If you're just starting to shop for a referee whistle, one thing that you'll quickly notice is that these whistles can vary in appearance, particularly in terms of how referees wear them. While a whistle is a common piece of gear that a referee uses in just about every sport, the manner in which they wear the whistle depends on what sport they're officiating. When you shop, you'll want to ensure that you buy the right type of whistle for the sport you'll be overseeing. If you're an avid sports enthusiast who will soon be refereeing two different sports, you may want two different whistles. Here are three ways to wear a referee whistle.
Around Your Neck
A popular way to wear the whistle is around your neck, with the whistle hanging at about the midway point of your torso. If you wish to wear your whistle this way, you'll need to buy a whistle that comes with a long lanyard. Generally, the lanyard is adjustable to allow you to position the whistle at the height you want. The whistle and the lanyard are usually the same color, and you have the choice of black or hues that are more vibrant. Football referees typically wear their whistles this way.
On Your Wrist
There are also referee whistles that are designed to be worn on your wrist. They come with a short lanyard that you wrap around your wrist, allowing the whistle to dangle just a few inches off your wrist. This type of whistle works well for sports that involve a lot of running, such as soccer. When you run, you might not want a whistle hanging on the front of your chest because it can bounce around. When the whistle is attached to your wrist with a short lanyard, it won't move as much.
Over Your Fingers
In ice hockey, referees wear a whistle that isn't attached to a lanyard but is instead connected to a ring that allows it to sit over their first two fingers. It's too risky to have a lanyard in a fast sport such as ice hockey, as a player's stick could inadvertently catch the lanyard while skating past the referee. Wearing a whistle in this way keeps the referee's hands-free for times that they need to physically separate players or lead a player to the penalty box.
Shop for a sports referee whistle at a store near you.
Share31 March 2023
Ever since I was a young child, I have loved singing. While I never became a professional singer, I sing in a local chorus and I love putting on shows. However, I also enjoy listening to music and when someone asks me what my favorite music genre is, I tell them "all of them!" However, I especially love seasonal music and am always eager to turn on holiday music as soon as the weather begins getting cooler in the fall. I recently decided that more people need to embrace music, because it has healing qualities and really makes the world a happier place. I decided to create a blog to share my favorite new music finds, tips for singers, and many other music-related tips on! Come back often for a little music education and a lot of fun!