As referees we have multiple ways of communicating with players and spectators. Our whistle, our voice, our hand signals and our cards are the most obvious ones.
If used properly and as designed the message being sent and received allows the contest to continue with little or no further interruption. Often some of the messages being sent by referees are not received as they were intended to be. The following will focus on the whistle as a communication tool.
The whistle is very important and probably the most employed tool for communicating with players. The sounds it is able to make will send different messages. A short tweet, if necessary, can signal to stop play due to the ball having gone out of touch for a goal kick or throw-in. A longer and louder whistle can signal a minor foul, a handball or an offside. A very long and LOUD whistle should be used when a serious foul or misconduct has occurred. That signal should immediately tell everyone that play is stopped, you as the referee have seen it, you will handle it and there is no need for retaliation.
In order to effectively communicate and send the appropriate messages, referees MUST learn to vary the pitch, the tone, the sound and the length in order to make the most effective use of the whistle as a communication tool. A monotone whistle is not an effective way for referees to communicate during a match.
Learn more about using the whistle and refereeing by attending: The New Entry Level Grade 8 Referee Course
Location: Washington Union High School, 6041 S. Elm Ave. Fresno:
Day/Time: Saturday. Dec. 15, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. SHARP!!!
Contact: Joseph Perez, firstname.lastname@example.org; Phone: 559-977-3963
Instructor: Pat Ferre, email@example.com; Phone: 559-280-3654
Register log on to: cnra.net – Click on-follow instruction on- New Referee Registration