Color Matched?

Discussion in 'Referee' started by MOREFFIN, Apr 11, 2009.

  1. MOREFFIN

    MOREFFIN Member

    Sep 5, 2008
    Kansas City
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Recently I read a thread which had a parody letter from the head of FIFA. In that letter was an item that said your whistle should match your jersey color. :rolleyes: hahaha or so I thought.

    I recently worked a Varsity HS game with a well known (regionally anyways) NRC. We wore red and his whistle was red. Coincidence I thought. This week I saw him at another game, wearing yellow and.... yep, his whistle was yellow.

    I have a yellow whistle clipped to a black whistle for one reason only, I've dropped my whistle before and wanted to make damn certain that if it ever happened again, I could see it quickly (I can't stand wrist lanyards).

    Are upper level assessors really looking to see if your whistle matches your jersey or is this just a fashion trend?
     
  2. Alberto

    Alberto Member+

    Feb 28, 2000
    Northern, New Jersey
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Any assessor that would knock points off your assessment or even mention it should be dealt in this fashion.

    Excuse me but what does the color of my whistle have to do with my performance? Do you think the players even noticed the color of the whistle?

    What kind of a fool are you? Was my performance so good that you had to bring up nonsense to justify your lack of competence in assessing.

    You do true assessors and referees a disservice if you bring up nonsense such as the color of the whistle should match the jersey.
     
  3. gosellit

    gosellit BigSoccer Supporter

    May 10, 2005
    As an assessor, I could care less what color your whistle is. However, I will be listening and observing how effectively you use your whistle.
     
  4. Alberto

    Alberto Member+

    Feb 28, 2000
    Northern, New Jersey
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thank you. That's what's important the use of the whistle. Not the color!
     
  5. billf

    billf Member+

    May 22, 2001
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You're seriously asking this question?
     
  6. Ref Flunkie

    Ref Flunkie Member

    Oct 3, 2003
    New Hudson, MI
    Some people like to match. It is a fashion statement, not one of required protocol (or it shouldn't be).
     
  7. boylanj64

    boylanj64 Member

    Nov 7, 2008
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I match red and yellow, because they btoh stand out, and I feel it makes me look marginally more professional. I don't bother matching yellow and green, because I haven't found whistles in those colors that I care for or that are bright enough for my purposes. Obviously, I match black with black. It's a fashion thing though, and while you'll notice officials doing it, don't make the mistake of thinking assessors care.
     
  8. MOREFFIN

    MOREFFIN Member

    Sep 5, 2008
    Kansas City
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thank you. I thought it humorous in the thread I read but when I actually saw it happen it made me wonder what the world was coming to.
     
  9. boylanj64

    boylanj64 Member

    Nov 7, 2008
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    EDIT: should have said I don't match "BLUE and green" - I realize I put yellow in there twice.

    But yeah, its not a big deal, and if you do get crap for it, just explain that you are matching your black whistle to your shorts and socks
     
  10. hefftheref

    hefftheref Member

    May 24, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    no, i have never heard of any assessor evening noticing the color of whistles, but i do it and i think it looks cool. the only reason i did it at first, is because i had a bunch of odd ball whistles (balilas, acmes, weird german shrill stuff) and decided to match a different fox 40 with them.
     
  11. mdref

    mdref New Member

    Mar 19, 2008
    USA
    Anybody ever think that the color of the whistle (yellow/red/orange) can be mistaken for a card? I've been told that numerous times by players who thought they were going to be booked....and also by National Staff. After that, I switched to black. Makes sense, if you ask me.
     
  12. boylanj64

    boylanj64 Member

    Nov 7, 2008
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't know about that. If you've been using a yellow whistle all game, it doesn't make sense that it suddenly seems to be a card. And I don't see what is wrong with players thinking they're about to be carded... a little fear can do wonders for game control. If I'm going to card someone though, I'd expect they'd be within about ten yards of me (at most), and that close I don't see how you can't tell a whistle is significantly smaller than a card.
     
  13. Gary V

    Gary V Member+

    Feb 4, 2003
    SE Mich.
    Nobody seems to have those worries with the write-on cards that some refs use.
     
  14. Tim Brice

    Tim Brice Member

    Sep 22, 2005
    Little Rock, AR
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yes. I did not think about it until I saw a ref with a yellow whistle in a men's league game, when I was working a line. He would make a signal and have his whistle in between his index finger and thumb, holding the whistle up. It looked like he was giving a yellow card and really bothered me for some reason.

