Question Number: 16708

Mechanics 9/15/2007

RE: Other

Terence of Seattle, WA Maple Valley asks...

What does it mean when the ref blowes 1 time?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Stop play. For whatever reason the referee thought necessary.

Or restart play, on those restarts when the referee needs to give a signal.

Did they not cover use of the whistle in your referee certification course?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Go or stop. Simple

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

H Terence,
the whistle as a tool of communication says many things even by its absence! "I see no reason to stop play" or a short toot to say, "we need to stop or that ain't right" or was it a shrill loud long blast meaning, "Stop that crap right now?" A sharp short loud blast to indicate the ball went out of play along the touchline when there was a challenge between two opposing players, then the ball came back in and they still were fighting over posession? "Guys stop play before we have a needless incident over a ball no longer playable!"

Now the same again to restart play or at a kick off a a single blast of the whistle can can do that to command play begins as it does to signal play stops.

Longer louder multiple blasts can all send messages like running into a conflict with guns blazing saying to all, "Stop I got this, cards a coming if you don't" or a loud piercing earshatter that says enough of the BS! Comprende?
Cheers