow and red out to show the correct card. However, if you use a notebook or keep your yellow and red card seperately, then there's no real benefit of it.

And no, only the red card is oval.

[Rudy R9]

I meant ballilla not basila and the balilla whistle is my favorite whistle. The Fox 40 sound s retarted if you dont blow hard enough.

[AAGunner3]

I do wish there were some part of our training as refs though that included HOW to blow a whistle. It might solve some whistle preference questions as well as the embarassing moments of mistaken signals.
We do it here in GA. But it needs reinforcement. I usually take a more junior guy aside and tell him to blow it like he means it. None of that weak whistle stuff.

[GKbenji]

I'm partial to the Law 5 Devastator whistle. Instead of a pea, it has a little foam "turbine" that rotates, so it is much less likely to get stuck than a pea whistle but you can modulate it like one.

I also keep a Fox 40 Mini on the same wrist lanyard, in case someone else is using something similar sounding nearby. The Mini certainly is distinctive, but I wouldn't want to use it as my regular whistle.

[ref2coach]

My favorite is the Acme Tornado #783, No moving parts, the 3 chambers allow major differences in how the whistle sounds. It is very light and comfortable in both the hand and mouth.

I use a wrist lanyard with the #783 and a plastic pea whistle, and a door key to my car on the clip. I bring the lanyard over the back of my hand between the middle and 3rd finger. This leaves the whistles in the palm of my hand, where they do not "dangle", below the wrist, when signaling with that hand.