    I do have a yellow whistle, but i try not to hold it up like that. I have a wrist lanyard and I just let the whistle hang off my wrist when I make a signal with my left arm.
     
  15. GKbenji

    GKbenji Member+

    Jan 24, 2003
    Fort Collins CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Wow, never thought about that. I have a red whistle attached to the black one I usually use, but nobody has ever commented they thought they were about to be sent off on a routine foul call! I think it's because the red whistle tends to be in my palm and not too visible; I hold the black whistle with my thumb/index finger. But I will make extra sure not to let the red whistle show from now on.
     
  16. OhRef

    OhRef Member

    May 22, 2006
    Had a similar situation while assessing a DA match last yr. Referee team in Red and referee using a Red whistle.
    Hard foul near PA, referee held whistle in air to set wall....... player, coaches, and fans "thought" he was being sent off.
    NO... I did not "dock" the referee but I did mention it after the match. We had a good laugh about it
     
  17. hefftheref

    hefftheref Member

    May 24, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    i use the big-as-can-be write on cards (in bright orange and yellow), so that could be why ive never had such a problem. :)
     
  18. MOREFFIN

    MOREFFIN Member

    Sep 5, 2008
    Kansas City
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I've had one High School player mention that they thought I was going to show a card as I pulled my yellow write on out to record a goal. But I also agree that a little concern doesn't hurt to keep play in check. At minimum they know you are carrying it.
     
  19. whistleblowerusa

    whistleblowerusa BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Jun 25, 2001
    U.S.A.
    What a waste of energy. Do you really think anyone is watching you during the game and that they are concerned with whistle color? More professional? I can't stop laughing!!!!!
     
  20. refontherun

    refontherun Member+

    Jul 14, 2005
    Georgia
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Next thing will be matching socks like the WPS and NCAA. How about the stripes on our shoes?

    I work with a couple of refs that use write-on cards or yellow/red whistles. I do notice that, when I'm not looking directly at them and I see the items in my peripheral vision, it does create a slight chill and cause me to take a closer look.

    A majority of the communication a referee has during a match is with hand and arm gestures and signals, whether it be issuing a card, signalling a restart, or just trying to calm things down. Normally, if a referee has anything in his hand that are either yellow or red, it is not for decoration.
     
  21. hefftheref

    hefftheref Member

    May 24, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    if it's such a waste of energy, then why are you spending your time laughing at it?
     
  22. whistleblowerusa

    whistleblowerusa BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Jun 25, 2001
    U.S.A.
    Because laughing is positive energy. Thinking that anyone is really watching or caring that you have a matching color whistle is a waste but does provide good entertainment for us who have the fortunate human quality to laugh at life's jokes.
     
  23. boylanj64

    boylanj64 Member

    Nov 7, 2008
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't think anyone cares - if I screw up, nobody cares if I have a black whistle or a tie-dye whistle (now there's an idea!). I said it makes me look marginally more professional, and I'll stand by that. You can only make a first impression once, so if just once a color coordinated whistle convinces some player that I know what I'm doing, it is worth the $5.
     
  24. whistleblowerusa

    whistleblowerusa BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Jun 25, 2001
    U.S.A.
    The impression may not be what you think. If I work with a referee so into matching for the same reasoning I just think he is paying attention to the wrong part of the game. If I go out and assess a referee who feels the need to match a whistle color with a uniform I will ask him why and then just poke fun at him. It doesn't make you more professional. It does show me that you will waste the extra money on nonsense items instead of maybe, let's say, getting a proper pair of shoes that give you the correct support or getting watch that actually helps you keep better time or getting a good set of cards instead of those cheap little worthless things you get in your starter kit. Now, that would show me that you care about being better and more professional. Not some colored piece of plastic to match your shirt.
     
  25. boylanj64

    boylanj64 Member

    Nov 7, 2008
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And if someone has everything you've mentioned, what would you suggest? I'm sure you've looked through the "tackle box" thread, most of us spend plenty on gear that you consider more "important" than our whistles - at some point, I've got to decide between the eighth pair of USSF (new) logo cards or a color coordinated whistle, and you can make fun of me all you want, but I don't think that'll improve your assessment. And if I'm going to buy a whistle anyway, why not buy a new color? I hope I've sent enough money to officialsports on shoes, cards, and watches that I won't have to worry about appearing "unprofessional." If you were assessing the FIFAs who color coordinate their whistles, would you make fun of them too?
     

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