Question Number: 22005

Law 5 - The Referee 9/18/2009

RE: Rec High School

Mike of Chicago, IL USA asks...

Is there a specific way to blow a whistle for different calls? For example, is there right way to blow a whistle at halftime. During fouls, it seems like it's just one whistle and for end of a game, it's 2 short whistles and 1 long one. What about halftime and other general plays?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The important thing in all of the whistles is that they be heard and understood.

To start the game, a simple whistle is best - as long as it is loud enough to be heard, and not just like the one on the adjacent field.

For half time, it doesn't matter - just do what you like - two short, one long; one long two short, three shorts, one realllllllyyyyyy longgg one.

For the end of the game, again it's whatever you want. There isn't any guidance and different refs do it differently.

A simple foul requires no more than a tweet. A foul which will also carry a caution should be stronger and longer. A foul or any misconduct which will carry a red card should sound like a PK whistle, longer still, strong and LOUD. It needs to say 'Now you've pissed me off!'

When you need the players' attention (and you're not restarting play or stopping play) a couple of tweets will do the job - for instance, when you need a thrower to move back 5 yards from where he wants to throw it.

Talk with the whistle. The players should be able to tell your mood, your thoughts and your next action by the sound of the whistle.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Mike, to start with there are no instructions in the language of whistlish. Hell, even the word does not exist! But lucky for you I am fluent in that language and can translate a few words and phrases for you.
1. No whistle (when ball is out play but ref only points direction of throw in, or goal kick) This means that everybody in the park knows that the ball went out of play and the ref is not going to contribute to noise pollution.
2. Short audible whistle This means a meat and potato signal stoppage or restart of play and is the most common common whistlish word.
3. Slightly longer and louder whistle means a foul and a mild expression of displeasure of seing the foul.
4. Loud, full one second whistle means I am not happy with the foul committed and I will have to reach in my pocket for a plastic card, yellow in color.
5. Two full second loud whistles (if I am in a bad mood I have been known to blow as many four times...) is same as above except different color plastic.
6. Morse code whistles: U .._ G__.. D _.. R._. all mean the same: end of half or game.
7. Short loud whistles at six per second means I want to cause a distraction and stop the mayhem. This could be a fight, players squaring off for a fight or to rectify whatever the referee did lose control in the first place.
8. 'Eating a whistle' is advice of spectators to referee to let the players play with less stoppages
9. Wetting your whistle means it is raining.
10. 'Dropping your whistle' is frowned on by assessors...
Now Mike, you can make up your own words just make sure you NEVER mumble!

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I use my whistle as an extension of my voice. For simple restarts, a quick normal volume whistle is fine. I stop the half with 2 long blasts and point to the center circle. To end the game, 3 long blasts. No reason, that's just always been the way I do it.

When I want to display my personality using the whistle, it's when I stop play. The more violent or egregious the foul, the louder my whistle. I blow it sometimes so loudly I get a sheepish look on the face of the player committing the foul.

It is important that EVERY ONE of your whistles be heard