Question Number: 21672

Mechanics 7/20/2009

Avery Haskell of Overland Park, KS USA asks...

How should the whistle be blown for half time and end of the game, officially? I thought it was short-short-long for the end of the game but I've seen pro refs blow really long-really long-tweet and other variations like that. Is it important? And where do you point with parallel arms for halftime and end of the game?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

There is no proscribed whistle pattern; it's personal preference.

USSF's Guide to Procedures says this for the end of the game:
? Signals with the whistle
? Points up field to the center circle
? Supervises the departure of the teams from the field

Pointing toward the center circle for the end of the half is logical, because the next thing that will happen is a kickoff. Using this signal again at the end of the game is being consistent.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It's a matter of personal preference. Many use two tweets for half and three for the end of the match. I found that players sometimes only 'hear' the first whistle, thinking no doubt that the ref is an idiot because there was no foul, and so I prefer to make the second longer and louder.

In matches that will proceed to Kicks From The Penalty Mark, a suggestion I like is to use one tweet at the end of regulation time (plus any overtime). This will get players to stop but without the subs forgetting about KFRPM and running onto the field. You can then direct players to the center circle and tweet again to indicate end of regulation time.