View Full Version : It's finally happened....
BentwoodBlue
17 Oct 2004, 05:27 PM
Did a U19G match today and for the first time ever I blew the whistle three times. To start the match, to end the half and to end the match. Talk about 90 minutes of zero brain activity.
How did you start the second half?
whitehound
17 Oct 2004, 07:49 PM
How did you start the second half?"PLAY!!!"
Jimjamesak
17 Oct 2004, 07:56 PM
Did a U19G match today and for the first time ever I blew the whistle three times. To start the match, to end the half and to end the match. Talk about 90 minutes of zero brain activity.
Wow! A perfect match! Nice job! I've been reffing for 8 years and I haven't come close.
"PLAY!!!"
So why bother with a whistle at the start of a match?
And you just say "STOP" at half and full-time?
Great - no whistles. There's a perfect game.
Ref Flunkie
17 Oct 2004, 08:57 PM
Did a U19G match today and for the first time ever I blew the whistle three times. To start the match, to end the half and to end the match. Talk about 90 minutes of zero brain activity.
Gotta love "take a nap" matches.
whitehound
17 Oct 2004, 09:02 PM
So why bother with a whistle at the start of a match?
And you just say "STOP" at half and full-time?
Great - no whistles. There's a perfect game.Okay I think you might be kidding but I will bite.......The USSF Guide to procedures says you have to blow your whistle to start the game....and end the half. The only other times you should blow your whistle is when you need to. Which might be once or 50 times depending on the situation but ONLY when you need to as it takes away from the effectiveness of the whistle to use it excessively. I dont blow the whistle for goals so I dont blow it for Kickoffs following goals. I dont blow the whistle for ost DFKs as I dont want the attcking team to wait for me. I dont blow the whistle for OOB unless the ball reenters the field..........etc etc.
IASocFan
17 Oct 2004, 10:10 PM
Absolutely, you don't need to blow the whistle for many restarts except for fouls and game and half. It took me many years to learn this. My ears no longer ring after a couple of games. :D
MassachusettsRef
17 Oct 2004, 11:01 PM
I dont blow the whistle for goals so I dont blow it for Kickoffs following goals. I know what the official guidance is, but here's my take and what I do.
I don't blow the whistle after a goal, either, unless it's a decision that the AR has to make and the ball goes back into play. In all other circumstances, a goal is pretty evident to everyone involved, so blowing the whistle only serves to draw undue attention to the referee when the focus should be on the players and the celebration. Also, if there was physical play prior to the goal, a whistle might be misconstrued as a signal for a foul. So, I agree with you on this point.
Not blowing your whistle to signal every kickoff is a bad idea though, in my opinion. Again, I know what the official guidance is--you can "correctly" restart play with any signal. However, a kickoff is a ceremonial restart. It's either to start the second half or comes after a goal. It resets the game from disorder (half time or a goal celebration) back into order (dynamic play). People expect the referee to be involved and on top of things here. Not whistling--whatever your reasons for doing so may be--projects an image of laziness and inattentiveness. Again, I know a simple "play" to the players taking the kickoff can effectively restart play. However, only a crisp whistle draws the attention of all 22 players, bench personnel, the crowd (and, importantly, your ARs) and focuses their attention back on the game. I know that drawing attention to yourself is not something referees should be doing, but in this instance, it is drawing attention back to the game--not you as an individual.
HoldenMan
18 Oct 2004, 12:03 AM
A lot of this comes down to cultural and even regional differences.
In Australia, at least in my area, it would cause confusion if you didn't blow the whistle for every goal - or at least it'd look like you don't know what you're doing. Stand there, point up the field, long and hard blast on the whistle. It's part of the ceremony of a goal being scored. Most referees, myself included, whistle for each kickoff. Naturally the whistle isn't required for each foul or throw-in restart. Also, the whistle can remind players you're in control after a potential flash-point (a goal), as well as the same effect by whistling the kick off loud at the start of each half (crucial to the control of each half).
As for a goal whistle being mistaken with a foul signal - the goal signal is usually long, while the foul signal in this case will just be a short blast. body language, and verbalisation 'there was a push in the back, no goal' will also help.
But again, it's simply cultural differences.
MassachusettsRef
18 Oct 2004, 12:46 AM
As for a goal whistle being mistaken with a foul signal - the goal signal is usually long, while the foul signal in this case will just be a short blast. body language, and verbalisation 'there was a push in the back, no goal' will also help.Minor but important point: I never suggested a foul signal might be mistaken for a goal. The things you cite insure that that doesn't happen. A goal signal being mistaken for a foul call (especially by a defense that is desperately hoping for a foul call) is a lot more plausible.