Whistles

I qualified as a referee 15 years ago, training was solely indoor based, toilet role rolled down to demonstrate whether the ball was in or out of play haha!

I have remained level 7 in all those years however this yeah I've decided 4W to 3W, lets just say it's a shock to the system, I've never had any official complaints but was pulled for lots of different things....

Anyway, to my question(s) I'm old school in the fact I use the acme thunderer and I honestly think it's a fantastic whistle. It was given to me by a trainier and I eventually bought a new one and carry a spare. Does anyone have any suggestions on what might be a better whistle?

I was also penalised for indicating the direction of every throw in, even obvious. (Something I'm sure I was taught we should always signal).

I am by no means a perfect referee and would never ever claim to be one and I'm always open to feedback, I referee how I live my life, I like banter on the field where appropriate, I like to build rapport.. I will be honest though if promotion trays to drum out the enjoyment of the game I will still to level 7 and continue to referee weekly.

MattieP said:

Anyway, to my question(s) I'm old school in the fact I use the acme thunderer and I honestly think it's a fantastic whistle. It was given to me by a trainier and I eventually bought a new one and carry a spare. Does anyone have any suggestions on what might be a better whistle?

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Using the Acme tornado 635 which is ideal if there are other games nearby as it is a different tone. I don't think there is anything wrong with the Thunderer though. If the players notice it then all is fine I reckon.

MattieP said:

I was also penalised for indicating the direction of every throw in, even obvious. (Something I'm sure I was taught we should always signal).

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Sometimes I signal and sometimes I don't - being a new ref I wasn't really told that I needed to signal, but perhaps if you are on your own it is obvious you need to as the AR won't signal.

I am much the same. I'm old enough (and wise enough) to know I will never get to the top. If you are happy where you are then nobody has a right to say otherwise.

Keep enjoying it!

MattieP said:

I was also penalised for indicating the direction of every throw in, even obvious. (Something I'm sure I was taught we should always signal).

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You should never be penalised for this, so if you have been penalised on a report, that's wrong, as it can not possibly have an impact on the game, but you may have received advice that signalling on obvious decisions for throw in's or goal kicks isn't necessary - although I'll be honest, I'd be signalling every throw without having neutral ARs, but with neutral ARs you can allow them to signal and you don't need to if it's obvious.

They'll be picking you up on unnecessary signals because at 3W level it's expected that you don't signal for obvious balls out of play.

MattieP said:

Anyway, to my question(s) I'm old school in the fact I use the acme thunderer and I honestly think it's a fantastic whistle. It was given to me by a trainier and I eventually bought a new one and carry a spare. Does anyone have any suggestions on what might be a better whistle?

Click to expand...

I used a Thunderer and love it as I could never get on with the Fox40, but have switched to the Molten Valkeen rip-off from Amazon which is fantastic. Completely different technique required to the traditional pea-whistle that is the Thunderer, and also explains why I could never get on with the Fox40 (which I also now use depending on other matches in close proximity).

MattieP said:

I have remained level 7 in all those years however this yeah I've decided 4W to 3W, lets just say it's a shock to the system, I've never had any official complaints but was pulled for lots of different things....

...I was also penalised for indicating the direction of every throw in, even obvious. (Something I'm sure I was taught we should always signal).

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I'm three years in and am trying to get from L7 to L6, so will have my first match-day coaching over the next month. I fully expect lots of things to be picked up and like you I suspect throw-ins (I never have NARs) would have been one (before reading your post!). Whilst positive feedback from coaches/players/parents is pleasant, it's worth about as much as being called rubbish because there's never anything constructive to go on. Had all-sorts just this year alone, including being damned with faint praise ("You're one of the better ones"), to "sh1thouse", to outright positive praise from coaches, players and parents, to the contradictory nature of parents' feedback to youth YCs/RCs ("About time someone used them" to the classic "It's not the Premier League you jobsworth") to being called a cheat (caught on VEO).

The best feedback I ever had was from experienced and higher-level ARs in the two Cup games I've had with NARs because it genuinely improves you as a referee, so regardless of how many things I get picked up on I know the coaching is going to be incredibly useful, if ego-denting.

As an observer I wouldn't class signalling for obvious throw ins, goal kicks etc as a major development point. I'd recommend that the referee doesn't signal unnecessarily, but it's not something anyone should be overly bothered about.

If you search whistle on here your will find a number of threads on this. My favorites are the fox 4O mini and the dolfin (which was the predecessor to the Valkeen). It’s all personal preference. With any whistle you need to get used to the whistle so that you can “talk” with the particular whistle.

Surprisingly a lot of them sound the same!

OnlyUseMeWhistle said:

They'll be picking you up on unnecessary signals because at 3W level it's expected that you don't signal for obvious balls out of play.

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That works with neutral assistants, if the ball goes out in the ARs zone it is best for the referee not to signal to avoid the risk of crossing.

But if a referee is on their own they really should be signalling everything.

@MattieP If you find the 3W pathway too much of a jump you could always go from level 7 to 5 first.

A level 5 is doing the same as a level 7. You can split it over multiple seasons and you're encouraged to join the supply league where you can learn from higher up referees.

Whistle wise I've gone both sonik blast and volkeen molten.

I only really use the volkeen molten. Very good, but expensive.