Question Number: 16973

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 9/29/2007

RE: Rec Under 14

Tyler of Budd Lake, NJ United States asks...

I have a quick question for all of the referees on this website.

Is it appropriate to blow your whistle when the ball goes out of bounds and fully crosses the touchline?

I've seen referees blow their whistles, but then again some referees don't.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Tyler,
whistle mechanics as you become certified, the instructor could teach you it is a tool of communication! How you blow it, how often, how loud, when and why all factor into the NEED it truly serves!

If as a defender I smoke a clearance 35 yards into the trees over the touchline what purpose does a whistle serve? Everyone can tell what occurred. The restart is a 100% throw in to the opposition and we wait for 30 seconds while someone has to go and retrieve the ball. Now the ball is retrieved and I point to the spot where it left. I wave the thrower to go ahead and we are restarted. Guess what no whistle to restart or for the ball leaving play. There was no REASON to do so. We were all ok with the situation because we were in control and all were aware of who, what, where and why of the event.

Think on a ball where as a striker I rip the ball from 12 yards and bulge the ole onion skin as some like to say! We are celebrating the goal , the resigned keeper is digging the ball forlornly out of the netted area. The AR has given the referee the thumbs up run to kick off position to indicate he sees it as a goal. The referee I saw it as a goal the defenders saw it, the attackers are still celebrating it and the fans likely cheering it. So again what use of the whistle?

Now what if the goal ties the match or the team scoring needed to get another? Say the scorer runs into the netted area to retrieve the ball hoping to get play restarted quickly and the keeper still sore for allowing the goal takes umbrage to the attacker in his face getting a ball that is not his to restart? Now my whistle is sounding perhaps to restrain the confrontation that I can see occurring. My whistle is loud long and perhaps I run into the melees with it still screaming in their ears!
Right, stop this BS right now lads or face discipline. That is what this whistle sequence is now communicating.
A minor careless foul, requires a short tweet, dfk right here away we go
A reckless challenge a louder stronger sound perhaps multi layered it says "I saw that everyone relax I got this, you come here!" Ok I sort it out and perhaps one blast to restart ceremonially
An excessive challenge where I see retaliation possible and injury I hammer the bloody thing to burst an ear drum and sail in there quick and proper to affect the send off and restart and CONTROL things before they escalate!
There are some restarts where a whistle is required and or recommended, kick off, ending a match or half, PKs, ceremonial restarts where you have stopped to show a card for misconduct. I think you get the idea, corner kicks can be waved in but many feel the whistle helps control the interaction you must deal with inside the area so you are ready. Referees do try for quick restarts when the affected team wants to take the quick kicks without the need of a whistle our permission is all that is required. As you develop your character you will adapt the whistle to match what it is you need to do or choose to do in creating the communication you wish to enjoy with the players Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

We use the whistle when we need to focus the player's attention on the fact that play must be stopped (or started, for ceremonial starts like kickoffs and some free kicks). The problem with using the whistle too much is similar to the story of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf". Although we're not creating false incidents like the shepherd boy, if we blow the whistle at every stoppage we are teaching them that not every whistle means something significant. I'd rather save my calm short toots for when the ball slips over the line and scoots back in. Then I can use my long ear-busters when I want them to know I'm really disappointed in their behavior!

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I don't blow my whistle when a ball goes into touch unless it's apparent the players don't realize it has. 90% of the time the players know the ball has gone out of play and there is no need for a whistle.