"Play to the whistle."

[Jambun82]

In the past, I have tried to explain why coaches and players talking about "playing to the whistle" is incorrect, and how the whistle rarely, if ever, ends a play. This past Sunday, there was a perfect example of what I am trying to explain. Myles Jack stripped the football and recovered the fumble from Dion Lewis, was not touched as he rolled on the turf, and got up to advance where he most likely would have scored a touchdown. This probably would have given the Jaguars a three-score lead, and would have possibly iced the game for Jacksonville. However, the wing official felt the need to blow his whistle immediately meaning that the play could not be reviewed and correctly ruled a touchdown. The whistle is NOT needed in football like it is needed in the game of basketball, and we need to get away from the concept of "play to the whistle" that coaches feel the need to teach their players. I hope that I have made my point clear.

[OldSchoolLion]

7 minutes ago, Jambun82 said:

In the past, I have tried to explain why coaches and players talking about "playing to the whistle" is incorrect, and how the whistle rarely, if ever, ends a play. This past Sunday, there was a perfect example of what I am trying to explain. Myles Jack stripped the football and recovered the fumble from Dion Lewis, was not touched as he rolled on the turf, and got up to advance where he most likely would have scored a touchdown. This probably would have given the Jaguars a three-score lead, and would have possibly iced the game for Jacksonville. However, the wing official felt the need to blow his whistle immediately meaning that the play could not be reviewed and correctly ruled a touchdown. The whistle is NOT needed in football like it is needed in the game of basketball, and we need to get away from the concept of "play to the whistle" that coaches feel the need to teach their players. I hope that I have made my point clear.

Years back at a Manatee game, a kid on the opposing team broke away and was all alone racing down the field for a touchdown.  The ref downfield blew his whistle and I guess the kid thought the ref wanted him to stop, so he did, about twenty yards from a TD.  Everyone on the field just froze and started looking around like "What happened?" The ref walked over and took the ball from the kid.

Turns out there was no penalty and nobody could figure out why the ref blew his whistle.  When in doubt, keep going! 

 

 

[badbird]

I guess I'm going to be a bad sport again but my kids aren't stopping until a whistle is blown.  If the kid gets up running and there is no whistle you better tackle him.  Blow the whistle old man there is no review in high school.  NFL should let any questionable play continue.  

[peezy28]

Yeah I am not sure I get the sentiment of not playing to the whistle... If that is the case just take the whistle out of it all together and let them play until someone is on the ground... I am with badbird if there is a player running free and play has not stopped I need my players to go get him and vice versa. 

[Jambun82]

On ‎1‎/‎25‎/‎2018 at 8:30 AM, peezy28 said:

Yeah I am not sure I get the sentiment of not playing to the whistle... If that is the case just take the whistle out of it all together and let them play until someone is on the ground... I am with badbird if there is a player running free and play has not stopped I need my players to go get him and vice versa. 

That is the point that I am trying to make. If coaches wouldn't stress "playing to the whistle" all the time, officials can use the whistle less, and there can be less instances of a premature or inadvertent whistle. If a runner is clearly down of out of the field of play, and the scrimmage down is over, that can be seen by players, and officials can hold off several seconds on blowing the whistle.

[badbird]

Isn't it a penalty if a player is clearly down or out of bounds and you hit him?  If a guy gets up running and no whistle has been blown then he should be tackled.  If he is laying on the ground or out of bounds then he shouldn't be.  It's not that hard.  Play to the whistle doesn't mean hit a kid out of bounds or hit a kid late after he has been tackled.  Play to the whistle means block to the whistle (they can't see the ball usually), play full speed to the whistle.  It doesn't mean cheap shot a kid just because the whistle hasn't blown.